Voice over Internet Protocol - Research Paper Example

?VOICE OVER INTERNET PROTOCOL (VOIP) Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) Affiliation Table of Contents 1- Company Background 42- PROBLEM SOLUTION 4 3- SUMMARY OF TECHNOLOGY/PROPOSED SOLUTION 6 4- NETWORK DIAGRAM 6 5- TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS 8 5.1- Soft Solution 8 5.1.1- Purchased IP PBX (Private branch exchange) 8 5.1.2- Managed IP PBX (Private branch exchange) 9 5.1.3- Hosted IP Telephony / Hosted PBX 9 5.1.4- Recommendations 10 5.2- Network Equipment Specifications 10 5.2.1- Wireless Gateway  10 5.2.2- WLAN Controllers 11 5.2.3- Access Points and Ports 11 5.2.4- Protocols Used For the Routers at Each Location 11 6- FEASIBILITY STUDY 11 7- Operations Plan 13 8- TECHNOLOGY CONSIDERATIONS 14 9- CONCLUSION 14 10- REFERENCES 15 1- Introduction At the present, there are many new and advanced technologies available in the market. In this scenario, VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) is a new network technology that offers a wide variety of significant advantages such as better data transfer and communication. Though, VoIP is abbreviated as Voice over Internet Protocol but it is as well known as Internet Telephony or IP Telephony for the reason that it allows us to make phone calls absolutely free or cheaper. Without a doubt, in this age of modern technologies the phone set is not essential, and presently we can communicate without a telephone set (Garden, 2011; Unuth, 2012). In addition, the VoIP is the most modern technology that is used to broadcast voice exchanges over an external or internal data network using IP (internet protocol) data packets (those are in digital form). In fact, this new type of communication facilitates the similar commutation as telephone without loss in reliability, functionality or quality; as well as in compliance with communication specifications presented by ITU (International Telecommunications Union). Additionally, the term “VoIP” is as well used to denote the software and hardware used to make such calls over the internet network (Unuth, 2012; Best Price Computers, 2012). This paper presents a detailed analysis of VoIP technology. This paper will discuss some of the important aspects that are associated with WAN network establishment. This paper will discuss these aspects in context of Acme Manufacturing Business. 1.1- Company Background As discussed above, this paper is based on the implementation of a new VoIP network for Acme Manufacturing Company. Basically, Acme expects a communication network design document that includes our recommendations. At the present, Acme Manufacturing Company has evolved to a huge business arrangement and considerably developed into a huge business arrangement. In this scenario, there is a need for the establishment of some VoIP network technology that can allow them to interlink the overall working and operational procedures of the business. Hence, they need to connect different business offices and arrangements located in China and several other offices throughout the United States (Acme, 2012). 2- PROBLEM SOLUTION Over the past four generations of Carlson family ownership, and approximately 100 years of devoted service globally, the Acme Manufacturing Corporation has successfully established and maintained a remarkable focus on building up cost-effective systems and solutions to convene complex final requirements. Additionally, the Acme Manufacturing Corporation is currently offering its services and support in form of Acme equipment in the US, Asia and Europe (Acme Mfg. Co., 2012). In addition, the global network of the Acme Manufacturing Corporation has its headquarter located in Atlanta, Georgia (Acme Mfg. Co., 2012; Acme, 2012). Additionally, this global network needs a continuous and effective connection and communication setup to connect all corporate centers located all through the world. This corporate setup should be established with an effective communication arrangement for effective management of corporate operations. Without a doubt, effective communication is one of major interactive techniques at any corporate for interacting with corporate stakeholders. On the other hand, in case of delayed communication all the business projects and operations can be affected. Given below are some of the important issues due to poor communication at the Acme Manufacturing Corporation: Delayed communication tools Long waiting time More passive communication High cost telephony cost High budgets for dedicated corporate telephony Line issues Connectivity issues High cost long distance calls Regional communication gap Less interactive Lowered communication bond Less effective response Lower bond among corporate staff Less effective hold of corporate management Lower monitoring of distant staff 3- SUMMARY OF TECHNOLOGY/PROPOSED SOLUTION VoIP is a comparatively latest technology and it has already attained broad acceptance as an application. However, there are yet a number of areas and aspects that need to be developed and offer a lot of technological advancements in VoIP in the future. In the past, researchers have shown that VoIP is proving to be a good candidate for exchanging the Plain Old Telephone System (POTS) (Garden, 2011; Unuth, 2012). For the Acme business communication, I would suggest them to use VoIP services. For this purpose I have selected