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But with every new product introduction, glitches are commonplace, and business owners have to be aware of some ofthe technology'a shortcomings. "VoIP does not have the universal qualityh of a traditionalphone line," said Tim chief executive of the American TeleServices "And you are moving to a heavily softwarde based solution, which means more programmers are involved. " The Indianapolis organization representsthe $500 billion call cente industry and advocates members' interests on Capitol Hill and in statehouse s nationwide, providing professional education opportunities and acting as the sector'ss information clearinghouse.
Raymond Shaw, presidenr of the Association of TeleServices said companies need to be cognizantt ofbandwidth availability. If there isn't a dedicateed connection between a business and its VoIP he said transmission delayscan occur, causing bad reception or jumbledd communication. VoIP services convert voice into a digitapl signal that travels over the If a user is calling a regulardphone number, the signall is converted to a regular telephone signal before it reachex its destination. VoIP can allow a user to make a call directlyy froma computer, a special VoIP phone, or a traditional phonw connected to a speciaol adapter.
In addition, wireless "hot spots"" in locations such as parks and cafes allow users to connecty to the Internet and may enable VoIP services Despite sometechnical glitches, VoIP subscriptions have skyrocketed in the last year. According to the Washington, D.C. researchg firm TeleGeography, Internet-based telephone services grew 21 percentf in the second quartertto 6.9 million users. Overall, the VoIP market saw a 153 perceny increase in subscriptions comparedto mid-2005, while industrhy revenues for the second quarter increased 173 percent to $607 millio compared to the $221 million in sales a year ago.
"VoIP is rapidly spreading among multiple enterprise solutionws which have multiple locations around the countrh andthe world," said Matthew D'Uva, president of the Society of Consumer Affairs Professionals in Business. The Va.-based organization is dedicated to improvingf and advancing the marketplace for consumers within thecorporate structure. SOCAP members include consumer affairxs and customer care professionals from more than 1500 differentcompaniesa -- many of which are listed in Fortune/Forbes 1000. "Our member are looking for ways to improve and enhance communication with their customers fromall angles, and VoIP is one channell to do that," D'Uva said.
While installation and service fees vary by state and VoIP services typically costs less than traditionapphone services. VoIP systems can cost anywhere from no charge upto $200 per monthh but will generally cost $10 to $50 per month depending on the type of servicesw ordered. VoIP can be free when the service routex a from PCto PC, but the price increasees based on the number of locak and long distance calls made and the features a compan implements. Today, most business VoIP services can providde a firm with a variety of rangingfrom $20 to $200. Business VoIP providef commonly includea T-1 Interneyt connection and a guarantee for qualitty of service which increaseas the costs.
According to the latest researchon , Virginia-basede SunRocket Inc. was given the highest rating of six To getthe $16.598 monthly rate for unlimitedc minutes, businesses must prepay for the entire which is $199, but can cancel any time and get a refund for unused months. Since SunRocket includes all taxesand surcharges, a firm makesa the $199 payment up fronyt and then is able to make unlimitecd local and long distance calls for the next 12 Most other companies charge taxes and surcharges on top of their listed rates. SunRocket also throwsd in $3 free international calling per a free extra phone number and two free directory assistance calls per month with theirunlimitefd plans.
The company also is waivinhg their $39.95 equipment fee when a firm signe up forthe $199 annual By comparison, ITP, Lingo, ViaTalk and Packet8 received three stars, whichn were the lowest rankings. Vonage, and VoIP Your Life fell in the middlwe ofthe pack. Cox, Cablevision, Qwest, and Time Warnerr are also rolling out VoIP offering s Perhaps the greatest benefit of VoIP systems is the flexibility of the Internef versus regularphone lines.
"This flexibility with VoIP foster greaterorganizational efficiency, higher productivity gains and increased revenues potential," D'Uva said, but cautioneed that VoIP is a relatively new and expanding technology, "so issuesa of quality, security and even network powet still need be addressexd as VOIP continues to evolve." Technology and Telecommunications