Problem solve
Get help with specific problems with your technologies, process and projects.
Problem solve
Get help with specific problems with your technologies, process and projects.
Why you need VoIP to move to unified communications
Making the move to unified communications is an intricate five-step process that requires a solid foundation based on a reliable IT staff and network. VoIP is the cornerstone for both unified messaging (UM) and unified communications (UC) ... Continue Reading
IPTV Crash Course: Chapter 3: The Technology of IP Networks
Chapter 3 of "IPTV Crash Course" by Joseph Weber and Tom Newberry presents an overview of IP suite data transmission basics and advanced protocols that IPTV utilizes in creating a television service supported by the Internet. Continue Reading
Microsoft's OCS is finally here, for better or for worse
Zeus Kerravala reports on the long-awaited launch of Microsoft's OCS. Find out what areas end users should be cautious about and the features that will benefit organizations, regardless of their unique communication requirements. Continue Reading
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Comparing and contrasting enterprise 2.0 and web 2.0 within the context of unified communications
Web 2.0 and Enterprise 2.0 both deal with the state of maturity of the Web as an information delivery system, although in varying degrees. Learn more about the "2.0 mentality" in this expert response. Continue Reading
What can a VoIP phone do that a landline phone cannot?
This expert response outlines the basic differences between a VoIP phone and a POTS phone. Continue Reading
What is the difference between B2BUA and proxy in SIP protocol?
Find out the differences between a B2BUA like Asterisk, and a proxy when installed in a SIP protocol.Continue Reading
Open source PBX: Risk or value?
Open source IP PBX systems like Asterisk have benefits and risks. Learn what they are and assess your readiness for the IP PBX implementation in this tip from Gary Audin.Continue Reading
What is the difference between analog phone equipment and an IP phone?
SearchVoIP.com expert Carrie Higbie answers a user submitted question about the differences between analog and IP phone systems.Continue Reading
What is the difference between a VoIP client and an IMS client?
SearchVoIP.com expert Carrie Higbie answers a user submitted question about the differences between VoIP and IMS clients.Continue Reading
VoIP security -- Free IP telephony fuzzing tools
Protect your organization's VoIP security with free VoIP security tools designed to test IP telephony vulnerability.Continue Reading
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Routing basics -- What VoIP managers need to know
Voice over IP (VoIP) requires that an organization's voice staff understand many of the fundamentals of data networking. Routing is an essential data networking function that also applies to VoIP. In this tip, learn more about the routers and ...Continue Reading
VoIP traffic: Five steps to prepare your network
VoIP traffic is much more sensitive to latency, jitter and packet loss than most network applications. It is crucial that you ensure that your network is ready to handle this new demand.Continue Reading
VoIP security -- problems inherited from data networking
VoIP security problems present a challenge for voice and network staff because IP telephony brings with it not only the security problems of data networks but also new, added threats specific to VoIP. In this tip, learn about the data network ...Continue Reading
How silence suppression saves WAN bandwidth
Silence suppression, or voice activation detection (VAD), technology is used to save WAN bandwidth used by VoIP traffic, while comfort noise generation (CNG) counteracts negative affects on VoIP speech quality.Continue Reading
IP PBX: Ten reasons to switch
Should you throw out the old PBX and replace it with a new IP PBX? This tip from WindowsNetworking.com provides ten compelling reasons to do so, along with a brief explanation of what an IP PBX is, how it works in a computer network and how it ...Continue Reading
VoIP bandwidth: Calculate consumption
The bandwidth needed for VoIP transmission depends on compression technology, packet overhead and the network protocol used. In this tip, learn how to calculate how much bandwidth your VoIP implementation will need.Continue Reading
What is an E&M line? What is the difference between a 2 wire and 4 wire E&M?
What is an E&M line? What is the difference between a 2 wire and 4 wire E&M?Continue Reading
VoIP bandwidth -- Rightsize your WAN for voice traffic
Up-front rightsizing and WAN bandwidth capacity planning are critical aspects of VoIP, and should be done prior to deploying an MPLS network or implementing VoIP.Continue Reading
How voice compression saves bandwidth
Compression of voice traffic can save bandwidth on your IP network, but can cost quality or cause delays. Learn more about the CODECs or standards for voice compression -- and their effect on call quality -- in this tip.Continue Reading
What's in a VoIP packet -- An introduction to bandwidth for VoIP
Learn what makes up a VoIP packet, how headers work, what protocols transport voice traffic over the Internet and how this traffic uses network bandwidth.Continue Reading
VoIP management tools: Calculating ROI
Before purchasing management tools for VoIP, you may need to calculate the return on investment (ROI) to justify the cost of those tools. In this tip, Gary Audin explains how to calculate ROI and provides specific checklists for calculating the ROI ...Continue Reading
VoIP maintenance: Creating a schedule for patches and upgrades
VoIP systems fall under the same type of maintenance guidelines as other networking equipment. In this tip, learn guidelines and best practices for scheduling your VoIP systems maintenance.Continue Reading
Why is UDP used more in VoIP than TCP?
