Hi Ben,
I have done a variety of IT projects for a living in my time, including an
implementation of a proprietary VoIP system. While I arrived at the project with
good IT and Data Network experience and even some insight into Telephony and
long distance dedicated links - the main issue I struck was that the gulf
between the even Digital Telephony and Data worlds (both internal groups and
suppliers).
In no way is this a definitive list - but things to watch out for include:
Network design, Quality of Service (a big thing in Voice communication) and IP
telephony offers new features, sometimes at the cost of reliability of the good
old times when you could pick up a phone and expect it to dial and speak!
With regard to costing, the equipment is easy to cost, network/telephone budget,
the change/project management is usually more difficult. Testing, running
parallel systems and redirecting telephone numbers in different jurisdictions
isn't a trivial exercise either. Most people now see mobile phones as the back
up system - which may need to be costed into the company if not the departments
bottom line.
I haven't used Asterisk - but it is worth checking out how it fits into a VoIP
network, rather than just whether it handles Digital and Analog Phone lines/links.
Marghanita
Ben Donohue wrote:
Hi all,
(this is a bit like an ask Slashdot... maybe we can have an "ask SLUG")
my work is looking at rationalizing phone/mobile usage with possibly
VOIP between offices. I've suggested setting up Linux boxes and using
Asterix.
As usual FOSS is a bit unknown to the higher ups and they are also
looking to external suppliers.
Just a general question/thread on what have others done to get down the
phone bills of...
inter-office calls
calls to and from mobiles
conferencing (mainly inter-office Australia/NZ and many Asian offices)
Blackberry/Windows Mobile
Idea's on how others have used Linux and FOSS applications to solve this
problem.
Anyone do this for a living? (perhaps come in or give an intro on what
you can do for us?)
Thanks,
Ben
--
Marghanita da Cruz
http://www.ramin.com.au
Phone: (+61)0414 869202
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