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VoIP gateways have steadily grown in popularity over the last six months. As businesses have been scrambling to reduce costs and stretch budgets, VoIP gateways have emerged as a low cost way to leverage VoIP using existing infrastructure.
Unfortunately, purchasing the right VoIP gateway isn’t always that easy, especially for small medium business owners and staff who probably have a million things on their mind. In fact if you don’t know what to look for in a VoIP gateway you will lose time and money - something no one can afford in these times.
Luckily, you can make the VoIP gateway purchasing process much smoother by understand the four keys to a successful VoIP gateway purchase.
Know your FXS and FXO. The most common, but oft overlooked aspect of purchasing a VoIP gateway is knowing which port configurations you need - that means understanding FXS (Foreign eXchange Station) and FXO (Foreign eXchange Office). FXS VoIP gateways are used for connecting telephones to a VoIP phone system and PBX systems to a VoIP service. FXO VoIP gateways are primarily used to connect VoIP phone systems to the PSTN.
Check your network. Since your VoIP gateway will be connected to your network and your VoIP service will be riding across your network, you’ll want to make sure that it can handle the increase in traffic. You don’t want to experience packet loss that will result in call degradation.
Ensure you’re compatible. Most of today’s VoIP gateways support the most widely used voice codecs and VoIP protocols, but since you’re likely using a VoIP gateway to VoIP enable an existing PBX system, you’ll want to triple check. In addition you’ll want to consult your VoIP service provider to ensure their service is compatible with your gateway.
Configuring, installing and supporting your gateway. On the surface VoIP gateways seem like an easy piece of equipment to deal with. But for most, configuring, installing and supporting a VoIP gateway can become a nightmare. So before you purchase your VoIP gateway, consult your supplier to ensure they can do this for you (if needed).
It should go without saying that budget should also be a consideration, so consider that another key (free of charge). VoIP gateways range in price starting around $199 to up over $3,000, depending on the configuration.
As with most VoIP equipment, you get what you pay for with a VoIP gateway. That means make sure your budget is reasonable such that you can afford a quality brand and model like AudioCodes or Quintum.
Looking for a VoIP gateway? I can help! Contact me to find out how I can help you purchase the right VoIP gateway (and I’ll do it for FREE).
A while ago I was conducting a product training for three of our new sales hires and we started to talk about open source phone systems. As you can imagine (since you have probably been there yourself) as a newbie, wrapping your head around open source phone system isn’t always the easiest thing to do. Heck, learning about VoIP in general can be difficult and when you throw in the part about open source software you can see how things can derail quite quickly.
In order to help them better understand open source phone systems, I came up with a layered anatomy approach to describing an open source phone system. While this is nothing revolutionary in my eyes, it seemed to help them, so I figured why not throw it out there in hopes that it might help others.
Anatomy of an Open Source Phone System
When I think of an open source phone system I think of a lemon meringue pie (probably because I am a fan of it). Everyone knows that a great lemon meringue has a few “layers†on it and the same is true of an open source phone system.
Given the recent demise of SunRocket, I thought this little how-to might be of use for those who were left holding their ata and are interested in switching over to one of my favorite VoIP providers, InPhonex.
How to Unlock SunRocket Gizmo for use with InPhonex
STEP 1
Disconnect your WAN port from the gizmo.
STEP 2 Open your browser with Internet Explorer. Go to » 192.168.251.1/Voice_adminPage.htm - the IP Address will verify if you changed the default settings in the gizmo. If so, use that address, but DO NOT FORGET the /Voice_adminPage.htm at the end.
STEP 3 Login using your admin password. If you do not know the password, they can be found at gizmopasswords.blogspot.com
A VoIP connection is different from other services. When you use your browser, for example, the only thing you need is good network speed. You will never realize if some packets have different paths or their incoming sequence is different from the source. Therefore, bandwidth is the only parameter you need to care about.
What is the Right Telephone Adaptor Choice For Your Situation?
Most VoIP service providers do a poor job of explaining the differences and benefits of the different types of analog telephone adaptors (ATA). Many take your level of knowledge as it pertains to telephone adaptors for granted; assuming you fully understand each feature/ functionality of an ATA, and that you understand how these features/ functionalities relate to your calling situation.
