When you first got your BlackBerry you were probably tremendously happy about it, but what about your BlackBerry softphone?  You might be thinking, what’s the big deal?  It’s already a phone, what’s the difference?  The difference is the difference between a cell phone signal and a wireless internet network.  Cell phone signals depend on cell phone towers, which can be pretty few and far between once you get a certain distance away from civilization.  However, your BlackBerry softphone only needs a wireless internet network which can be made available anywhere you have a telephone line, which are rather more widespread than cell phone towers, especially outside the more populated areas.

You have to be really isolated to not have access to a telephone, and it is even possible to have a telephone where there is no landline, thanks to the advent of satellite telephones.  Basically, if a satellite can see you, you can get a telephone connection, which means you can have an internet connection, which means your BlackBerry softphone can keep you communicable at the foot of a mountain in the Peruvian Andes.

So, picture your office and all the files, both computer-based and paper, that are stored there.  You probably have a vast amount of information stored there, but the chances are there is only a small amount of it that you use on a constant, ongoing basis.  Simple forms, procedures, whatever it is that fulfils your business’ core requirements in order to do keep doing what it does.  It is also most likely that this small amount of information can be stored on your BlackBerry softphone so that you can always have access to it, no matter where you are.

Now consider that you need to be able to communicate with your BlackBerry softphone, just in case, wherever you happen to be.  You want to get away from it all, but not so far away that if something goes down at work, you aren’t in a position to immediately find out and help solve the problem.  You want to be accessible, if necessary.  But if your destination is outside of cell phone range, you might still be able to receive your emails and so on, but how do you make a telephone call?  Using isolated satellite phones can be extremely expensive.

Well, now you no longer need to worry.  With your BlackBerry softphone, you can use the wireless internet signal at your destination to make a phone call.  Apart from the fact that this is much cheaper, it also allows you to choose where you make and take your calls, which can be a good thing when it comes to privacy.  With a BlackBerry softphone, you can make a call while having the relevant file or files up on your BlackBerry softphone so that you can conduct business as though you were in your office with the computer or paper file open in front of you.

Your BlackBerry softphone allows you to conduct business anywhere, as long as there is a wireless internet connection available.  This means that your business needn’t stop whenever you decide to leave the office for a few days.  Breaks are healthy, and your BlackBerry softphone allows you to take one without the guilt or stress of abandoning your business, for however short a period of time.



Thanks to David Nalin for contributing this article to our VoIP blog:

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What is VoIP?

VoIP is the transmission of voice communication through IP packets and, therefore, through the Internet. VoIP also called Voice over Internet Protocol, IP Telephony, Internet telephony, Broadband telephony, Broadband Phone and Voice over Broadband is the routing of voice conversations over the Internet or through any other IP-based network.

How PC to PC call works?

When you make a PC-to-PC VoIP call to your friend, your analogue voice signals are first converted into many bits of digital packets on your computer. These packets are sent through the Internet to your friend’s computer IP address. Upon arrival, these bits are reassembled together again at your friend’s computer and your friend hear your voice.

What do I need to start using VoIP?

Computer with sound card

Internet connection

VoIP communications application such as Viatalk

Headset or USB phone

What are the benefits of VoIP?

There are many benefits to having a VoIP solution, for example:

One low monthly fee covers all of your phone calls. This is where we can help you.

There are no unexplained taxes or regulatory fees. You know the ones on your current bill that nobody understands and your local phone provider can’t explain. No taxes are charged for Internet based phone calls which is one reason why the service is so cheap.

Long distance and international calling are much cheaper. The Internet does not care whether you’re calling someone who lives a block away or your cousin in Australia. This is why the VoIP service providers can give you such great rates for long distance and international calls.

What’s Free And What’s Not Free?

Generally speaking, calls between VoIP users are free. For example, two Yahoo or Skype users can call one another directly online for nothing. Calls to traditional land lines are what you pay for.

What are VoIP Service Providers (VSPs)?

