Atlanta -- What’s New in Modern Phone Systems?

New Technologies Usher in a New Era in Phone Systems

Growing companies are forced to face the eventual reality of having to find an efficient way of handling all communications, from company/client communications to interoffice telephony.  To stay competitive in today’s global business environment, many companies are replacing their old phone systems with current technologies.

The century-old telephone system is fantastically simple on the user end: it sends an analog signal over two wires, much like a paper cup on a string. At the phone company's end, technology has progressively improved, with the manual switchboards and bundles of copper wires being replaced with automated digital switching equipment routing calls over fiber optic conduits.  Little has changed for the end-user, however.

Phone Systems Atlanta

Here's why that's a problem:

•Digital phones only support voice-grade audio quality, nothing else. The two copper wires that carry the voice signal must first be converted to an analog signal (that's what a modem does). Internet data services and video conferencing demand far faster data output in a packetized Ethernet environment. Digital and analog phone systems were not designed to support this application.

•Calls are a circuit switched model. Making three-way or conference calls is not supported by the old phone system; both require special equipment or operator intervention.  This makes them expensive and complicated to set up. Further, the old switchboard model does not support modern data packet features for end-users, like caller authentication, call encryption, or advertising presence information such as: free, busy, or unavailable.

•This old technology is based on a pay-per-call billing system. The old phone network was built upon a business model designed to bill users proportionately to the number and length of calls they placed. That works fine in a circuit switched system.  But for a packet-switched data system, when users require 24-hour connectivity and they may connect to hundreds of hosts or open long and sustained data connections, it's more attractive to pay an upfront fixed fee. In the US, Internet service is almost always paid for with a set or unlimited usage fee.

Phone Systems Atlanta is an Atlanta, Georgia based company specializing in designing, implementing and managing phone systems for homes and businesses.  It has been at the forefront of technological innovations.  Chuck Botwin, President of Phone Systems Atlanta and Botwin Communications, was asked about his recent experiences with modern phone systems in one of the largest business districts in Southern USA.  Originally, his companies had focused on computer network cabling, including installation and custom fabrication of cables (on site and common point contact) for voice and data network applications.

Botwin says, “As the public became more aware of advances in technology, the companies to which we were providing cabling services expressed their strong need for modern phone systems.”

“A big part of our cabling service involves determining the exact needs of our clients’ communication networks. In doing so, we discovered that many businesses were not aware of the impressive advancements that have occurred in telecommunications. Clients are amazed at the many features these systems contain, providing cost-effective and efficient solutions for their ever-changing business needs,” continued Botwin.

Businesses today require a telecommunications infrastructure that can deliver numerous features.  Some popular features include auto attendant, voicemail, cordless IP phones, headsets, door phones, access control, call center applications, and home office connectivity to the main office switch.

Some popular brands include Samsung Telecommunications Systems, Northern Telecom Norstar Telephone Systems, and AVAYA Phone Systems (Formerly Lucent/AT&T).

A trend that is especially exciting to business is the move toward VOIP systems. VOIP stands for ‘Voice Over IP’ phone systems. These systems have the ability to plug your IP phone into any broadband internet connection, anywhere in the world, and you are seamlessly connected to the system in your home office. One such system is the Samsung 7000 Series phone system. The Samsung 7000 series is a modern communications platform for business.  From a single location to multiple sites around the world, voice and data networks can be connected seamlessly.

PhoneSystemsAtlanta.com has detailed information about the phone systems offered, along with their features and specifications. The site focuses on educating the public about the technological advancements of modern phone systems.

Panorama Press, a marketing firm in Atlanta, created and maintains this site.