Avaya IP Office telephone system, that is eventually VoIP PBX intended for small to mid-sized organizations (Avaya Inc., 2012). In fact, these VoIP communication technology systems are better for the Acme business working divisions located across different business areas. In addition, through the application of VoIP for their business setup, Acme Manufacturing will be able to save a lot of money. Basically, IP Office telephone systems encompass a comprehensive variety of communications tools that can be integrated into this cost efficient platform. In this scenario, computer telephony integration, remote LAN access, high-speed internet connections, customer relationship management and voice mail are simply some of the communications requirements of the Acme Manufacturing Corporation those are effective and widely offered by Avaya's IP Office family (Avaya Inc., 2012). 4- NETWORK DIAGRAM Figure1 represents the overall logical networking diagram of the Acme VoIP structure. This diagram shows the overall working, operational and data sharing structure of the business: Figure 1Application of Telecommunications and Advanced Networking Technology Theory There are a number of aspects to consider before switching to s new high-tech VoIP technology. In this scenario, cost reduction is one of the most important advantages. In fact, VoIP communication technology has turned out to be well-known mostly because of cost benefit to customers over customary telephone and communication networks. Additionally, VoIP cuts our monthly phone bill by an amount of more than 50%. In addition, it presents less costly worldwide long distance calling rates those are normally one-tenth of what is accused by customary phone businesses. Above all, its portability makes it an extremely high-quality alternative and one could keep away from costly hotel phone costs as well as cell phone roaming costs. In fact, what someone needs is immediately a high speed internet broadband link where he/she could be able to plug the communication set adapter into and people could contact them at their local number irrespective of our position (ProgrammerWorld, 2012). In addition, the majority of web based links charge a flat monthly communication fee according to their packages. Additionally, with the web based links for both data traffic and voice calls are able to permit clients to get rid of monthly communication charges. As well, VoIP strategies do not charge per-minute charges for long distance calls. Moreover, by making use of internet supported cell phones one could keep away from wireless roaming costs as well as long distance rates that normally touch north. Furthermore, in the majority of occasions in-network calls to additional VoIP service subscribers are free yet if the caller groups are situated in diverse areas of the world (ProgrammerWorld, 2012). 5- TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS This section outlines the specifications for the VoIP technology. Here I will evaluate some of the major alternatives of VoIP PBX and suggest a most excellent technology based system for VoIP PBX system application: 5.1- Soft Solution 5.1.1- Purchased IP PBX (Private branch exchange) For the establishment of Voice over Internet Protocol technology platform the first option is to use Purchased IP PBX for Acme Manufacturing Corporation. For implementation of this legacy scenario, the Acme Manufacturing Corporation can buy or lease the IP phone structure as well as handsets from a PBX Vendor. Additionally, Voice and/or Internet services are separately contracted. In this scenario, we have the facility of separate negotiation of Internet or voice services for each location (while a number of may believe this a negative). This technology is extensively used and tested and proven safe (pbxnsip Inc., 2012; Shinder, 2006). 5.1.2- Managed IP PBX (Private branch exchange) The next main option that I would suggest for the Acme Manufacturing Corporation is the use of the Managed IP PBX (Private branch exchange). This is just a special pricing alternative above the usual IP PBX establishment. The implementation of VoIP services through Managed IP PBX the client pays monthly charges for an on-site PBX and handsets from a service provider. This is different from previous because it does not have standard buy/lease/maintenance alternative. Additionally, Voice and/or Internet services can or cannot be bundled in. In this scenario, the main advantages of such technology based platform are its facility by providing the customer controls that offer the power of timing and roll-out of latest PBX facilities and features. Here we also have small operating costs and lesser TCO over legacy alternatives. Moreover, this technology also offers a number of advantages, “perceive” the on-site environment of the hardware to be one however this is not really the case (Verizon, 2012). 