Moving to modern cloud-based communications

Technology is changing the way we work, live and connect with customers, and this is especially true of Voice-over-IP (VoIP) and unified communications. Today’s communications can take advantage of the economics brought by new architecture models, like cloud, and technology improvements that mean businesses can reach customers—whether over PCs, phones or other devices—and each other more efficiently.

As Jeff Lorenz from Primus points out, VoIP has become a mature, “tried-and-true” application of cloud for such business advantage. As in the case of applications like cloud storage or Software-as-a-Service, VoIP takes advantage of the cloud model to eliminate capital expenses and reduce the resources dedicated to maintenance and management.

It is for those same reasons that Iristel’s Samer Bishay notes a VoIP-based hosted PBX can bring significant advantages to small businesses in particular. As well, it can add the edge that comes with a more professional air. “With the right service provider, a hosted VoIP PBX system will highlight a small business’s appearance to the outside world in addition to providing savings and increased functionality,” Bishay says.

Finally, like other cloud services, VoIP architectures can be improved on the service provider’s side and then rolled out to its customers. The world of communications technologies is not standing still and cloud-based communications can be a way for business to keep up with its changes.


For more information, visit www.primusPBS.ca/bb-hpbx  

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Tips for finding communication success with VoIP

Voice over IP (VoIP) can revolutionize the way small- and mid-size businesses (SMBs) handle communication processes by delivering highly flexible and cost effective telephone systems.

A hosted VoIP PBX (Private Branch Exchange) can enhance a small business’s communications capabilities, customer responsiveness and business image. Proper hosted VoIP solutions will not only eliminate the requirement for extensive investments in traditional phone systems, but they will also remove the requirement for regular PBX maintenance fees.

The flexibility of VoIP can connect multiple end points under the same corporate PBX umbrella, regardless of their physical location. With the right service provider, a hosted VoIP PBX system will highlight a small business’s appearance to the outside world, in addition to providing savings and increased functionality.

Before taking the VoIP plunge, there are a few important points you need to consider:

1 Ensure the provider’s network is reliable with redundancy built in. Choosing a local CLEC (Competitive Local Exchange Carrier) in your area is an important first step.

2 Check that the VoIP solution you have chosen is flexible. Is the infrastructure being provided by a small remote server or a Telecom Grade Class V switch? Is your service provider fully staffed for operations and support?

3 Make sure the service provider’s network is stable. What are the disaster recovery measures? A power failure in Hamilton, Ont., for example, should not affect all subscribers because the provider has only one point of presence.

Not all VoIP solutions are created equal, nor are all of them right for all SMBs. Infrastructure-based solutions on the back end are just as important and, in many cases, much more important than first-glance bells and whistles.

Asking the right questions and doing a little homework will help ensure flexible, scalable and reliable communications that meet your growing business needs.

Samer Bishay
President & CEO, Iristel Inc


For more information on Iristel’s hosted VoIP solution for business, visit http://www.iristel.ca. 

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Also in this issue:
Are you using cloud computing?
What cloud computing and social media tools bring to corporate Canada 
Steam Whistle nets significant savings by moving to cloud-based solution 
Better, faster, stronger: Productivity gains edge out cost as key cloud benefit
Cloud Computing Supplement: Soaring upwards with cloud communications

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