What follows is a quick guide to selecting the proper ATA with your VoIP Service.
Are you doubtful that it is possible?
Well, you don’t need to be an hacker or a computer geek, but simply you need a cellular phone, a free Wi-Fi network and an application called fring.
In the video below is shown how this is possible thanks to fring, an application that uses your mobile internet connection to make peer-to-peer VoIP calls.
By using a Wi-Fi network connected to internet it isn’t even necessary a sim card!
A good idea to use your home or office wireless network for an unusual way to make and receive calls with your mobile device.
Furthermore you can use this system also in airports, hotels and all places that offer you a free hotspot.
Oh, I nearly forgot that fring works over 3G, GPRS and Wi-Fi networks and dynamically adapts itself to the optimal network !
But you do not HAVE to make them fully understand the technology in order to get them to interested enough to purchase your VoIP service. You do, however, have to give them enough information and understanding of Voice over IP in order for them to be confident in making a buying decision. Here are some tips you can use, as a VoIP Service Provider, to help bolster your marketing efforts in order to increase your subscriber base.
VoIP Service Provider Marketing Tips
Speak The Customers Language - Do not use tech speak. Keep acronyms to a minimum. If you had to tell a ten year old what it is that your company does, how would you describe it?
Don’t Use High Speed or Broadband Internet to Describe an Internet Connection - 90% of consumers do not know what broadband means or if their service is high speed, after all, even dial-up services promote a higher-speed product. Instead, use DSL or Cable to describe the Internet connection necessary to use the service.
Sell Devices That Mimic The Traditional Calling Experience - Telephone adaptors, while cheap, add a foreign device to the calling experience. Rather than wasting your time explaining what an analog telephone adaptor does, sell them and cordless ip phone. Customers are familiar with cordless phones and people like things that they are familiar with. It will save the time and headache of explain why you need and ata and how to install it. If you insist on having an ata, make sure you offer one that has PSTN failover, like a Linksys SPA-3102 or Grandstream GS-488.
Explain What Happens When Their Internet Connection Goes Down - Do not just make this a bullet point in the fine print. Use it as an opportunity to differentiate yourself from your competition by explaining the issues and making sure your customers have a “back-up” plan such as a cellular phone or PSTN line for failover. Sure you might lose a customer or two, but the ones you gain will trust you. Trust build loyalty. Loyalty breeds lifetime customers.
Show Them More Than Price - If the sole decision was price, then they would have switched year ago. Most non-technical customers needs reasons other than price savings to go through the “hassle” of switching their phone service. Promote the convienence of voicemail to email, how they can use a second number so others can call them for free, educate them on the benefits your features provide them.
Do Not Make Switching a Hassle - No one wants a hassle. Make the sign-up process easy, have knowledgeable staff answering your phones, have a number porting system that constantly updates the customer on what stage of the number porting process they are currently in. Make sure devices arrive on time.
Make Paper Invoices an Available Option - Believe it or not, many consumers WANT paper bills. Due to their “non-technical” nature, they may not be use to or comfortable with paying bills online. Do not make them do it “your way”, allow them to do it “their way.”
Stop Assuming and Start Talking - Stop assuming you know what customers know about Voice over IP. I “thought” I knew what people knew about VoIP, but it wasn’t until I started selling VoIP in a brick and mortar retail environment that I started to “get it.” From there, I actually paid a friend to go out and get people to fill out surveys about their knowledge of VoIP. What I found was that most people know little, are filled with mis-conceptions, and really do not care about VoIP. But do not take my word for it, go out and talk to lots of people about Voice over IP.
While it is one thing to identify points that VoIP service providers need to market to, it is another thing to execute on them. Execution, after all, is just as important as strategy. These points are merely a starting point for enhancing the marketing of your VoIP service - do with them what you will.
Unfortunately, purchasing the right VoIP gateway isn’t always that easy, especially for small medium business owners and staff who probably have a million things on their mind. In fact if you don’t know what to look for in a VoIP gateway you will lose time and money - something no one can afford in these times.
How to Unlock SunRocket Gizmo for use with InPhonex 
