Telephony
Hosted IP telephony: A cost-effective alternative
Managed services can reduce costs, improve efficiency and reduce carbon footprint.
by Mark Bath
Enterprises today are trying to reduce costs and improve efficiency, while minimizing the impact on their business operations and competitiveness. Many companies are still dealing with costly and inefficient legacy voice and data networks, while their storage needs continue to increase. At the same time, customers and government regulations are requiring companies to be more environmentally responsible.
These challenges are spurring IT managers to migrate from disparate, legacy voice and data networks to a converged Internet protocol (IP) network. Many are finding that placing this network in a hosted environment, they can reduce costs, improve efficiency and reduce their carbon footprints (the amount of carbon dioxide assigned to a company based on its energy consumption).
A secure, fully managed, hosted IP telephony (HIPT) offering over a single, converged IP network can provide for greater ease of management and help a company go green. Companies can also save money on equipment purchases, as telephone handsets are often the only on-premise equipment required.
Using a common network infrastructure for IP services over a converged network makes both local area network (LAN) and wide area network (WAN) management simpler. The replacement of customer-premise PBXs with a hosted, managed soft switch means there is no need for site visits or installation; no need for in-house voice technology skills; and no requirement for moves, adds and changes to telephone block wiring. Since telephones become just another device on the LAN, they can be moved to new locations and plugged into the network without PBX port programming.
IP-enabled software systems, such as distributed call centers and virtual work queues, can help enterprises address the challenge of rising travel and commuting costs by creating a workplace of highly distributed employees. Audio and videoconferencing, as substitutes for physical travel, enable enterprises to be both cost- and energy-efficient. Collaboration services reduce carbon dioxide emissions and lower operating costs by reducing travel, and they also can increase productivity and social interaction.
HIPT offers a base platform for a move to unified communications, with unified messaging, presence applications and collaboration. The ability to access voice mail and the move to a single number for each employee, available by logging onto any HIPT phone at any one of an enterprise’s offices (called hot desking), free the user from the office-bound telephone. Users can be located at any site where they have access to the WAN, with the same level of functionality and one number. This drives tangible savings through reduced office space and increases productivity through the use of presence.
HIPT allows enterprises to buy service month by month and port by port, adding more as their business grows, as opposed to investing in capital-based infrastructure. Hosted services also can include storage for enterprises. With a hosting solution that offers server virtualization, enterprises can meet their storage needs and document retention requirements while enhancing their business continuity/disaster recovery capabilities. With a hosted model, a company also can work from other locations in the event of a disaster.
Mark Bath is senior director of
IP services, Global Crossing, Florham Park, N.J.
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