5.1.3- Hosted IP Telephony / Hosted PBX There is another main alternative to the establishment of VoIP services for the Acme Manufacturing Corporation and that is Hosted IP Telephony/Hosted PBX. Hosted IP Telephony/Hosted PBX technology platform is a completely centralized and managed alternative. Additionally, in this VoIP technology alternative a service provider will provide or sell handsets directly to the client without requiring a local PBX. In this scenario, IP Handsets will acquire their functionalities and features by using the service provider’s VoIP network, IP facilities and feature servers. Above all, all the management, administration, network, long or local distance and normal Internet services will be offered through the VoIP service provider. Moreover, the VoIP technology costs are bundled to offer per user price or can be broken out through a number of telephone sets, characteristics, networks and use. Furthermore, IP featured services placed in the VoIP service provider’s communication network allow for stability of services in spite of the accessibility of services and connectivity at the client’s location (Hosted PBX, 2012). 5.1.4- Recommendations After a detailed analysis of major technology alternatives for the adoption of VoIP services for the Acme Manufacturing Corporation, I have analyzed a number of features and issues regarding these technology alternatives. Here the ultimate alternative that works best for our business will depend on benefits, features and considerations. In this report, I have analyzed various alternatives and features of three VoIP technology implementation alternatives and found that Hosted IP Telephony/Hosted PBX is the most excellent solution for Acme Manufacturing business: 5.2- Network Equipment Specifications This section presents recommendations for network equipment that must be placed at each business location of the Acme Manufacturing Corporation; also consider equipment based on the teleconferencing needs: 5.2.1- Wireless Gateway  For Acme Manufacturing Corporation we will establish wireless gateway at each business corporate working arrangement. It will offer a capability of immediately transferring data and information inside the business setting. For this purpose, we will implement 9160 G2 Wireless Gateway that will facilitate us to mix and match RF technologies to better suit our organization’s requirements. In addition, we will implement 802.11b/g for data collection applications, 802.11a designed for elevated bandwidth applications and narrowband for larger areas necessitating wide coverage (DEMATIC, 2012). 5.2.2- WLAN Controllers We will implement Cisco Wireless LAN Controllers those are dependable for system wide wireless LAN processes, like that intrusion prevention, security policies, quality of service (QoS), RF management and mobility. We have selected Cisco 5500 Series for Acme Manufacturing Corporation (DEMATIC, 2012). 5.2.3- Access Points and Ports We will also use Cisco wireless access points that will offer a self-contained “network-in-a-box” to deal with wireless traffic among network users, access points and wireless switches. For this purpose, we will use Cisco 1250 Series (DEMATIC, 2012). 5.2.4- Protocols Used For the Routers at Each Location We will use the Ethernet network protocol to manage the entire communication at the Acme Manufacturing Corporation (DEMATIC, 2012). 6- FEASIBILITY STUDY This section outlines some of the important reasons why the Acme Manufacturing Corporation should invest in this technology implementation project. In order to answer this question we will discuss some of the benefits that will make the VoIP technology adoption very feasible for the Acme Manufacturing Corporation. For Acme Manufacturing Corporation the VoIP feasibility aspects are: (Tech-Faq, 2012; What Is My IP Address, 2012) The major benefit of VoIP for Acme Manufacturing Corporation is that it will allow the business to make calls from any place in the world where a broadband Internet link is available. The Acme Manufacturing Corporation departments all through the world will be able to take their IP telephones or ATA's with them on nationwide and worldwide trips and yet are able to manage to access what is fundamentally available on an individual staff member’s phone line (Tech-Faq, 2012; What Is My IP Address, 2012). Additionally, there are soft-phones that software systems make use of VoIP services by means of laptop or desktop. The majority of them still reproduce an interface that appears similar to a telephone, through which Acme Manufacturing Corporation will be able to make VoIP calls to anyone around the world, with a standard broadband communication connection (Tech-Faq, 2012; What Is My IP Address, 2012). In addition, the Acme Manufacturing Corporation will be able to enjoy a number of VoIP services like that call waiting, caller id, repeat dialing, call transfer and three-way dialing characteristics. The Acme Manufacturing Corporation will be able to communicate and connect VOIP phone services inside single premises within the building's Local Area Network as well as outside the corporation. The Acme Manufacturing Corporation will also be able to communicate and connect VOIP phone services among a number of locations of the same business with a backbone communication network. Additionally, the Acme Manufacturing Corporation will be able to communicate and connect VOIP communication phones to normal telephones in different associations or for sales tasks (Tech-Faq, 2012; What Is My IP Address, 2012). Moreover, the Acme Manufacturing Corporation will be able to get a number of economic benefits through VoIP technology based services. VoIP communication technology has turned out to be famous mostly because of its cost effectiveness. In fact, VoIP calls can be made all through the Internet and all through the world. In addition, VoIP plans do not charge per minute for long distance communication calls. For worldwide calling and financial savings; Acme Manufacturing Corporation needs to switch to VoIP technology. Voice over IP will offer a number of facilities to the Acme Manufacturing Corporation for instance, their staff members will be able communicate with a number of people at the same time as they can do the conference call. Then we also have the capability to send other kinds of data other than voice (such as data files) (Tech-Faq, 2012; What Is My IP Address, 2012). 