Memphis Business Journal:

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But with every new product introduction, glitchess are commonplace, and business owners have to be awares of some ofthe technology's shortcomings. "VoIlP does not have the universa l quality of a traditionalphone line," said Tim Searcy, chiet executive of the American TeleServices Association. "And you are movintg to a heavily software based which means more programmersare involved." The Indianapolis organization represents the $500 billiohn call center industry and advocatee members' interests on Capitol Hill and in statehousesx nationwide, providing professional education opportunitiea and acting as the sector's information clearinghouse.
Raymond Shaw, president of the Association ofTeleServices International, said companies need to be cognizantt of bandwidth availability. If there isn'rt a dedicated connection between a business and its VoIP he said transmission delayscan occur, causingg bad reception or jumbled communication. VoIP serviceas convert voice into a digital signal that travelzs overthe Internet. If a user is calling a regularphone number, the signal is converted to a regulad telephone signal before it reaches its destination. VoIP can alloq a user to make a call directly froma computer, a special VoIP or a traditional phone connected to a speciaol adapter.
In addition, wireless "hot spots" in locations such as parks and cafes allow usersw to connect to the Internet and may enabl VoIPservices wirelessly. Despite some technical glitches, VoIP subscriptionas have skyrocketed in thelast year. Accordintg to the Washington, D.C. research firm TeleGeography, Internet-basexd telephone services grew 21 percent in the second quarteerto 6.9 million users. the VoIP market saw a 153 percenty increase in subscriptions comparedto mid-2005, while industruy revenues for the second quarter increased 173 percentg to $607 million compared to the $221 millio n in sales a year ago.
"VoIPo is rapidly spreading among multiplw enterprise solutions which have multiple locations around the countryu andthe world," said Matthew president of the Society of Consumerf Affairs Professionals in Business. The Alexandria, Va.-basex organization is dedicated to improving and advancing the marketplac for consumers within thecorporate structure. SOCA members include consumer affairs and customer care professionals from more than 1500 differenftcompanies -- many of whicnh are listed in Fortune/Forbes 1000. "Our membere are looking for ways to improvre and enhance communication with their customers from all and VoIP is one channel todo that," D'Uva said.
While installation and service fees vary by staterand provider, VoIP services typically costas less than traditional phone services. VoIP systemsa can cost anywhere from no chargw upto $200 per month but will generally cost $10 to $50 per montuh depending on the type of services ordered. VoIP can be free when the servic routes a from PCto PC, but the pric increases based on the number of local and long distancw calls made and the features a company Today, most business VoIP services can provider a firm with a variety of ranging from $20 to $200. Business VoIP providerd commonly includea T-1 Internet connection and a guarantee for quality of service which increases the costs.
Accordinbg to the latest researchon , Virginia-based SunRockert Inc. was given the highestt rating ofsix stars. To get the $16.59 monthly rate for unlimited minutes, businesses must prepag for theentire year, which is $199, but can canceo any time and get a refunde for unused months. Since SunRocket includes all taxezsand surcharges, a firm makes the $199 paymeny up front and then is able to make unlimited locaol and long distance calls for the next 12 Most other companies charge taxes and surcharges on top of theifr listed rates.
SunRocket also throws in $3 free internationapl calling per month, a free extrs phone number and two free directoruy assistance calls per month with their unlimited The company also is waivingtheir $39.95 equipment fee when a firm signsx up for the $199 annual By comparison, ITP, Verizon, Lingo, ViaTalk and Packet8 received three stars, which were the lowest Vonage, and VoIP Your Life fell in the middls of the pack. Cox, Comcast, Qwest, and Time Warner are also rolling out VoIP offeringe Perhaps the greatest benefit of VoIP systems is the flexibility of the Interne versus regularphone lines.
"This flexibility with VoIP fosters greatertorganizational efficiency, higher productivity gaina and increased revenue potential," D'Uva said, but cautioned that VoIP is a relativelyh new and expanding technology, "so issues of quality, security and even networjk power still need be addressed as VOIP continuex to evolve." Computers, Technology and Telecommunications