Unified Communications Mechanisms Part 1

Unified Communications

In today's world, companies ranging from Small Office/Home Office (SOHO) to medium/big corporate possess data communication networks which involve integration of email, video conferencing, ip based telephony, and Web based systems for maximum efficiency. To streamline this process, the trend is to integrate/migrate existing analog systems towards full IP based networks. Part of this uses the following important protocols:

VOIP

Most technology users would have heard of or at least used VOIP in some way.

• But how many people really understand the concept of VOIP?
  
• How many people understand the implications of VOIP for personal and business use, as highlighted in Daadi's Blog (http://daadi.org/why-voip-should-matter-moreto-everyone?)
  

These questions and more may be answered in a relatively simpler way, as follows: 

VOIP is a revolutionary new technology which is changing the way communications take place in the world. The principle of VOIP involves converting of analog based voice signals into digital ip based traffic and transmitting it through an IP network such as the Internet. VOIP uses many different protocols, among which the industry standard and most popular is Session Initiation Protocol (SIP).  

Different types of VOIP connections are possible, using various ip based devices. They are:

• Hardware based VOIP (IP phones) – These resemble your ordinary desktop phones, with one major difference. Instead of a normal RJ-11 type telephone port, they contain an RJ-45 based Ethernet port which can be connected directly to a network device such as a switch or router. They also contain inbuilt software necessary to make IP based voice calls through a gateway router, connected to the Internet. Wi-Fi based hardware phones can also be used for a mobile experience within a designated area such as a corporate office.
  

  

  How an IP Phone Works

• Software based VOIP (Soft Phone) – In essence, this type of VOIP is most often used by people all around the world today. Except for your internet charges, you don't normally pay anything extra to make a video/audio call to that important person at the other end of the world. All you need to is the VOIP software, a headset, a microphone and an internet connection. There are two main divisions within this type of VOIP connectivity, which are:
  

1. Computer to Computer – This type involves the software being installed on computers, with all the other items such as the headset, microphone and internet connection being attached and accessed using your computer. Users can connect to each other by using login ids as the means of identification, and establishing connections between computers over the Internet. The most popular software in use today as part of this process is
   
   

   

   
   
    
2. Mobile integrated VOIP – This type involves the use of smart phones and/or Wi-Fi enabled devices which can have VOIP software installed on them. This enables users to make calls to other users using the existing mobile based GSM network, by dialing into a SIP based gateway through the VOIP software. This allows them access to the Internet via an IP based network enabling them to make free/low cost VOIP calls. In other words, users can use any existing internet connection via Wi-Fi or 3G, instead of costly "minutes" or high mobile charges on pre-paid and post-paid plans. They will be charged only the price of local calls.
   
   
   

   

   Mobile VOIP -- Skype installed on a Phone

• Analog Telephone Adapter (ATA) based VOIP – This is a device which allows your regular desktop based analog phone to be connected to your computer or internet connection for making VOIP calls. The device acts an analog-to-digital converter. Basically, it takes the analog signals generated by the phone and converts it to a digital form for transmission through your IP based network such as the Internet. This is possible through the use of inbuilt codecs which compresses an analog audio signal into digital form for transmission and backwards for replay by the receiving ATA.
  
  

  

  How an ATA works

  
  The setup process involved is fairly straightforward and most ATA's come equipped with additional software which can be accessed via a web browser for further configuration and customization.
  
  

  

  Linksys SPA3102 -- ATA

1. Remove the ATA from the box
   
2. Plug the telephone cable in the telephone box to the ATA
   
3. Plug the cable of the phone into the required port of the ATA
   
4. Connect the ATA to the ip network by means of an Ethernet cable, and you are ready to make VOIP calls

What does this mean?

VOIP is useful because any standard internet connection can be used to make free/lower cost phone calls to anywhere in the world, bypassing the phone company and its "costly" mobile/telephone charges. The impact of VOIP can be summarized as follows:

• 

  Phone bills get cut in Half !!

  It will dramatically reduce corporate phone bills by backhauling audio traffic in digitized ip format on existing Internet connections. Basically, businesses only pay internet charges while using the existing network to make free/low cost calls (audio and video) with their suppliers/business partners and other teleworkers across the globe.
  
  
  
   
• Residential users can use VOIP as a means for making free/low cost video and audio calls to their loved ones in other countries. They would only have to pay for internet charges, which at often cheaper than making overseas calls.
  
  
  

  

  Communicate with your loved ones across the Globe for Free !!

In the Maldives, based on the telecommunication rules in force by Communications Authority of Maldives (CAM), it is against the law for any business to act as a third party VOIP provider through the use of any existing IP based network of any telecommunications company such as Focus, Dhiraagu and Wataniyya.

However, as far as I know, Residential and Corporate users can incorporate VOIP into their own network for use through their existing internet connection(s).

If anyone has any contradicting information or updates regarding the laws in Maldives about VOIP use, please feel free to share this for the benefit of others.

Next: Unified Communications Part 2