PROs & CONs of VOIP (Voice-Over-IP)for SBOs

52nd MASBO Annual InstitutePresented by Suzanne McLaughlin & Robert Hamel

What is Voice-Over-IP

•VoIP stands for Voice over Internet Protocol

• It is also referred to as IP Telephony or Internet Telephony

•Provides voice services over IP Network reducing costs

•Provides for end-to-end Voice over IP

Why VOIP: The Obvious

•Voice Phase Down under E-Rate!

• As of Funding Year 2019 only 10% of funding remains for the 90% schools!!!

• Challenge is how to save on Telco Costs.

Why VOIP: The Obvious

•PBXs: Old Technology!

• Cost for maintenance, parts and replacement will both be costly and availability limited.

• Schools and Districts will be maintaining and utilizing both DATA and VOICE network.

• VOICE Network efficiency will continuously diminish!• A strained IT and Telecom budget.

Why VOIP: The Obvious

• CONVENTIONAL HANDSETS: Extremely limited in features and capabilities!

• Again, cost for maintenance, parts and replacement will both be costly and availability limited.

• Today’s communication needs will be unfulfilled.• Charges will be incurred by video conferencing utilizing third-

party services.

Benefits of Voice-Over-IP• Reduce the number of Telco lines for overall savings• Converge data, voice and video onto same network for infrastructure

savings• Manage Data, Voice and Video networks as one network yielding cost

saving on voice• Expanded redundancy and resiliency• Reduce costs on Adds, Moves and Changes• Incorporate video for increased collaboration• Increased awareness of origination of 911 calls

• Critical to today’s “Hardening of Schools”!• Can be “pinpointed” down to the classroom level!

Benefits of Voice-Over-IP• Lower up-front Capital Expenditure(s) as there is no PBX

equipment to buy• Lower ongoing Op Ex since maintenance,

Moves/Adds/Changes are reduced• Lower TCO (total-cost-of-ownership) per seat• Eliminate costly PBX upgrades and expansions• Reduced PBX support costs• Bundled packaging and pricing• Deliver predictable monthly costs

Evolution of the Network

• Initially, tasked with transferring small data files from one computer to another

• Today, demands include, video, music, Internet-based applications, voice, etc.

• Applications running over the network are the focus

• How do we optimize the network to support the current requirements for voice, vide and data?

Data Applications Driving Convergence

What is Convergence?: Consolidation of multiple networks onto a single platform, i.e. voice, data and video.

• IP Video Surveillance

• Email and voice mail access via Unified Messaging

• IP Telephony

• Video Conferencing

• Distance Learning

• Mobile Labs

• Video Conferencing

VOIP: Evolutionary vs. Revolutionary

Two primary paths to migrate from circuit-switched to IP Telephony

• Evolutionary: Existing PBX will evolve into a hybrid system with addition of IP components

• Revolutionary: Forklift upgrade – PBX system removed and replaced with new IP Telephony

When to Move from PBX or Centrex to VOIP

Consider migrating from PBX to VOIP when:

• Voice equipment has reached EOL

• Organization is moving locations/adding locations

• Need to upgrade voice/data needs to address specific application requirements

VOIP Options

• On-Premise: House your own call processing and voicemail locally within site

• Hosted (Cloud): Contract with a Provider that hosts call processing, call control and voicemail from the Cloud

• Key Differences:• Costs:

• On-Premise: High initial costs bit lower ibn-going coats

• Hosted: Lower initial costs bit higher on-going monthly costs

• Control: More control of maintenance with on premise

• Expansion: Less expensive with on premise

E-Rate Maintenance Order I Fall 2014 E-Rate Program Applicant Trainings

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Pros and ConsOn-Premise Solution

• Pros: • Maintenance of system including

Adds, Moves and Changes

• Current Carrier does not need to change

• More scalable at a lower cost

• Cons:• Management

• Hardware Costs

Cloud-Based

• Pros:• Managed by the Provider• Minimal Hardware• Patches completed by Provider

• Cons:• Loss of Internet could potentially

be loss of voice service

• Flexibility is limited

• QoS issues

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Ten advantages of an on premise IP-PBX• It uses your existing LAN.

•Lower operational costs over time.

•Easier to configure and install than proprietary phone systems.

•Simpler Management.

•Easy to relocate phones.

Ten advantages of an on premise IP-PBX (Con’t)

•Unified Messaging – Voice to email/text.

•District and School Locations can be added to an existing system.

• Remote Extensions off-site such as employee home.

•Cost savings by connecting to VoIP providers via SIP trunking.

•More choices in Vendor/System selection.

Components of IP Communications System

• Network Infrastructure: handles IP traffic

• Gateway: Connectivity to the PSTN (May have primary and secondary)

• Communication Server: “Call Server” – provides call processing services

• Application Server: provides voice, video, or data services from a central location on a voice network (i.e. multimedia, voicemail, unified messaging)

• IP Phones

Is Your Network Ready? What to consider… • Network Assessment:

• Network Security

• Network Capacity

• Network Availability

• Quality of Service

• Define your objectives and expectations

• Administration and On-Going Support Plans

• Network Management and Monitoring

• Pre-planning of Deployment and Training

Return on Investment

• Single network infrastructure • Single Cabling Infrastructure

• Common Hardware

• Support costs

• Management

• Internal Support Staff

• Reduced number of access lines between locations (Toll Bypass Voice)

• User Productivity

Contact Information

Thank you!

Suzanne McLaughlinVice President and General Manager

smclaughlin@customonline.com

Office: 401-775-1286| Cell: 401-378-2994

Robert HamelPublic Sector Specialist

rhamel@customonline.com

Office: 401-775-1198 | Cell: 401-330-7499

Questions and Answers