T1 Internet Access

Is T1 Internet access right for your business? Depending on your needs T1 internet access could be the best option for your business. A T1 Internet connection is a dedicated, 'always on', very high-speed connection to the Internet. It’s the right choice for supporting many simultaneous users and/or applications and web-related activities that are considered mission-critical.

This high-performance service is designed especially for companies that rely on the Internet to conduct business. T1 Internet access enhances business productivity through the use of voice over IP, email, web access, web hosting, ftp file transfers, multimedia presentations, and videoconferencing. A T1 connection is perfect for small and medium sized businesses needing an Internet service provider for 15 to 50 internet users. They can also be used to efficiently link several offices to each other through a wide-area network.

For many businesses the biggest factor in their decision is reliability. If reliability is critical to the applications you run over your connection you should seriously consider replacing your DSL or cable Internet connection with a T1 Internet connection. DSL and cable internet are a quick and cost effective method of acquiring high speed bandwidth – but, they are not intended to support commercial applications or large numbers of users as are T1 connections.

In many business situations when the internet connection is lost revenue is lost. In today’s busy world businesses just cannot afford the risk of down time. A T1 Internet connection is backed by a Service Level Agreement that specifies performance metrics and remedies if those measures are not met. If your connection to the Internet is mission-critical, then a T1 Internet connection is the preferred solution.

VoIP Terminal Adapters

VoIP in the home uses existing high-speed (broadband) Internet connections to allow users to make and receive phone calls. The most basic configuration for enabling VoIP service in the home involves a small device called a Terminal Adapter. This device allows a standard corded or cordless telephone to make and receive calls over the Internet. The Terminal Adapter connects the standard home phone to a broadband modem and converts the standard telephony signals required by the phone to data signals for the Internet and vice versa. This can result in significant cost savings to both the voice service provider and the consumer. Most terminal adapters provide a single RJ-11 interface for the home phone and a single Ethernet port for the broadband modem.

VoIP - What it is

Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), is a technology that allows you to make telephone calls using a broadband Internet connection instead of a regular (or analog) phone line. Some services using VoIP may only allow you to call other people using the same service, but others may allow you to call anyone who has a telephone number - including local, long distance, mobile, and international numbers. Also, while some services only work over your computer or a special VoIP phone, other services allow you to use a traditional phone through an adaptor.

How Can I Place a VoIP Call?

Depending on the service, one way to place a VoIP call is to pick up your phone and dial the number, using an adaptor that connects to your existing high-speed Internet connection. The call goes through your local telephone company to a VoIP provider. The phone call goes over the Internet to the called party's local telephone company for the completion of the call. Another way is to utilize a microphone headset plugged into your computer. The number is placed using the keyboard and is routed through your cable modem.

What Kind of Equipment Do I Need?

A broadband (high speed Internet) connection is required. This can be through a cable modem, or high speed services such as DSL or a local area network. You can hook up an inexpensive microphone to your computer and send your voice through a cable modem or connect a phone directly to a telephone adaptor.

What's the difference between making a Local Call and a Long Distance Call?

Some VoIP providers offer their services for free, normally only for calls to other subscribers to the service. Your VoIP provider may permit you to select an area code different from the area in which you live. This means you may not incur long distance charges if you call a number in your area code regardless of geography. It also means that people who call you may incur long distance charges depending on their area code and service.

Some VoIP providers charge for a long distance call to a number outside your calling area, similar to existing, traditional wireline telephone service. Other VoIP providers permit you to call anywhere at a flat rate for a fixed number of minutes.

Depending upon your service, you might be limited only to other subscribers to the service, or you may be able to call any phone number, anywhere in the world. The call can be made to a local number, a mobile phone, to a long distance number, or an international number. You may even utilize the service to speak with more than one person at a time. The person you are calling does not need any special equipment, just a phone.

VoIP Pros

Because VoIP is digital, it may offer features and services that are not available with a traditional phone. If you have a broadband internet connection, you need not maintain and pay the additional cost for a line just to make telephone calls.

