Boxx Communications Ltd

Simplifying telecommunications for businesses large and small!

Hosted VoIP

ISDN phase out plans: What now…?!

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ISDN phase out plans: What now...?!

A recent announcement by BT that they have a 10-year plan to migrate all customers off their ISDN network and on to the IP network, has made now an excellent time to make your communications future proof…..

While there is certainly no need for ISDN customers to panic – a decade is more than long enough to plan an effective migration – it does makes sense to look at your options sooner rather than later. Moving across to a more modern system now will take any worry away as well as give access to additional benefits.

So what is BT doing….? In simple terms, they are moving away from traditional telephone lines and instead relying on Internet Protocol to carry voice data (Getting confused by technical terms? Read our guide here)

The announcement by BT CEO Gavin Patterson that:
“We already serve many thousands of customers in businesses using IP, our goal is by 2025 all of our voice customers will be served using an IP with a premises solution and will migrate off the traditional telephony platform”
was the first step towards their vision of replacing all legacy networks and platforms.

An excellent option for many ISDN customers looking for an alternative solution of the type envisaged by BT would be VoIP. It offers many benefits above and beyond being a next generation system that will not be under threat in the same way ISDN is.

So, why would we here at Boxx Comms recommend VoIP….? For these key reasons:

1) Improved Call Handling – The ability to put calls on hold, play marketing messages and move calls seamlessly between locations

2) Flexibility – Easily increase or decrease the number of of users on your system as you grow or change, and easily add another location for taking calls, eg if you or staff are working from home.

3) Lower call costs – Call packages suited to business needs, rather than one size fits all

4) Full control – Monitor call traffic as well as analyse performance according to your specific measures.

To reiterate again, there is no need to panic – a decade is obviously a long time for things to change and be changed. iPhones, for example, didn’t even exist 10 years ago!

That said, why not get ahead and access the rewards of upgrading to a more modern system sooner rather than later – you know it makes sense!

VoIP: An Introduction to Voice Over Internet Protocol

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VoIP: An Introduction to Voice Over Internet Protocol

Voice over Internet Protocol, more commonly known as VoIP, has revolutionised communication by allowing person-to-person calls over the internet, at a lower than usual price.

Communication is carried out through a VoIP specific handset, sometimes known as a SIP (Session Initiated Protcol) phone, which is connected to the internet. What makes VoIP so attractive is that it can be used exactly like as standard telephone line, or you can harness the power of the additional features to improve your call handling & monitoring.

VoIP is cheaper because it doesn’t make use of traditional telephone wires that are costly to lay and maintain.  It works by translating speech into data packets for transmitting across the internet (like any other file) and transforming it back to its usual form upon arrival.

We always recommend an assured broadband service with voice traffic prioritisation, to ensure calls are of the highest digital quality. This means that the voice signals travelling over the data connection will not be interrupted by other data travelling along the same data connection, thus affecting the quality of the call.

Using VoIP as a communications solution is very reliable and becoming a mainstay of office life. Statista, the website that draws references from hundreds of different sources, estimated VoIP use worldwide at more than 158 million mid 2013, with all predictions being that it will remain a fast-growing market (see findings here)

Boxx make integrating VoIP into your business really easy:

1) Choose a handset (wide range available)

2) Allow us to pre-configure the set-up so it fits your requirements

3) Plug into your broadband & you’re ready to go, it’s as simple as that!

If you are interested in finding out more about VOIP and how you could introduce the service into your business, simply contact us – a Brain Boxx will be happy to help!

Telephone jargon buster: Key telecoms terms explained

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Telephone jargon buster: Key telecoms terms explained

As jargon-heavy industries and sectors go, telecoms is one of the hardest to master.

Littered with acronyms and technical phrases that are impossible to decipher if you don’t already have some knowledge of what they refer to, finding and buying the best package can be a nightmare.

But not any more: our jargon buster brings you the most common and need-to-know terms, and explains them as simply as possible.

So without further ado, here we go…..

