Cloud & Telecom Security

During these days, I am struggling to find an answer for myself – Will VoIP really help enterprises save money?

In the industry, VoIP is almost a “must” for newly deployed voice systems, particularly for long distance calls. The reason to do so seems to be obvious – VoIP helps save money. After checking the data on WAN costs and the cost saved with VoIP, I find it’s very difficult for me to convince myself. The data comes from my direct data from real world and some other reference data from a huge MNC told me the same story.

If you use dedicated leased lines to carry  VoIP, it’s not cost-saving, while VoIP over Internet saves money. 

In fact, during an open discussion, consultants from a very famous VoIP vendor admitted this judgement. But they insisted that VoIP/IP Telephony will help improve productivity, by short numbers, enterprise announcement, and etc. However, productivity is very difficult to measure, isn’t it? Of course, the last reason to deploy VoIP/IPT devices is to protect investment. This is another difficult-to-measure reason.

By accident, I found this old article by Tim Hills which discussed VoIP vs PSTN very interestingly. Here is some of its contents:

Why Bother With VOIP?

It’s NOT about old wine in new bottles

VOIP Risks

VOIP + IP/MPLS works – but how well?

VOIP Reliability

Failures will happen – will new technologies help?

Management Challenges

IP/MPLS management is at last coming up to speed for voice needs

Improving VOIP QOS

Carriers are learning to reimplement the past to improve VOIP QOS