Phone Systems Atlanta is located in Marietta, Georgia 30066, in Cobb County, metropolitan Atlanta.   www.phonesystemsatlanta.com

Voice Over IP Atlanta - Internet Phone Systems, Telephony, VoIP Technology , Equipment Install and Service

  

   

Voice Over IP Atlanta

Don't let your phone system get you down. No mater the size of your organization,Voice Over IP Atlanta can design, implement, manange and exceed all your communication needs.  Voice Over IP for business including Voice Over IP internet phone sales, Voice Over IP service and Voice Over IP provider in Atlanta GA

Managing hundreds of lines and/or dozens of extenions, Voice Over IP Atlanta will design a cost effective solution for today's ever-changing business needs. Easy to upgrade and highly configurable as technology chages - Voice Over IP Atlanta solutions are likely to be the last communications implementation you will need.

Auto attendant, Voicemail, cordless phones, headsets, door phones, 

call centers and much much more.

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  Regional Business with Multiple Offices
  
  
  
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  Large Business with Multiple Offices
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

   
  
  
  

Voice Over IP Atlanta has delivered innovative, cost-effective and efficient  

Data and Voice solutions for businesses of all sizes. From start-ups to Fortune 500 

companies we consistently deliver global experience and local service.

      

 Global Experience - Local Service

Our 100% customer-retention rate demonstrates our unparalleled commitment for providing customers with exceptional technical solutions and customer service on time and at the right price. Our reputation for excellence is why companies like Cousins Properties, Atlanta Bread Company, & Goodwill Industries rely on Voice Over IP Atlanta, a division of Botwin Communications as the single-source of all their telecommunications needs. 

You can depend on Botwin to work with you every step of the way, from your initial capabilities' assessment through project implementation and post-installation support. Discover the Botwin Communications difference.

Voice Over IP Atlanta            info@voiceoveripatlanta.com

Voice Over IP Atlanta : Voice Over IP for business including Voice Over IP internet phone sales, 

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Voip Atlanta by Botwin Communications introduces two new voip business phone systems to the Samsung Officeserv 7000 Series in Atlanta Georgia

Samsung OfficeServ™ 7030 and 7200-S is now available in metro Atlanta Ga for cost conscious small and medium sized businesses

Atlanta, Georgia, January 1, 2010– Voip Atlanta by Botwin Communications today introduced the compact OfficeServ™ 7030 and economically-expandable OfficeServ™ 7200-S as the two newest additions to its popular Samsung OfficeServTM 7000 series of converged telephony solutions for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) to the Atlanta Georgia market. Botwin Communications is an Atlanta, Georgia company specializing in computer network cabling and business phone systems. Voip Atlanta is a division of Botwin Communications in Atlanta, Georgia. The division specializes in business phone systems and makes available to clients a telecommunications infrastructure that is ideal for cost-conscious start-ups, entrepreneurs and other businesses looking to upgrade their communications capabilities and optimize operational efficiencies, these new platforms allow these businesses to cost-effectively leverage advanced functions such as VoIP, SIP trunking, and WiFi with “right-sized” capacities tailored to meet their needs.

