VoIP For Dummies

VoIP For Dummies

Released September 2005
Publisher(s): For Dummies
ISBN: 9780764588433

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Book description

Put your phone system on your computer network and see the savings

See how to get started with VoIP, how it works, and why it saves you money

VoIP is techspeak for "voice over Internet protocol," but it could spell "saving big bucks" for your business! Here's where to get the scoop in plain English. Find out how VoIP can save you money, how voice communication travels online, and how to choose the best way to integrate your phone system with your network at home or at the office.

Discover how to:

  • Use VoIP for your business or home phone service

  • Choose the best network type

  • Set up VoIP on a wireless network

  • Understand transports and services

  • Demonstrate VoIP's advantages to management

Table of contents

  1. Title
  2. Contents
  3. Introduction
    1. About This Book
    2. Conventions Used in This Book
    3. What You’re Not to Read
    4. Foolish Assumptions
    5. How This Book Is Organized
    6. Icons Used in This Book
    7. Where to Go from Here
  4. Part I : VoIP Basics
    1. Chapter 1: Getting Down to Business with VoIP
      1. In the Beginning, There Was POTS
      2. From POTS to Packets
      3. Eye for IP Telephony
      4. Gaining Flexibility with VoIP
      5. Looking at the TCP/IP Model
    2. Chapter 2: VoIP: Not Your Father’s Telephone Service
      1. Mr. Bell
      2. Analog Telephone Circuits
      3. Telephony Goes Digital
      4. Combining Analog and Digital
      5. Digital Telephony Invades PSTN Territory
      6. War Breaks Out Between Circuits and Packets
      7. Private Telephone Systems Reduce POTS Line Costs
      8. Private Systems versus VoIP
      9. Converging Networks
    3. Chapter 3: Everything You Need to Know About Charges
      1. Accessing the Network
      2. Service Categories Cost You Big Time
      3. Saving with VoIP
      4. VoIP Savings: A Case Study
  5. Part II : Taking VoIP to Your Network
    1. Chapter 4: Road Map to VoIP Transports and Services
      1. CSI: Telephony
      2. Choosing a Transport
      3. The Five Golden Rings of CSI
      4. How VoIP and the Internet Fit the CSI Picture
    2. Chapter 5: Getting Switched
      1. Understanding How the PSTN Supports VoIP
      2. Controlling Calls
      3. Quality and VoIP
    3. Chapter 6: Going Broadband
      1. Broadband Transmission Methods
      2. VoIP with Your Cable Modem
      3. VoIP Through Your DSL Connection
    4. Chapter 7: We’re Dedicated
      1. Basics of Dedicated Transports
      2. Types of Dedication
      3. Converging Dedicated and Switched Networks
      4. Managing Bandwidth
      5. Keeping a Switched Line
    5. Chapter 8: Going Wireless
      1. Why WiFi?
      2. Adding VoIP to the Wireless Network
      3. Taking VoIP to the WiMax
      4. Getting Hip to WiSIP
    6. Chapter 9: Using VoIP on the Internet
      1. Network Options Affect Quality of Service
      2. Internet Protocols and Quality of Service
      3. Firewalls for Security
      4. Connecting Through a VPN
    7. Chapter 10: Telephones and VoIP
      1. Running Down the Three Flavors of VoIP Phones
      2. VoIP Hard Phones
      3. VoIP Soft Phones
      4. VoIP Wireless Phones
      5. Maximizing Your Current Telephone Investment
  6. Part III : Making the Move to VoIP
    1. Chapter 11: Simplifying Cost Management
      1. VoIP Comes and the Charges Go
      2. The Final Four Meet VoIP
      3. Unified Networks
      4. Convincing Your Boss
    2. Chapter 12: Locations Galore
      1. Challenges of Multiple Locations
      2. Evaluating Your Existing Networks
      3. Developing a Plan
      4. Staging the Implementation
      5. Reviewing the Effect
      6. Bottom-Line Analysis
    3. Chapter 13: Setting Up the Smaller Office
      1. Is VoIP for You?
      2. Evaluating Existing Networks
      3. Putting VoIP to Work
      4. Financial Analysis
    4. Chapter 14: Providing Dollars and Support
      1. Evaluating VoIP Costs
      2. Making the Investment
      3. Cost-Effective VoIP Designs
      4. Providing Support
      5. Keeping Up with Technology
  7. Part IV : The Part of Tens
    1. Chapter 15: Ten Reasons Why Your Company Should Switch to VoIP
      1. Changing Direction of the Telephony Industry
      2. Feature-Rich, Cost-Effective Alternatives
      3. Existing Investment Protection
      4. Seamless Maintenance and Management
      5. Flexibility and Portability
      6. Enhanced Network Management
      7. Better Utilization of Personnel
      8. Productivity Applications
      9. Better Bandwidth Utilization
      10. Reduced Costs
    2. Chapter 16: Ten Reasons Why You Should Switch to VoIP at Home
      1. One Carrier
      2. One Bill
      3. Free Local Service
      4. Reduced or Eliminated Toll Service Charges
      5. Reduced International Toll Charges
      6. More Bandwidth
      7. Enhanced Internet Access
      8. More Ports to Connect More Phones and Computers
      9. Wireless Broadband Service in Your Home
      10. Videoconferencing
    3. Chapter 17: Ten VoIP Myths
      1. VoIP Runs Only on the Internet
      2. POTS Is Cheaper
      3. POTS Is Faster
      4. The Quality of Service Is Suspect
      5. VoIP-Enabled Phones Are Pricey
      6. VoIP Calls Can Be Intercepted
      7. 911 Calls May Not Work
      8. VoIP Is Not Ready for Prime Time
      9. VoIP Call Features Are Expensive
      10. You Have to Throw Out All Your Old PBX Telephones
    4. Chapter 18: Ten VoIP Manufacturers
      1. Avaya
      2. Cisco Systems
      3. Siemens
      4. Alcatel
      5. Nortel
      6. Mitel
      7. NEC
      8. 3COM
      9. Shoretel
      10. Inter-Tel
  8. Part V : Appendixes
    1. Appendix A: VoIP Providers
    2. Appendix B: Glossary
      1. Numbers
      2. A
      3. B
      4. C
      5. D
      6. E
      7. F
      8. G
      9. H
      10. I
      11. K
      12. L
      13. M
      14. N
      15. O
      16. P
      17. R
      18. S
      19. T
      20. U
      21. V
      22. W

Product information

  • Title: VoIP For Dummies
  • Author(s):
  • Release date: September 2005
  • Publisher(s): For Dummies
  • ISBN: 9780764588433