[VL2006] - 71: SPEECH! Let's talk about that--over IP

[ViewsLetter on VoIP]

VL on VoIP


*SPEECH! *
*LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT--OVER IP*

By William Flanagan

We've heard much more interest expressed lately about IP telephony, 
a/k/a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP). Trials or tests have appeared 
almost everywhere. One large client found thousands of IP phones 
installed locally, without central coordination, producing islands of 
incompatible VoIP systems. It's deja vu all over again, something like 
the inexorable spread of the first PCs or how fax machines and cell 
phones became essential to business.

How are you coping? Let's talk about that, and what others are doing in 
the VoIP arena.

With this issue, ViewsLetter shifts focus from high availability 
services to VoIP. HA is still a factor--the telephone has a very high 
expectation for availability, traditionally called "five nines" or 
99.999% uptime (down about 5 minutes a year). But moving from time 
division multiplexing (TDM) to packet switching for voice (VoIP) 
fundamentally changes how that goal is achieved (if it is achieved at all).

"Telephone people" need new knowledge and skills to stay on top of 
telephony infrastructure in the future. PBX makers stopped development 
on legacy TDM equipment so eventually everything will be VoIP on packet 
networks. "Data people" who have experience in IP on Local Area Networks 
(LANs) and wide area transmission also need to expand their knowledge. 
They may not know the details of voice switching applications, 
signaling, or interactions with the global Public Switched Telephone 
Network (PSTN).

Consider troubleshooting voice quality on VoIP. The problem could 
involve an application, a server operating system, switches and routers 
on a LAN, a wide area network (WAN), firewalls, and those little 
computers called IP phones. Not easy to sort out, but future 
ViewsLetters will cover best practices, lessons learned, and the latest 
tools of the trade to help you do it.

Because we're technical gurus, many issues will look at the hardware and 
software, at configurations and network architecture, and how to make it 
work well. But the business aspects won't be ignored. We'll examine 
various claims for VoIP in the area of cost reductions (often hard to 
realize) and increased features and functionality (which may take more 
work than expected to convert into greater business efficiency). Again, 
there are practices and lessons that should be of value to you.

Security is important to both technical staff and management, so we'll 
spend a lot time on this topic. In addition to the vulnerabilities of 
generic servers and networks, VoIP brings in a new set of difficulties 
for system operators. For example, the problems associated with VoIP 
connections crossing a firewall are many (randomly assigned UDP ports, 
for just one), with many possible solutions.

VoIP is changing very fast. The Session Initiation Protocol (SIP), the 
format that is winning the race against H.323 and proprietary signaling, 
has 50 or more study groups working on extensions to deliver additional 
features. The many Forums are working on new standards and updates that 
will impact buying decisions in future years. We'll be watching what 
they're up to and report often.

Stay tuned for answers. We're here to help.

Happy Holidays to all of you.

__
*Flanagan Consulting Supports Litigation Professionals*
Several associates are experienced in analysis of patents, trademarks,
contracts, and other intellectual property related to IT and 
communications.
We have assisted attorneys preparing claims, depositions, and testimony.
How can we help you?  Queries to +1.703.242.8381.
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William Flanagan was the technical editor for both. The books offer 
extensive
coverage, and are as accurate as two old pros can make them.

The new titles are:
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__
*How Can Flanagan Consulting Help You?*
      We understand not only the technology of networks, but also
  the surrounding business processes:  procurement, bid
  preparation/analysis, statements of work, financial analysis,
  consensus building around a solution, and more.
*  Find out now:  call +1.703.242.8381*  or email 
*Bill at Flanagan-Consulting.com <mailto:Bill at Flanagan-Consulting.com>*
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-- 
-- 
Flanagan Consulting <http://www.flanagan-consulting.com> 	 In Converged 
Networking
 We Have the Experience

45472 Holiday Dr. #3, Sterling, VA 20166 USA
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"Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance."
                                       --George Bernard Shaw
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