According to the most recent figures available from the U.S. Small Business Administration Office of Advocacy and the U.S. Census Bureau there are nearly 6.5 million businesses with fewer than 20 employees and another 850,000 businesses with between 20 and 99 employees. Yet, until now, upgrading communications capabilities for these businesses meant facing a trade-off between smaller, preconfigured systems with limited capacity and purchasing more expensive, feature-rich systems with excess capacity beyond foreseeable need.
“We are excited with addition of the OfficeServ 7030 and OfficeServ 7200-S to our portfolio."  said Chuck Botwin, President of Botwin Communications. " We are happy to offer small and medium-sized firms in Atlanta the functionality of larger systems without the expense of purchasing excess capacity,”
About the Samsung OfficeServ 7030: the compact Samsung OfficeServ 7030 is flexible enough to support up to 20 stations using a combination of Samsung’s wired and wireless handsets, IP phones, and digital telephones.
The Samsung OfficeServ 7030, businesses can reduce monthly telecom costs and recurring phone carrier charges with low-cost SIP services that allow for the most cost-effective use of VoIP technology ― thereby yielding a higher return from their telecom system investment. The OfficeServ 7030 also allows small businesses to take advantage of mobility features that ensure optimal user reachability― even when the user is out of the office.
Advanced features of the Samsung OfficeServ 7030 include:
•   OfficeServ Connect ― allows desk and mobile phones to ring simultaneously, making staff more easily reachable and accessible
•   Wireless Access Points ― seamlessly integrates wireless handsets and PDAs with phone system features for added mobility
•   SPNet ― enables networking to other OfficeServ platforms at remote offices
•   Computer Telephony Integration (CTI) and SoftPhone connectivity ― turns a laptop into a full-featured office phone, enhancing on- and off-site productivity
To further maximize operational efficiencies, the Samsung OfficeServ 7030 offers numerous other productivity-enhancing features such as Auto Attendant, Caller ID with name and number, Uniform Call Distribution (UCD), Call Sequencing and Call Recording. Low-cost voicemail with email integration for delivering voice messages to a Microsoft® Outlook inbox also is available.
About the Samsung OfficeServ 7200-S: The Samsung OfficeServ 7200-S is a flexible, economically-expandable, converged telecommunication platform ideally suited for small-to-midsized businesses. With support for up to 64 stations, the OfficeServ 7200-S allows users to take advantage of the powerful set of built-in and add-on features of the larger OfficeServ 7200 platform with capacity “right-sized” for these businesses.
The OfficeServ 7200-S is flexible enough to accommodate a wide range of digital, IP, and wireless phones to match a company’s changing telecom needs. Furthermore, by taking advantage of SIP services and VoIP technologies, companies can increase the return on their telecom investment with reduced carrier charges and monthly telecom costs.
In addition, the OfficeServ 7200-S has a wide range of built-in features including:
•   Call monitoring and reporting capabilities
•   Auto attendant and Uniform Call Distribution (UCD) for efficient call handling
•   Embedded voicemail and email gateway for delivering voicemail messages directly to a Microsoft Outlook inbox
•   Enterprise-class firewall and Intrusion Detection system to protect the system from unwanted intrusions.
The OfficeServ 7200-S platform also offers a powerful set of optional add-on features and Computer Telephony Integration (CTI) applications to further increase worker productivity and accessibility. These include:
•   SPNet  ― enables networking to other OfficeServ platforms at remote offices
•   Executive Mobex ― allows your desk phone and mobile phone to ring simultaneously and gives you the ability to transfer, conference, and put calls on hold from your mobile phone
•   Hot Desking ― lets individual employees have alternate work areas, or multiple employees share a common work area
•   Computer Telephony Integration (CTI) applications ― enhances on- and off-site productivity, improves cost efficiency, and helps streamline operations
•   Wireless Access Points ― allows seamless integration of wireless handsets and PDAs with phone system features to increase mobility and accessibility
Both the OfficeServ 7030 and the OfficeServ 7200-S are available through Voip Atlanta by Botwin Communications and are backed by a team of expert service technicians and a 5-year warranty. Voip Atlanta is located at 3268 Fairview Drive in Marietta, Georgia 30066 in Cobb County of metropolitan Atlanta.  Advisors are available for consultation 9am to 5pm EST Monday thru Friday http://www.voip-atlanta.net  or call 678-233-0325.

The Essential Guide to VoIP and E911

What you need to know about enhanced emergency-calling technology.

"Quick, call 911!" is a phrase that's uttered thousands of times each day. But calling 911 is a useless exercise unless one has a phone or other communications device that's capable of using the service.

E911 (enhanced 911) is a technology that is designed to give ordinary land line telephones the ability to transmit critical location data quickly and transparently, as well as to provide accurate emergency-calling capabilities to nontraditional-telephony devices such as mobile and VoIP phones. The technology automatically connects callers to the closest PSAP (public-safety answering point), the emergency-service dispatch centers that respond to 911 calls. There are more than 6,000 primary and secondary PSAP's across the U.S.

