VOIP n00b advice

[Speedster]

Hi

We have a small office (5 ppl) making quite a large number of phone calls - many of them to cell phones.

Our current setup is as follows:

• 3 Telkom lines - 2 of which are connected to the PBX system, the other our ADSL which doubles as a fax line.
• The PBX has a base + 6 extensions

Our current Telkom bill averages just under R3000pm (includes all line rentals, phone calls & ADSL line rental)

A couple of questions:

1. Would it be worthwhile looking at a VOIP replacement?
2. Can we integrate the VOIP system with our existing Telkom phone number?
3. Any other suggestions / considerations?

 

[morkhans]

Sounds like your existing PBX might be too small/old to allow VoIP. Take a look at some add-on services from Telkom like CellSaver and SupremeCall to save some money on costs.

If you do want to upgrade your PBX and add VoIP the only way to retain your Telkom number would be to keep your Telkom line. Typically the VoIP provider would allocate you a new number out of their range which would display on outbound calls you make via them. What many people do is keep a number of Telkom lines for inbound and then make calls over the VoIP provider and simply hide caller ID.

 

[Speedster]

Sounds like your existing PBX might be too small/old to allow VoIP. Take a look at some add-on services from Telkom like CellSaver and SupremeCall to save some money on costs.

If you do want to upgrade your PBX and add VoIP the only way to retain your Telkom number would be to keep your Telkom line. Typically the VoIP provider would allocate you a new number out of their range which would display on outbound calls you make via them. What many people do is keep a number of Telkom lines for inbound and then make calls over the VoIP provider and simply hide caller ID.

Thanks Morkhans. Is it then possible, depending on the PBX system, to integrate VoIP to the existing system. I'll go have a look at the model number when I'm back at the office tomorrow, but if I remember correctly it is about a 2 year old Siemens system.

We use SupremeCall already.

If the system would allow us to keep the existing incoming lines and make outgoing calls via VoIP using the existing handsets etc that would be awesome.

 

[warwickw]

You can also transfer your Telkom land line numbers to voip, Switchtel can do this possibly others as well. Doing this would save you a lot on Telkom line rentals, but I do recommend you install a dedicated ADSL line for VOIP only, nothing worse than being an an important call and you get jitter caused by your boss firing up his "important" torrents. On your VOIP adsl you can then use just a local only account.

 

[morkhans]

Thanks Morkhans. Is it then possible, depending on the PBX system, to integrate VoIP to the existing system. I'll go have a look at the model number when I'm back at the office tomorrow, but if I remember correctly it is about a 2 year old Siemens system.

We use SupremeCall already.

If the system would allow us to keep the existing incoming lines and make outgoing calls via VoIP using the existing handsets etc that would be awesome.

You'd have to speak to the PBX supplier as to what is possible. If it was Asterisk it would be dead simple

Take a look at CellSaver as well and compare it to saving offered by VoIP providers

You can also transfer your Telkom land line numbers to voip, Switchtel can do this possibly others as well. Doing this would save you a lot on Telkom line rentals, but I do recommend you install a dedicated ADSL line for VOIP only, nothing worse than being an an important call and you get jitter caused by your boss firing up his "important" torrents. On your VOIP adsl you can then use just a local only account.

I know Neotel were experimenting with single number ports, wasn't aware this had become available to the other voip providers. One gotcha I recently came across is you cannot point your Telkom 0860/1 number at a number that is not owned by Telkom. So even if it's a 021 or 011 number you've ported to another provider they won't/can't forward the call.

Agree on dedicated ADSL line. Word of advice, if you can't live without any calls for a day or two while your ADSL line is down then maybe a dual system is the way to go.

 

[Speedster]

Our system is a Siemens HiPath 1150 - if that helps at all.

EDIT: I've been looking all over the web for info on the system. There is an ADSL module for the HiPath 1150 - does that necessarily mean it's able to integrate VoIP functionality? ie does the hardware allow me to use the existing setup and phone out via VoIP (assuming I have a VoIP provider)?

 

[morkhans]

Our system is a Siemens HiPath 1150 - if that helps at all.

EDIT: I've been looking all over the web for info on the system. There is an ADSL module for the HiPath 1150 - does that necessarily mean it's able to integrate VoIP functionality? ie does the hardware allow me to use the existing setup and phone out via VoIP (assuming I have a VoIP provider)?

I only know Asterisk systems, so I am of no help in that department. Speak to a Siemens vendor.

 

[XConnect]

Hi.

You can definitely save on calls to mobile operators, especially since wholesale costs came down on 1 March but not all retail prices came down in line with that.

You can definitely retain your phone number on a voip provider. We work with a range of service providers and can recommend the one's most suitable for your requirements.

There are many ways to integrate your existing PBX's. You can use an old analogue system and simply add an interface.That's how most of the implementations are done.

Send me a mail on [email protected] or send me a private mail and I'll recommend one or more quality service providers based on where you are located and what you want to do.

 

[jamster]

You would see a significant saving if you choose the right service provider. It is as simple as adding a gateway to create analogue lines if your PABX does not support VOIP.