Does your business have an equipment closet that has a complex collection of wiring that has accumulated over the years? VoIP applications can help clean up the mess! If your business has been around for a while, you may have had several iterations of phone systems and related wiring. Because Voice over IP shares the same connection as your data requirements and rides your office Ethernet, you can eliminate most of the wiring in that dreaded closet!
Your voice network will essentially be your data network. All that is required is the router that connects to the internet and directs traffic into your network switch. Ethernet wiring from around the office connects to your switch. This allows for traffic efficiency, as your single connection can handle varying levels of voice and data traffic. It is important to check with your VoIP provider to make sure they provide traffic shaping software on the router that ensures your voice traffic takes priority over the data. This will provide a quality of voice calls that you and your clients expect.
Many VoIP phones have dual ports that allow for a computer and the phone to share the same Ethernet connection to the office. This will eliminate the need to add wiring specifically for the phones. Additionally, a power over Ethernet switch can be deployed in your network closet which will allow the phones to draw power and eliminate the need for a power cord for the phones. If you have a back-up power supply for your network, your phones will continue to work in the event of a power outage.
If your business is moving, it would be a great time to evaluate a VoIP phone system. You will benefit by only needing to build out wiring for your Ethernet and avoid the cost of wiring for traditional analog phones. You can start out with a clean, spaghetti-free, equipment closet! Plus, you will avoid the expense of moving and rewiring your existing phone system for your new office.
Efficient use of a single connection and a simple office wiring configuration are just a couple of the many advantages you business will benefit from by switching to a business digital phone service.
About the author: Mark Greim is the Vice President of Sales and Marketing at sipVine, a provider of a variety of digital phone solutions and services. Mark has extensive experience working for start-up or entrepreneurial organizations and a passion for affordable, reliable, and purposeful technology solutions in those environments.
