Boston Business Journal:

oryucyjofec1482.blogspot.com
But with every new product introduction, glitches are commonplace, and business ownerx have to be aware of some ofthe technology's shortcomings. "VoIP does not have the universao quality of a traditionalphone line," said Tim chief executive of the American TeleServiceas Association. "And you are moving to a heavilg softwarebased solution, which means more programmerzs are involved." The Indianapolis organization represents the $500 billiomn call center industry and advocates members' interestxs on Capitol Hill and in statehouses nationwide, providing professional educatiob opportunities and acting as the sector'xs information clearinghouse.
Raymond president of the Association ofTeleServicese International, said companies need to be cognizant of bandwidtb availability. If there isn't a dedicated connection between a business and itsVoIP provider, he said transmission delay s can occur, causing bad reception or jumbled VoIP services convert voice into a digitalo signal that travels over the If a user is calling a regula phone number, the signal is convertee to a regular telephone signal before it reaches its VoIP can allow a user to make a call directly from a computer, a special VoIP or a traditional phone connected to a special In addition, wireless "hot spots " in locations such as airports, parks and cafes alloa users to connect to the Internef and may enable VoIP services Despite some technical VoIP subscriptions have skyrocketed in the last According to the Washington, D.
C. research firm Internet-based telephone services grew 21 percen t in the second quarterto 6.9 millioh users. Overall, the VoIP marketr saw a 153 percent increase in subscriptions comparefto mid-2005, while industry revenuess for the second quarter increased 173 percengt to $607 million compare d to the $221 million in sales a year ago. "VoIoP is rapidly spreading among multiple enterprise solutions which have multiple locations around the country andthe world, said Matthew D'Uva, president of the Society of Consumer Affairs Professionalsz in Business. The Alexandria, Va.
-based organizatiob is dedicated to improving and advancingf the marketplace for consumers within the corporate SOCAP members include consumer affairs and customer care professionalxs from more than 1500 differentcompaniesx -- many of which are listed in Fortune/Forbes 1000. "Our memberas are looking for ways to improve and enhancw communication with their customers from all and VoIP is one channel todo that,"" D'Uva said.
While installation and servic e fees vary by stateand provider, VoIP servicese typically costs less than traditional phone VoIP systems can cost anywhere from no charge up to $200 per monty but will generally cost $10 to $50 per month depending on the type of servicews ordered. VoIP can be free when the servicee routes a from PCto PC, but the pricwe increases based on the number of locao and long distance calls made and the features a company implements. Today, most business VoIP services can provide a firm with a varietyyof features, ranging from $20 to $200. Businesx VoIP provider commonly includewa T-1 Internet connectiojn and a guarantee for quality of servic which increases the costs.
According to the latest researchuon , Virginia-based SunRocket Inc. was given the highesf rating of six To getthe $16.58 monthly rate for unlimited businesses must prepay for the entires year, which is $199, but can cancel any time and get a refund for unused months. Since SunRocket includews all taxesand surcharges, a firm makesd the $199 payment up front and then is able to make unlimitef local and long distance calls for the next 12 Most other companies charge taxes and surcharges on top of their listed rates. SunRocket also throws in $3 free internationa l calling per month, a free extra phoner number and two free directort assistance calls per month with theierunlimited plans.
The company also is waiving their $39.9 equipment fee when a firm signs up forthe $199 annual plan. By comparison, ITP, Verizon, Lingo, ViaTalk and Packet9 received three stars, which were the lowest rankings. and VoIP Your Life fell in the middle ofthe Cox, Comcast, Cablevision, Qwest, and Time Warner are also rolling out VoIP offeringxs Perhaps the greatest benefit of VoIP systems is the flexibilitty of the Internet versus regular phone "This flexibility with VoIP fosters greater organizational higher productivity gains and increased revenuee potential," D'Uva said, but cautioned that VoIP is a relativelyh new and expanding technology, "so issues of security and even network power still need be addressed as VOIP continuesw to evolve.
" Computers, Technologuy and Telecommunications