Switching to VoIP

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Chapter 8

CHAPTER 8

VoIP Readiness

Let’s face it: VoIP isn’t exactly new, but IP telephony’s readiness for enterprise con-

sumption is a fairly recent development. When it first appeared on the Internet

scene, VoIP offered the ability for people to make free long-distance calls over the

Internet. In fact, products like Internet Phone came with substantial buzz about how

they let in-laws with Microsoft Windows have half-duplex speakerphone conversa-

tions through their PCs over the Net.

Lack of interoperability, poor quality of service, and a drop in traditional long-dis-

tance calling rates ultimately killed the first generation of consumer VoIP software.

The short-lived voice-over-Internet craze of the late 1990s died. VoIP is still what his-

torians might call a disruptive technology—it is changing the status quo—but as it

becomes more standardized, quality-driven, and accepted, it also becomes a more

sustaining technology, just as the PSTN has been for decades. In this regard, VoIP

has proven much more valuable in the enterprise than in the home.

This chapter helps you define the business case for VoIP. It guides you through

readying your network, and your business, for next-generation telephony. This chap-

ter is aimed at people who are justifying VoIP adoption with the promise ...