VoIP Deployment Made Simple with Phybridge UniPhyer
By Patrick Barnard, Senior Web Editor, TMCnet/Techonology Marketing Corporation (TMC)
Everyone knows VoIP has revolutionized business communications by bringing a myriad of new, productivity-enhancing features and capabilities to the telephone, not to mention significant cost savings. Yet many small to medium sized businesses continue to hold out on VoIP because of the initial up-front expense and potential disruptions involved in deploying a new IP-based phone system.
The most common method for deploying VoIP is to install an IP PBX (News - Alert) on premises, sign up for a VoIP service, and run the voice signals over the existing LAN architecture. But there can be significant challenges in doing this, as most company LANs use a mix of network topologies and are often woefully inadequate for supporting voice traffic.
Although a company network may seem to have enough capacity, when looking at average daily traffic, one has to bear in mind that multimedia applications like VoIP are extremely bandwidth intensive and thus can have a major impact on network performance. As a result, companies that decide to deploy voice across their local networks are often disappointed to discover, despite having taken preparation, that, yes, VoIP can run on the network, but the quality of service is lousy, especially during periods when network traffic peaks. Furthermore, once VoIP is deployed, the internal IT team or service provider usually has to make adjustments, on an on-going basis, to keep data and voice balanced and network operations “tweaked.”
Meanwhile, LAN gear manufacturers have been profiting big time from VoIP migrations simply because for years the industry has developed a mindset that, in order to “do VoIP the right way,” you have to pretty much rip everything out and start all over again. Obviously, VoIP hardware makers and their partners, namely the installers/systems integrators, have their own interests in mind – and typically that doesn’t include bending over backwards to recycle existing hardware, software or infrastructure.
As you probably know, one of the biggest expenses involved in a VoIP deployment is installing the cabling. Typically you have to run new cabling to each IP phone in each office or cubicle throughout the facility – including power cabling such as Power over Ethernet. Installing cabling can be extremely time-consuming and expensive, especially if you’re installing it in an older building with, for example, concrete walls and/or limited conduits. Once technicians start running into things like steel-reinforced walls, old electrical wiring, utility appliances, funky plumbing and other obstacles they can’t get around, the cost of this work can increase exponentially.
But now there is an alternative to the high cost and recurring headaches associated “traditional” VoIP deployments: The Phybridge UniPhyer. This compact telephony appliance, dubbed the “VoIP Enabler,” lets companies quickly and easily deploy VoIP across their existing CAT3 (traditional) telephone lines, thus enabling them to use existing infrastructure and avoid the hassles associated with converging data and voice on the same network. The appliance, which comes in both 24- and 48-port models, also delivers Power over Ethernet over existing telephone lines, which solves the problem of how to power up the IP phones without running additional cabling.
With this plug-and-play appliance, companies no longer have to go through the trouble of testing their LANs to ensure VoIP readiness; deploying new hardware or infrastructure; installing new cabling; taking the risk of service disruptions; or dealing with poor service following installation. What’s more, it completely solves the problem of ongoing troubleshooting or maintenance, as the existing phone cabling becomes a “parallel” network dedicated for voice, with simple, reliable point-to-point architecture, just like the public switched telephone network. No longer do companies have to deal with the cost and hassle of installing an entire new network and the disappointments in service quality that so often follow: Phybridge (News - Alert) UniPhyer is truly a “risk-free” business VoIP alternative.
The most common method for deploying VoIP is to install an IP PBX (News - Alert) on premises, sign up for a VoIP service, and run the voice signals over the existing LAN architecture. But there can be significant challenges in doing this, as most company LANs use a mix of network topologies and are often woefully inadequate for supporting voice traffic.
Although a company network may seem to have enough capacity, when looking at average daily traffic, one has to bear in mind that multimedia applications like VoIP are extremely bandwidth intensive and thus can have a major impact on network performance. As a result, companies that decide to deploy voice across their local networks are often disappointed to discover, despite having taken preparation, that, yes, VoIP can run on the network, but the quality of service is lousy, especially during periods when network traffic peaks. Furthermore, once VoIP is deployed, the internal IT team or service provider usually has to make adjustments, on an on-going basis, to keep data and voice balanced and network operations “tweaked.”
Meanwhile, LAN gear manufacturers have been profiting big time from VoIP migrations simply because for years the industry has developed a mindset that, in order to “do VoIP the right way,” you have to pretty much rip everything out and start all over again. Obviously, VoIP hardware makers and their partners, namely the installers/systems integrators, have their own interests in mind – and typically that doesn’t include bending over backwards to recycle existing hardware, software or infrastructure.