7- Operations Plan Table 1 outlines the basic technology based VoIP system application plan at the Acme Manufacturing Corporation: Table 1VoIP Implementation Plan for Acme Manufacturing Corporation No. Task Duration Start Date Precedence 1 Requirement Analysis 17 days 1-Sep-12 23-Sep-12 2 Staff Interview 2 days 1-Sep-12 2-Sep-12 3 Old system analysis 3 days 5-Sep-12 7-Sep-12 2 4 Business Survey 1 day 8-Sep-12 8-Sep-12 3 5 Requirement Gathering 3 days 9-Sep-12 13-Sep-12 4 6 Requirement Specification 5 days 14-Sep-12 20-Sep-12 5 7 Sub-Requirements Verification 2 days 21-Sep-12 22-Sep-12 6 8 Sub-Requirements Approval 1 day 23-Sep-12 23-Sep-12 7 9 System Design 25 days 26-Sep-12 28-Oct-11 8 10 Soft System Design 13 days 26-Sep-12 12-Oct-11 8 11 Hard System Design 12 days 13-Oct-11 28-Oct-11 10 12 Development 21 days 31-Oct-11 28-Nov-11 11 13 System Analysis 5 days 31-Oct-11 4-Nov-11 11 14 Development 16 days 7-Nov-11 28-Nov-11 13 15 Testing 15 days 29-Nov-11 19-Dec-11 14 16 Test case development 2 days 29-Nov-11 30-Nov-11 14 17 Unit Testing 4 days 1-Dec-11 6-Dec-11 16 18 Component Testing 4 days 7-Dec-11 12-Dec-11 17 19 Error Resolution 5 days 13-Dec-11 19-Dec-11 18 20 Quality Assurance 9 days 20-Dec-11 30-Dec-11 19 21 Quality metrics application 2 days 20-Dec-11 21-Dec-11 19 22 Issues analysis and mitigation 1 day 22-Dec-11 22-Dec-11 21 23 Applying Quality Standards 2 days 23-Dec-11 26-Dec-11 22 24 Sub-Quality standards verification 2 days 27-Dec-11 28-Dec-11 23 25 Applying Quality Standards 2 days 29-Dec-11 30-Dec-11 24 8- TECHNOLOGY CONSIDERATIONS The Acme Manufacturing Corporation will need to use the network firewall for the overall network protection and they also need to develop a virtual private network for overall communication in the corporate. It will protect them from outsiders’ attacks. 9- CONCLUSION This paper has presented a detailed analysis of Voice over Internet Protocol in the context of the Acme Manufacturing Corporation. This paper has discussed various aspects of VoIP. It is a latest and innovative network technology that offers a wide variety of benefits for instance effective data transfer and communication. Normally, VoIP is abbreviated as Voice over Internet Protocol but it is as well known as Internet Telephony or IP Telephony for the reason that it allows us to make phone calls absolutely free or cheaper. This paper has shown that is used to broadcast voice exchanges over an external or internal data network using IP (internet protocol) data packets (those are in digital form). This paper has outlined Acme Manufacturing Corporation’s initiative for the implementation of VoIP technology. This paper has also summarized the recommendations for the most appropriate tools which can ensure effective management of VoIP services at the Acme Manufacturing Corporation. 10- REFERENCES Acme. (2012). Acme Manufacturing. Retrieved October 16, 2012, from http://www.acmemfg.com/ Acme Mfg. Co. (2012). A Singular Focus on Finishing. Retrieved October 15, 2012, from http://www.acmemfg.com/welcome/about-acme.html#.UH-rfG_Mj1s Avaya Inc. (2012). IP Office. Retrieved October 14, 2012, from http://www.avaya.com/usa/product/ip-office Best Price Computers. (2012). VoIP: Voice over IP. Retrieved October 17, 2012, from http://www.bestpricecomputers.co.uk/glossary/voice-over-ip.htm DEMATIC. (2012). Wireless Infrastructure Equipment. Retrieved October 14, 2012, from http://www.dematic.com/apac/Software-IT/Real-Time-Logistics/Wireless-Networks-WLAN/Wireless-Infrastructure/page33220.htm Garden, S. (2011). What is VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol)? Retrieved October 16, 2012, from WiseGeek.com: http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-voip.htm Hosted PBX. (2012). Hosted PBX – Benefits of Virtual PBX for Business. Retrieved October 16, 2012, from http://hostedpbxservices.com/ pbxnsip Inc. (2012). 10 Reasons to buy an IP PBX! Retrieved October 15, 2012, from http://www.pbxnsip.com/phone-system/ten-reasons-buy-ip-pbx.php ProgrammerWorld. (2012). What is VoIP and How it Works ? Retrieved October 16, 2012, from http://faq.programmerworld.net/voip/voip.htm Shinder, D. (2006, September 29). Understanding IP private branch exchange (PBX). Retrieved October 15, 2012, from TechRepublic.com: http://www.techrepublic.com/article/understanding-ip-private-branch-exchange-pbx/6120894 Tech-Faq. (2012). VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol). Retrieved October 15, 2012, from http://www.tech-faq.com/what-is-voip.html Unuth, N. (2012). VoIP - What is VoIP? Retrieved October 19, 2012, from About.com: http://voip.about.com/od/voipbasics/a/whatisvoip.htm Verizon. (2012). Managed IP PBX. Retrieved October 17, 2012, from http://www.verizonbusiness.com/us/Products/communications/managed-ucc/ippbx/ What Is My IP Address. (2012). What is VOIP? Retrieved October 15, 2012, from http://whatismyipaddress.com/voip Read More