VoIP Service Providers are the next generation telcos that provide interconnection between VoIP and PSTN networks. They allow call origination and termination between these two networks. You can compare and reviews at AZ - VoIP Providers.

Why do some VoIP services cost money, and why are some free?

A VoIP service can connect users not only with other VoIP customers but also with phone services that are offline, such as those that use traditional landline networks and wireless cell phone networks. For those calls, VoIP service providers must pay access fees to the landline and wireless operators. Those charges are passed along to VoIP customers. Calls that are between personal computers with VoIP service (Some VoIP providers offer free calls to some destinations).

What are VoIP Gateways?

VoIP gateways are devices that take analog voice signals and convert them to IP for transport over the LAN or WAN.

Which VoIP codec should I use?

VoIP codecs currently available are: G.711, G.723, G.726, G.729, GSM, and iLBC.

What is SIP ?

VoIP comes with an additional set of acronyms: SIP, H.323, and IAX. SIP stands for Session Initiation Protocol. SIP is a relatively simple protocol that has characteristics similar HTTP and SMTP.

Which protocol should be used?

SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) is an emerging protocol that is more simple than H.323 and optimized for better voice performance. SIP has a lesser overhead than H.323 and a more simple architecture.

What’s The Difference Between Phone-based VoIP And Computer-based VoIP?

Phone based VoIP converts your home phone into a VoIP service using a special adaptor. Computer-based VoIP runs on your desktop or laptop computer; this makes it more flexible, because it moves around with the computer - this means you can take it anywhere in the world.

Can I Use The Hardware From One VoIP Service With A Different Provider?

In general, no. Most of the major VoIP providers, such as Vonage, AT&T CallVantage and Verizon Voicewing, “lock” their hardware so that it can only be used with their service. Some providers effectively lease the equipment to you and will refund part or all of a “setup fee” when you terminate service. If you buy the hardware outright via a retail package, however, you’ll have a nice doorstop if you decide to terminate or change VoIP service.



Thanks to Milad Mir for contributing this article to our VoIP blog:

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Highly versatile and efficient VoIP phone systems accelerate the business processes in any business enterprise. Using the Internet Protocol or IP PBX system, incoming business calls can be easily connected to the end-users, within minimum time. You can concentrate more on your core business once the business telecommunications are taken care of by IP PBX phone systems.

Simplifying Your Business Communications

Many sophisticated features are integrated in the IP PBX phone system for efficient call handling. Calls will be immediately attended and professionally handled by the auto attendant facility. You can expect top customer care service with this facility integrated in your IP PBX phone system. Some other convenient features that make your business communication more effective are:

• Voice mail

• Fax to email

• Find me follow me call forwarding

• Caller ID

• Call conferencing

• Dial by name

• Dial by extension

No Maintenance and Infrastructure Costs

This IP PBX phone system brings a number of benefits for your business and significantly reduces monthly telecom expenditure. This phone service is mainly operated by the service providers; the PBX equipment is maintained in their premises, and so, you don’t have to install or maintain any such equipment in your workplace. VoIP phone systems use a single dedicated phone system or a broadband connection for sending and receiving data. It is not a matter of concern how many extensions or branch offices you have, this phone service unifies your entire business network through a single cable connection. The online interface interconnects all the extension phone lines of your company and helps in intra-office and external communications at highly affordable rates.

VoIP phone systems are ideal means to transform your business into a highly productive enterprise. You will notice visible growth in your business with the advanced caller interface solutions of this low priced telecommunication system.



Thanks to John Kinskey for contributing this article to our VoIP blog:

Web Softphone

Time has come when Internet telephony gets the due it rightly deserves. This has been recognized by number of corporates, as well as residentials’ who have either already migrated to VoIP or are in the process of switching.

Internet telephony VoIP has made a distinguished place for itself worldwide. With the tremendous benefits that it has over public switch telephony network is the prime reason as to why most of the people are considering it as their main mode of communication rather than treating it as a back up. This is proved by the fact that Avaya’s technical equipments needed for VoIP transmission are being sold right and left.

