Switching to VoIP

This is the Title of the Book, eMatter Edition

Copyright © 2007 O’Reilly & Associates, Inc. All rights reserved.

10

|

Chapter 1: Voice and Data: Two Separate Worlds?

by how much VoIP you implement at a time. That’s why the concept of migrating is

important.

Challenges also arise from using a relatively young technology for a task that has

been reliably delivered “the old way” for decades. If the data network hosting the

VoIP system isn’t provisioned correctly, the results can be disastrous. Security, stabil-

ity, and call quality in a VoIP system are all tied to their counterparts on the underly-

ing data network. If your network is insecure, unstable, or lossy, your IP-based voice

system will be, too.

A leading cause of failed VoIP implementations is poor perceived call quality, which

usually stems from administrator misunderstanding of VoIP’s requirements. VoIP is

more than just call management and voice conversations; it is also a comprehensive

set of methods to deal with quality of service. Lack of attention to these aspects of

VoIP will doom even the most well-intentioned implementer.

These issues have contributed to IP telephony’s reputation as difficult to manage,

inferior in quality, and even damaging to corporate image. These perceptions can be

avoided, and the opposite outcomes achieved, if VoIP is done right.

This book will help you implement and understand VoIP networking, call manage- ...