If UDP is unreliable, why is it used more in VoIP rather than TCP?Continue Reading
What is the difference between VoIP, CTI and IP telephony?
What is the difference between VoIP, CTI (Computer Telephony Integration) and IP telephony?Continue Reading
Does Spanning Tree Protocol have an adverse effect on VoIP?
Do you know if Spanning Tree has an adverse effect upon VoIP? If so, what is the best way to provide LAN-based switch redundancy to VoIP gateways?Continue Reading
Why you need to learn VoIP for your Cisco certification
Because of the increasing importance of VoIP and Cisco's growing emphasis on it, the networking giant has increased the significance of VoIP in its certification exams. In this tip, David Davis looks at the VoIP focus in popular Cisco certifications...Continue Reading
What is the difference between VoIP and VoFR?
What is the difference between VoIP and VoFR?Continue Reading
VoIP traffic encryption tools
Securing VoIP traffic remains one of the biggest obstacles to its mainstream enterprise use. VoIP traffic tends to be unencrypted, but that doesn't mean that it has to be. In this tip, Brien Posey explores various options for VoIP encryption, ...Continue Reading
How do we fix 'echo', 'static' and background noise on our new VoIP system?
Our organization has just implemented a VoIP system on 40 - 50 test phones. However, our users have been complaining of echo, static and amplified background noise during phone usage. The noise can only be heard on our end. Can you please give some...Continue Reading
How to set up a simple VoIP network on an existing LAN
Setting up a VoIP network on an existing LAN requires some IP PBX familiarity. Learn how to implement your new VoIP network with this expert response.Continue Reading
What is the difference between a SIP-enabled phone and an IP phone that is not SIP-enabled?
Learn about the differences in programming a SIP-enabled phone versus a phone that is not SIP enabled, and the costs and benefits of each.Continue Reading
What is the difference between ground start signaling and loop start signaling?
Learn about the fundamental differences between ground start signaling and loop start signaling in this expert response.Continue Reading
Difference between IP PBX and VoIP box
What is the difference between an IP PBX and VoIP box?Continue Reading
Cisco tools vs. Prognosis
What network management IP telephony vendors do a good job with Cisco Unified Call Managers? What are the pros and cons of using Integrated Research's Prognosis vs. Cisco's own tools?Continue Reading
What kind of compression is used in VoIP?
Our voice expert explains what kind of compression is used in VoIP, in this expert response.Continue Reading
What is the difference between an analog and a digital PBX?
Expert Juan Pablo Pazos compares an analog PBX versus an IP PBX to a reader wondering whether or not PBXes were replaced more than twenty years ago by digital PBXes.Continue Reading
VoIP services overview: Defining VoIP terms
The vast majority of conversations about the convergence of voice and data could benefit greatly from a generally accepted vocabulary. The primary culprits in this smorgasbord of confusion are the terms "VoIP" and "IP telephony," which are used ...Continue Reading
How does a computer on the network get its IP address?
How does a computer on the network get its IP address?Continue Reading
How does an ATA work?
How does an ATA work?Continue Reading
TFTP servers for testing IP phones
Testing a software upgrade on a single IP phone can present a challenge. In this tip, learn how to implement your own TFTP server for testing your phones' configuration information.Continue Reading
What are the advantages and disadvantages of MPLS?
Learn the advantages and disadvantages of MPLS in this expert response from our telecommunications expert.Continue Reading
ISDN, MPLS and VSAT
We have a centralized database online system with hub and spoke network architecture. On top of this, we have our own VPN setup. Our users either connect through VSAT or dedicated leased lines for accessing our system with ISDN as a last mile backup...Continue Reading
Five VoIP security recommendations
Before beginning a successful VoIP rollout across your organization, there are several things you should consider.Continue Reading
SIP interoperability and testing
Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) is a signaling protocol typically used for telephony, instant messaging and Internet conferencing. This article discusses the interoperability and testing being done to support this protocol.Continue Reading
How many calls can a T1 handle and what is bandwidth of each call?
Our site member is planning a VoIP implementation at his company. He asked, "How many simultaneous calls can be handled by a T1 and what is the bandwidth for each call?" Get the expert answer here.Continue Reading
Product review: USB Cordless DUALPhone provides easy Skype access
The USB Cordless DUALPhone is a good solution for small to midsized businesses looking for a compact, do-it-all cordless Skype/POTS handset. This advanced IP telephone is absurdly easy to configure, install and deploy. Learn more about its features ...Continue Reading
Can VoIP and firewalls work together for the greater security good?
