Tech Buzz 06/03 Upgrading your phone system to IPT; broadband access from your local electric company
By Amanda C. Kooser •
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.
Speaking Up
A recent Yankee Group study indicated that 25 percent of the 10 to14 percent of SMBs that plan to upgrade or replace phone systemsthis year will migrate to Internet protocol telephony (IPT).That's not an overwhelmingly huge figure, but it points to adefinite trend. Myths about poor voice quality have almostdisappeared, according to a report by the Aberdeen Group, thoughentrepreneurs should still scrutinize this aspect of an IPT system.Advantages over the old way include network integration, callforwarding to cellphones or home phones, advanced call managementfeatures and savings on long distance.
This voice and data convergence approach makes sense forentrepreneurs who can make extensive use of the advancedapplications. Businesses that make lots of international calls willrealize the greatest long-distance savings. An IPT system is notreally the sort of thing you can pick up at Office Depot andinstall yourself, so expect to bring a consultant and/or serviceprovider on board.
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