ADSL: An Asynchronous Digital Subscriber Line refers to a standard telephone line being transformed into a broadband connection to transmit large amounts of data by putting a splitter into the telephone wall socket. It typically delivers fast download but slower upload speeds. ADSL2+ is a faster version of this that is now available across much of the UK.

Hunt Group: This rotates incoming calls through a group of lines associated with the same number until a free one is found. Perfect for sales teams or call centre as the caller only receives a busy signal if all lines are busy.

IP: Internet Protocol is the standard way of transporting information across the internet in packets of data.

IP Telephony: Internet Protocol Telephony is the standard setting out transmission of data and calls across the internet.

ISDN: Integrated Services Digital Network, often referred to as an ISDN line. ISDN is an international communications standard for sending voice, video and data over normal, copper telephone wires.

Non-Geographical Numbers: These are telephone numbers that do not include an area code, such as 0800 or 0845, and are often used for consumer call centres. What the number starts with depends what it costs, and not all are free on mobile packages, for example, so make sure you are clued up on costs.

Number Port: This allows you to move an existing telephone number to a new provider. The normal process is to request a port code and then give this to your new provider.

PSTN: Public Switched Telephone Network, simply a standard telephone service. It is mostly digital these days, apart from the final part from the local exchange to a user’s phone where copper wires carry the analogue voice data.

Router: Either a device or computer software that directs IP packets to the next point towards their destination.

SDSL: A Symmetrical Digital Subscriber Line works the same as ADSL (see above) but with equal speed/bandwidth in both directions.

SIP: Session Initiation Protocol allows worldwide free communication between people using computers and mobile devices on the internet. It harnesses VoIP (Voice over IP, see next entry) technology and is most commonly used to start and finish VoIP calls.

VoIP: Voice over Internet Protocol translates speech into data packets for transmitting across the internet like any other file, transforming it back to its usual form on arrival. Much cheaper than traditional calls, communication can be carried out through any computer or phone that can connect to the internet. 

VPN: A Virtual Private Network is a way of creating a private communications network on an otherwise public system such as the web, using security including passwords and authentication to allow access.

If there is any other telecoms related jargon you need help with, please feel free to contact us.

You were called today at ………!

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You were called today at .........!

Are you a fan of the telephone service 1471? You know, the one where you can find out last number to call your telephone line, with the option of calling them straight back by pressing 3. Well this this service is currently, but quietly, being phased out. 

Don’t go and rush to buy an answering machine to fulfil your curious nature just yet though.. An alternative, similar
feature that might be of interest to you is 1571.  

Not quite as well know as it’s predecessor, this service allows callers to leave a voicemail message when you unable to answer the phone or are on another call. You are also able to record your own personal greeting for your phone and you can change this as often as you like.  

There are any more inbound telephone services available that you may, or may not know about – get in touch and we’ll talk you through them!

Your telephone number, your marketing tool!

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Your telephone number, your marketing tool!

After originating in the US, the first FREE TO CALL 0800 numbers were introduced to the UK (by BT) in 1985. These days there are many more types of numbers available, but do you know what they all are and what they offer…..?

The 3 most popular types of Non-Geographical Numbers:

0800 FREE to call telephone numbers remove all barriers to customers contacting you, attracting three times as many calls as standard geographic numbers!

0845 Extremely cost effective for number owners and callers also benefit from a local rated call, wherever they are within the UK.

0871 Substantial revenue share is available for number owners, callers pay between 6p and 10p per minute

There are many benefits of using these types of telephone numbers:

  • The absence of a local area code means that the telephone number gives a National rather than Local impression and makes for a more professional business image.
  • They can be diverted to any number (even a mobile number) and callers do not need to be aware.  This is great if you are often away from your business or even better if you run your business on the go!!
  • The number that your virtual line is diverted to can be changed at fairly short notice, so you never need to be unavailable
    again.

With any of our inbound services we can provide you with a host of features.  The possibilities are endless, there are literally hundreds of combinations so if you have problem, we almost certainly have a solution….!

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