VoIP FAQ
Possibly.
While there are many types of headsets for mobile phones, few of them will work with a PC. We have tested, use and recommend high quality bluetooth headsets from Jabra. If your mobile phone supports bluethooth you can use the headset with both your soft phone and your mobile phone.
Yes, if the PC is equipped with bluetooth.
Most desktop PCs don't support bluetooth without an external USB adapter, though many newer laptops have bluetooth support built in.
A bluetooth headset has a typical range of eight to ten meters and does not interfere with other bluetooth headsets in the area, so it is possible to have many people in a small environment using bluetooth headsets.
Or does everyone have to have speakers turned up to hear a phone call without headphones?
How does this work in an office with people sitting near each other?
Using a soft phone requires speakers and microphone, implemented by either a headset or PC speakers and mic.
It can be disruptive to nearby coworkers if the user isn't using a headset, however using speakers and a microphone would essentially give you a speaker phone, which could be useful in a conference room scenario.
Also, does the soft phone have to always be on or is it automatic when a call comes in?
The soft phone is only active if the computer is running and the soft phone is running.
The soft phone runs in the background and will be activated when a call is received.
Turning off the computer would be similar to unplugging one of your current phones from the wall. If a call came in for that phone, it wouldn't ring because it's not on. However, the call will be handled according to what the user chooses - e.g. forward to voice mail, another extension, a mobile phone number, etc.
A soft phone is a software based telephone that runs on a PC (Windows, Mac and Linux) or PDA.
There are free and for purchase versions of soft phones. Free versions tend to be limited in functionality, but still offer two incoming lines, voice mail, etcetera. To see an example of a soft phone take a look at www.ekiga.org
In some situations it can be useful to have a cordless phone in the office allowing the user to roam around the office while they're on the phone.
Because analog cordless phones are fairly inexpensive, if you combine a cordless phone with an ATA, you'll can combine the PBX features with the mobility of a cordless phone for relatively cheap. This is compared to buying a proprietary cordless phone that only works with a particular PBX vendor's equipment.
In many cases, yes.
You can use existing analog phones (wired or cordless) with the addition of an ATA (analog telephone adapter). An ATA converts the analog signal to VoIP and sends the signal over the LAN to the PBX. Digital phones will not work with an ATA.
No. ATA based phones and native VoIP phones do not rely on your computer and do not require software to be installed.
The phone is a separate device from your computer. The phone is always on and ready to place and receive calls. Your computer does not need to be on to place or receive calls. You don't use your computer to place and receive calls; you use your normal phone, just as you do today.
A typical medium sized organization usually has three levels of phones for extensions depending on the job function.
Most, if not all, extensions can be implemented using any combination of the following three options: 1) a software based phone (aka soft phone), 2) a low end VoIP hardware phone or 3) analog phone (facilitated by use of an analog adapter (aka ATA).
Actually any broadband connection will work - the PBX will make use of whatever Internet connection you have.
The issues is more a matter of available bandwidth for placing VoIP calls. Because DSL is generally available at higher speeds and m
uch cheaper than traditional WAN technologies such as ISDN or leased lines, DSL is generally preferred. Without broadband access of any kind, however, calls will still have to be placed over the PSTN which effectively minimizes the potential cost savings on telecommunications.
The number of concurrent phone calls that can be placed over the Internet is a function of available bandwidth on your Internet connection.
Calls take up between 32 and 64 kbps. Most DSL connections in the region offer a minimum of 512 kbps. Although this bandwidth is not guaranteed by the provider there should still be no reason to need a second Internet connection unless there is a very high number of concurrent calls.