As you probably know, one of the biggest expenses involved in a VoIP deployment is installing the cabling. Typically you have to run new cabling to each IP phone in each office or cubicle throughout the facility – including power cabling such as Power over Ethernet. Installing cabling can be extremely time-consuming and expensive, especially if you’re installing it in an older building with, for example, concrete walls and/or limited conduits. Once technicians start running into things like steel-reinforced walls, old electrical wiring, utility appliances, funky plumbing and other obstacles they can’t get around, the cost of this work can increase exponentially.
But now there is an alternative to the high cost and recurring headaches associated “traditional” VoIP deployments: The Phybridge UniPhyer. This compact telephony appliance, dubbed the “VoIP Enabler,” lets companies quickly and easily deploy VoIP across their existing CAT3 (traditional) telephone lines, thus enabling them to use existing infrastructure and avoid the hassles associated with converging data and voice on the same network. The appliance, which comes in both 24- and 48-port models, also delivers Power over Ethernet over existing telephone lines, which solves the problem of how to power up the IP phones without running additional cabling.
With this plug-and-play appliance, companies no longer have to go through the trouble of testing their LANs to ensure VoIP readiness; deploying new hardware or infrastructure; installing new cabling; taking the risk of service disruptions; or dealing with poor service following installation. What’s more, it completely solves the problem of ongoing troubleshooting or maintenance, as the existing phone cabling becomes a “parallel” network dedicated for voice, with simple, reliable point-to-point architecture, just like the public switched telephone network. No longer do companies have to deal with the cost and hassle of installing an entire new network and the disappointments in service quality that so often follow: Phybridge (News - Alert) UniPhyer is truly a “risk-free” business VoIP alternative.
Phybridge UniPhyer handles quality of service through its proprietary signaling and single path architecture. This in turn results in VoIP phone service that is just as reliable and crystal clear as traditional, TDM-based phone service. And with all the productivity enhancing features and capabilities that VoIP can bring, you can be certain that you will see a very rapid return on investment.
But the real advantage of this appliance – and why it is destined to become a big hit among smaller sized businesses – is its ease of deployment. The Phybridge UniPhyer works with most IP phones and can be installed in just four easy steps, requiring little to no training or technical know-how:
--First, remove the existing RJ21 telco connector from your legacy PBX and connect it to the Phybridge UniPhyer
--Second, connect the Phybridge UniPhyer to the main switch on your LAN using an RJ45 connector
--Third, connect the main switch to your new IP PBX or hosted IP PBX service using another RJ45 connector
--Fourth, connect the PhyAdapters (which allow for power to be transmitted to the IP phones) to the existing telephone jacks at the desktop and connect the IP Phones to the PoE enabled phone jack on the PhyAdapter
That’s all there is to it! Most phones will automatically self-provision upon hook up. After this quick and easy install, plus a little extra time to configure the system via an intuitive Web-based interface, you’ll immediately get to enjoy all the features, capabilities, cost savings and high quality telephony that VoIP brings. The Phybridge UniPhyer works with most IP PBXs, phones and software, including equipment from Avaya, Polycom, Siemens, ShoreTel, Nortel and Cisco (News - Alert), as well as Asterisk open source IP PBXs, so you won’t have to worry about compatibility either.
Still not convinced? Then check out this short video demonstrating how easy it is to install and set-up this game-changing telephony appliance. Also be sure to check out the company FAQ page and this news segment which recently appeared on the Economic Report. After you think about it for a while, you’ll probably begin to wonder why someone didn’t come up with this idea sooner!
--Second, connect the Phybridge UniPhyer to the main switch on your LAN using an RJ45 connector
--Third, connect the main switch to your new IP PBX or hosted IP PBX service using another RJ45 connector
--Fourth, connect the PhyAdapters (which allow for power to be transmitted to the IP phones) to the existing telephone jacks at the desktop and connect the IP Phones to the PoE enabled phone jack on the PhyAdapter
That’s all there is to it! Most phones will automatically self-provision upon hook up. After this quick and easy install, plus a little extra time to configure the system via an intuitive Web-based interface, you’ll immediately get to enjoy all the features, capabilities, cost savings and high quality telephony that VoIP brings. The Phybridge UniPhyer works with most IP PBXs, phones and software, including equipment from Avaya, Polycom, Siemens, ShoreTel, Nortel and Cisco (News - Alert), as well as Asterisk open source IP PBXs, so you won’t have to worry about compatibility either.
Still not convinced? Then check out this short video demonstrating how easy it is to install and set-up this game-changing telephony appliance. Also be sure to check out the company FAQ page and this news segment which recently appeared on the Economic Report. After you think about it for a while, you’ll probably begin to wonder why someone didn’t come up with this idea sooner!
Patrick Barnard is a contributing writer for TMCnet. To read more of Patrick’s articles, please visit his columnist page.
Edited by Patrick Barnard
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