To allow VoIP to pass through the firewall, ports have to be left open. Can you point out some ways to help VoIP and firewalls work together for the greater security good?Continue Reading
Hardware and software required to set up basic VoIP service
Get details and resources to find the hardware and software you will need to set up VoIP at your company. This basic overview offers information on IP/PBXs, SIP equipment, IP phones, Softphones and E911.Continue Reading
Codecs demystified
Learn more about the codec used by Skype and how it differs from other codecs in this expert answer. Patrick Ferriter explains Skype protocol, Global IP Sound, iLBC codec, GIPS, iSAC codec and SIP protocols here.Continue Reading
CDP and multi-vendor networks don't mix
Cisco switches and CDP go hand-in-hand, but when non-Cisco switches and CDP meet, interesting things happen.Continue Reading
Music on-hold (MoH) in the SIP world
Find out more about music on-hold (MoH) capabilities and SIP enabled audio streams in this expert answer.Continue Reading
Nice Logger explained
Learn what Nice Logger is and what types of telephony cards it supports in this expert answer.Continue Reading
Defining traffic telecommunications style
There are three types of traffic: voice, data and image -- each with its own set of requirements for transmission. Find out here how these different types of traffic are quantified.Continue Reading
What is tromboning?
In this expert reply, Patrick Ferriter explains what tromboning means in VoIP.Continue Reading
Highest acceptable latency to attempt a VoIP call over
Turning analog phones into VoIP phones
How an ATA or broadband phone works and what kind of features and performance you can expect from them.Continue Reading
IP telephony implementation planning
Expert advice breaks down a successful IP telephony implementation into two distinct and easy to understand steps.Continue Reading
Understanding customer acceptance
DHCP lease renewal on IP phones
Learn how to handle DHCP lease renewal on IP phones in this expert response.Continue Reading
Comparing IP with ATM networks
The trouble with 911 and VoIP
A look at the issues involved in the VoIP/911 dilemma.Continue Reading
Working with the Layer 2 data link layer in an IP telephony deployment
This IP telephony deployment article provides solutions to performance issues in Layer 2, the data link layer.Continue Reading
Difference between data communications and IP based solution
Toll-free call failure
ADSL bandwidth
How do satellite ATM networks work?
Difference between gateway and router
Learn the difference between a gateway and a router in this Ask the Expert response.Continue Reading
Learn IT in 10 easy steps: VoIP
This handy guide to VoIP provides you with an overview of the technology, including key terms, trends, challenges and more.Continue Reading
Risk factors for migration to IP telephony
System components of VoIP
This is the second tip in a series excerpted from a report by Ohio State University. The report analyzes issues and challenges in the evolving VoIP technology.Continue Reading
Introduction to Internet telephony
This is the first tip in a series excerpted from a report by Ohio State University. The report analyzes issues and challenges in the evolving VoIP technology.Continue Reading
What exactly is SIP and what are its advantages and disadvantages?
Learn about the advantages and disadvantages of choosing SIP over H.323 or another VoIP traffic carrier.Continue Reading
We want to use VoIP over the LAN without PBX hardware. Any suggestions?
VoIP gateways and SS7
Probing to maximize MTU efficiency and deliver QoS
A method for increasing MTU size to improve QoS.Continue Reading
Policing and shaping within QoS
Learn about the policing and shaping methods within QoS that allow IT professionals to smooth traffic flows for VoIP transmission.Continue Reading
What causes one-way conversation in a VoIP network?
QoS congestion avoidance techniques to clear way for VoIP
Learn about QoS congestion avoidance techniques that you can use to clear the way for VoIP.Continue Reading
What is the difference between H.248 and H.323? And what are the differences between ATM and FR tech
Learn the difference between H.248 and H.323 and also what the differences are between ATM and frame relay (FR) technology.Continue Reading
What is FXO and FXS?
VoIP and IP telephony in IT certifications
A look at some of the certifications that cover VoIP and IP telephony.Continue Reading
I'm confused about the term "IP Centrex." Can you explain?
What is the difference between gateways and gatekeepers?
Learn what the difference is between a network gateway and a gatekeeper in this Ask the Expert response.Continue Reading
What is the difference between Cisco call manager and Cisco SIP Proxy server?
DHCP for VoIP
Learn how to set up DHCP for Voice over IP (VoIP) in this article.Continue Reading
Don't forget to use multicast
The benefits of using multicast.Continue Reading
Survivable remote site telephony
Fault-tolerant telephony solution for smaller remote sites.Continue Reading
VoIP? Think about voice mail
Consider what the implications for voice mail are when you use VoIP.Continue Reading
A case of the jitters
Testing for specific problems affecting VoIP.Continue Reading
Watch out for asymmetrical routing
Asymmetrical routing can cause trouble that's tough to diagnose.Continue Reading
Enable the hookflash relay
How to enable it. You'll need it.Continue Reading
VoIP user experience questionnaire
VoIP user experience questionnaireContinue Reading
Tune spanning tree for VoIP
Tuning settings to account for the vagaries of spanning tree protocol.Continue Reading
Troubleshooting voice
Codes for determining what happened when something goes wrong.Continue Reading
Testing VoIP connectivity on IOS
An undocumented command that makes testing easy.Continue Reading
Private line automatic ringdown
How you can connect two phones to one another exclusively via VoIP.Continue Reading
Check for full duplex capability
How to find out if hardware supports full duplex record and playback.Continue Reading