Benefits of IP telephony

Voice over Internet or IP telephony comes packaged with a wide spectrum of features and services making it the upgraded and contemporary mode of communication, for instance, quality of service. Initially, voice over IP service was not looked upon as a technology that would attain the gigantic status that it enjoys today; the reason being poor voice quality. With passing time constant advancements has been made in this direction resulting in quality of VoIP achieving the same standard as that of regular PSTN service that we have been using till now.

Quality of service is backed by the low rates at which local, long distance and international long distance calls can be made. VoIP can cut down your monthly telephone expenditure by almost 50% if not more. Talk about savings!

Depending upon your Internet telephony service provider, you can even avail the facility of round the clock customer service to ensure that you get to make calls without any interruption in your telephony service.

Voice over Internet telephony service being location independent allows you to make VoIP calls are reduced price from anywhere in the world. Forget about roaming charges of your mobile or expensive calls from overseas forever!

Ensuring the Best Internet Telephony Service

There is a common misconception among people that it is only the VoIP service provider who is to be blamed if the quality of service suffers. Even though a service provider has a lot to do with the quality of calls, your broadband Internet service provider too is responsible for the quality that you get. A high speed broadband connection is an absolute must for sterling quality. If you have a good provider and high speed Internet connection and there still seems to be a problem then perhaps it is time to check the applications that stay open while you are on call.

Make sure you close all other applications like messenger or emails while using IP telephony through dial -up service via your computer.

This would ensure that you not only get the cheapest possible calls but also with the best possible service.



Thanks to Kristen for contributing this article to our VoIP blog:

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You just got your BlackBerry and it has a softphone installed.  It’s a BlackBerry Softphone, allowing you to make and receive calls at a fraction of the cost from anywhere in the world as long as you have an internet connection available.  But you have to handle that big meeting that’s coming up in just a few days.  Some delicate negotiating will have to be done and the whole thing will need to take place during a conference call, so you will have to be in the office, right?

Wrong!  When you have a BlackBerry softphone you can do everything that a normal telephone can and some things that a normal telephone can’t.  On the “can do” list is making conference calls.  You should be able to fully interact with all the callers during your meeting via your BlackBerry softphone, which means you won’t even have to be in the office.  There might be some files or people there that you need to interact with during the meeting in order to get the results you are after, but the fact is that if the only person required for success, you could take that call in bed, if you wanted to.

Or over breakfast, while sitting on the sun terrace at the back of your house which you never used to be able to enjoy because you always had to be in the office by 8am in order to make sure that everything was going smoothly.  Didn’t you use to hate it when you’d get home and your other half would tell you how lovely it is to have breakfast on the terrace?  Now, with your BlackBerry softphone you can be in the places you want to be more often without letting your commitment to your business falter at the same time.

Your BlackBerry softphone not only allows you to be communicable at all times, but also allows you to be communicable even when you are not in the office.  A mobile phone might let you do that, but the fact is that your BlackBerry softphone will work even from your beach hotel in the Galapagos, whereas to take a conference call on your cell phone in the Galapagos, or anywhere outside its country of origin, for that matter, would probably cost approximately half as much as your holiday.  With your BlackBerry softphone, you can go on holiday and not worry that you won’t be able to deal with any problems that might come up as professionally as if you were still in the office.

A BlackBerry softphone allows you to stay on top of everything you need in order to fully “with it” in meetings and business telephone calls, whether conference or one-on-one.  You can store various images and files on your BlackBerry and the BlackBerry softphone allows you to conduct yourself in a professional manner with business colleagues and clients, regardless of your location in the world at that time.  A BlackBerry softphone basically allows you to keep your business safe and growing, even when you are lying in a deckchair by the side of the pool.



Thanks to David Nalin for contributing this article to our VoIP blog:

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