With many VoIP plans you can talk for as long as you want with any person in the world (the requirement is that the other person has an Internet connection). You can also talk with many people at the same time without any additional cost.

You may be able to use your VoIP service wherever you travel as long as you have a high speed Internet connection available. In that case it would work the same as from your home or business.

VoIP Cons

If you're considering replacing your traditional telephone service with VoIP, there are some possible differences:

• Some VoIP services don't work during power outages and the service provider may not offer backup power.


• Not all VoIP services connect directly to emergency services through 9-1-1. For additional information, see www.voip911.gov.




• VoIP providers may or may not offer directory assistance/white page listings.

Does my Computer Have to be Turned on?

Not if you are making calls with a phone and adaptor or special VoIP phone, but your broadband Internet connection needs to be active. You can also use your computer while talking on the phone.

Polycom Launches Skype Speakerphone

By PETER SVENSSON, AP Technology Writer Mon May 1, 5:35 PM ET

NEW YORK - In a sign of Skype's ambitions to extend its reach into the workplace, Polycom Inc., the largest U.S. maker of audioconferencing speakerphones, launched on Monday its first product designed for use with the popular Internet telephone service.

Unlike Polycom's iconic three-pronged phones found in conference rooms, its Communicator speakerphone is designed for individual use. It connects to a PC via a USB cable. Pressing a button on the $129.99 gadget launches Skype on the computer, where the call is set up.

Robert Hagerty, Polycom's chief executive, said Communicator's speaker and stereo microphone are intended to take advantage of Skype's audio quality, which — barring network interruptions — is superior to that of the traditional phone system.

Luxembourg-based Skype, which allows its users to call each other for free anywhere in the world, is a subsidiary of Internet auction site eBay Inc. Last week, Skype reported that it has signed up 100 million users, nearly twice the number it had when bought by eBay in September.

Henry Gomez, Skype's general manager for North America, said 30 percent of Skypers use the application mainly for work.

"These are mom-and-pops who are trying to control their calling costs," Gomez said. He said small businesses would make up most of business Skype users for the next several years, though divisions at larger companies are experimenting with the service.

The company has no marketing budget for reaching businesses, meaning it relies on word of mouth and partnerships with hardware manufacturers like Polycom to draw the attention of such users. It did recently launch a Web site for business customers, providing some basic tools to help them manage expenditures.

Skype's parent, eBay, is home to tens of thousands of small businesses, but it has yet not integrated Skype service into the U.S. site. Gomez said the company is talking to eBay buyers and sellers to figure out how to approach integration, which should happen in a matter of months.

Skype has already been integrated into eBay's Chinese site. Potential buyers can click on a link to initiate a call to the seller, for instance.

"In China, e-mail is not as popular, and voice is how you do things," Gomez said.

Boost Productivity in Every Work Environment

What is Broadband Phone and VoIP?

Broadband phone takes ordinary telephony to new heights of versatility and affordability. Basically, if you have a high-speed internet, you can save a lot of money on your local and long distance telephone service by simply ordering the broadband phone. In most cases, it's an adapter that you need to plug into your high-speed modem, and then plug your phone into that adapter and you should be ready to go (off course, you need to have a monthly service subscription). Many of the features for which your local company charges you extra, such as caller ID, call waiting, voicemail, etc., come at no additional charge with broadband phone.

VoIP stands for Voice over the Internet Protocol. The idea is not that new and there were many services available in the past, but within last few years, the service quality has improved significantly, while the cost remains very low.

How Does it Work?

You pick up the phone and dial any number just as you would do with the regular phone service. The signal from your phone is being sent to the VoIP adapter where it's being converted to a digital signal, then sent to your router, then your high-speed modem and finally, to the internet network, where it will be routed to the traditional telephone network, and finally, to the destination number you dialed. As far as the service quality, in most cases you will barely notice any difference.

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Now you can make and receive calls on your myPhoneCompany number on your computer or laptop anywhere in the world to talk as if you were in your own home -- even if you are in Paris, Hong Kong or Dubai.

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