The need for E911 technology spiked when devices that don't use a dedicated phone line began gaining popularity. A mobile-phone user, for example, can be located virtually anywhere, making it impossible for a service provider to determine the location of the nearest and most appropriate PSAP. VoIP subscribers, on the other hand, often use phone numbers assigned to locations many miles away from their actual physical presences — sometimes even in other countries — also making it often impossible for service providers to supply an appropriate PSAP connection.

Landline E911

E911 became a reality more than two decades ago when the technology debuted on land line phones. All landline phones send an ANI (automatic number identification) signal to the network. Originally used to help carriers create accurate long-distance billing records, the ANI consists of eight digits: seven are the caller's local number, while the eighth digit represents a regional area code.

Utilizing ANI data, a PSAP can conduct a reverse-directory search to request and receive the caller's physical address. As a result, the PSAP doesn't have to depend on the caller for location and callback information. The dispatcher can instead focus on helping the caller through the crisis, while quickly passing along relevant information to the appropriate public-safety authorities.

Wireless E911

Facing increasing pressure from mobile-phone customers for an effective, reliable 911 calling system, the Federal Communications Commission began taking steps in the late 1990s to force mobile carriers to adopt a wireless E911 strategy. The FCC deployed its E911 plan in two phases. In 1998, Phase I required carriers to deploy an E911 service that could identify the originating phone numbers of all 911 calls, as well as the location of the associated cell tower to within one mile. In 2001, Phase II mandated every mobile carrier offering service within the U.S. to provide either a handset- or network-based location-detection capability. The ALI (automatic location identification) service had to be able to determine an E911 caller's location by the geographic position of the mobile phone within 100 meters, and not simply by the location of the associated cell tower. This is usually accomplished by triangulating the signals of three or more nearby cell towers.

VoIP E911

Like mobile-phone users in the 1990s, VoIP subscribers in the early 21st century began requesting landline-equivalent 911 calling capabilities on their phones. Demands from the public, the media and lawmakers for VoIP E911 service quickly mounted after several highly publicized cases in which crime victims were unable to call for police help because their VoIP phones lacked 911 calling capabilities.

In 2005, the FCC began requiring VoIP service providers to offer localized E911 service to their customers. Under current FCC rules, all interconnected VoIP providers must automatically supply E911 service to all of their customers as a standard, mandatory feature without customers having to specifically request this service. VoIP providers may not allow their customers to "opt-out" of E911 service. VoIP providers must transmit each E911 call, as well as a callback number and the caller's registered physical location, to the PSAP.

Note that in this case the word 'interconnected' is very important. Virtual, soft-client-only VoIP services like Skype Ltd. specifically do not provide E911 services precisely because the services are meant to work from anywhere, and currently it is not possible to automatically deduce the actual location of the call. For example, a Skype user could be calling from a public Internet terminal at a cafe or a library rather than his or her home. In contrast, most residential-VoIP services use a specific VoIP router that is typically located at a single physical location.

VoIP E911 has proven to be problematic, however, since users may be either stationary or mobile, and they can often connect to the Internet in a variety of different ways. Although the FCC requires VoIP service providers to collect location information from their customers, this approach is imperfect. If a VoIP subscriber uses the service from a remote destination, for instance, the carrier will continue to route 911 calls to the registered location, even if the site is several thousand miles away from the place where the emergency is happening.

A power outage can also cause VoIP E911 to fail, since the technology requires Internet access, which depends on routers and other devices that use electrical service. As a result, many public-safety agencies recommend that VoIP customers keep a traditional phone line, in addition to their IP telephony service, in order to retain access to emergency-calling services during a power outage.

Nevertheless, residential-VoIP service providers now do offer E911 service, and it should work for calls made from the residence.

by John Edwards
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