VOIP Presentation to the Not-for-profit CIO forum

Thursday 22nd Feb 2011Henare Howard

Quote of the day

One machine can do the work of fifty ordinary men. No machine can do the work of oneextraordinary man.

~Elbert HubbardThe Roycroft Dictionary and Book of Epigrams,

1923

A definition

Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) is a general term for a family of transmission technologies for delivery of voice communications over IP networks such as the Internet or other packet-switched networks.

– Wikipedia 2011

In other words, its a way for communicating viavoice over a network or the internet

What is VoIP

More than a phone systemPlatform for communication and collaborationUtilizes computer instead of phone networksIntegrates with computer systems (Outlook)Can include videoconferencingWell known examples

Skype, Google Talk, MSN Messenger

Why consider VoIP

Availability of legacy systemsIncreasing maintenance costsLack of supportLack of functionalityTelecommunications

Building a business case

Understanding the businessUnderstand the environmentUnderstanding the benefitsUnderstand how can it enhance your business

Understanding VoIP

• Hardware vs. software

• Proprietary vs. Open source

• PSTN vs. SIP• Cloud / Hosted

Things to consider

Current telephony servicesLAN and WAN infrastructureDifferent flavours of VoIPCosts & Support of VoIPGetting independent advice

Things to consider

Unified CommunicationsVideoconferencingAnalogue devicesMobile fleetSoft phonesRedundancyReception

Case study – Te Roopu Taurima

• Largest kaupapa maori provider of services to the intellectually disabled

• Employs close to 500 staff• Provides residential care for over 200 clients• Has 7 offices and 53 homes• 5 legacy PABX systems - unconnected• Head Office PABX end of life 2009

Case study – Te Roopu Taurima

• Proposals sought 2009 for Auckland only• External funding secured• Variation in proposals• External assistance to evaluate proposals• Desire not to use VoIP initially• Project put on hold due to organisational

commitments

Case study – Te Roopu Taurima

• Update to proposals sought in 2010• Different vendors allowed to tender• Technology and costs moved considerably• Widened scope of project to cover all sites• Difficult to get accurate telco costs• IT Vendors offering bundled services• Upgrade LAN & WAN in regional sites

Case study – Te Roopu Taurima

• Videoconferencing project 2009 / 2010• Upgraded WAN / LAN as part of project• Assisted with rollout of VoIP project• Scope change put pressure on deadlines• SIP savings not recognised• Selected proposal conservative choice• Some bedding in issues

Case study – Future projects

• Rollout to regional offices July 2011• Rollout to homes will be considered• Mobile VoIP and soft phones

Case study – Lessons learned

• Understand key business drivers• Budget for infrastructure upgrade• Technology is changing very quickly• Difficult to get costs from telco• Difficult to compare PSTN vs. SIP• Avoid the dreaded scope creep

VoIP Software

Open source

3CXAsteriskTrixbox

Proprietary

CiscoIPFX SiemensZeacom Microsoft Lync

Hardware

Open source

EpygyTrixbox

GrandstreamLinksysPolycomYealink

Proprietary

AvayaCiscoNec NortelSamsungSiemens

Telco / Network

Call Plus (2Talk, iTalk)CompassOrconTelecom / Gen-iTelstra ClearSolarixVodafoneWorld Xchange

• Kiwilink• Hitech Solutions

Vendors/Integrators

Gen-iConnect NZSiemensMicrosoft

Resources

• NZ VoIP Users Forum– voipusers.org.nz

• VoIP for Dummies in NZ - Steve Biddle– http://www.geekzone.co.nz/sbiddle/6421

Final quote

It is only when they go wrong that machinesremind you how powerful they are.

-Clive James

Questions