With the recent deregulation of voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP), converged communications - voice, fax, data and multimedia on a single unified network - in SA is set to become a high-profile business and technology opportunity. However, Artec Computer Systems warns of unwarranted hype surrounding the new technology.
Rob Cooper-Bell, head of the communications consulting division at Artec Computer Systems, states that the team is fully geared to deliver innovative converged communication solutions, including VOIP, to its clients, but the decision to implement such solutions should never be taken lightly.
"It must be noted that VOIP is not a new concept, and that IP telephony has been used within some closed corporate networks in SA for some time. However, as a newly deregulated technology, VOIP is currently enjoying significant publicity. Similarly, Artec advised its clients on a cautious approach to the hype surrounding Y2K, and we therefore advise that VOIP solutions be regarded in a similar light. The technology will deliver value, but like any technology purchase, due diligence is critical to ensure a solid return on investment," he explains.
Artec`s advised approach for any company considering VOIP would be to step back and look at the bigger picture. Careful analysis must be executed, not only of the voice architecture, but of the entire information infrastructure, especially considering the converged ICT environment. Artec will first audit a company`s entire communications network and then recommend the optimal solutions for telephony cost reduction and enhanced service delivery opportunities.
The audit takes into account both the physical component of the network - including cabling and telephony infrastructure - as well as the telephony usage and processes. Following this procedure, recommendations are made to align existing infrastructure to benefit from advancements in regulations. This will more often than not require an evolutionary or migratory approach to VOIP, rather than revolutionary. "After all," says Cooper-Bell, "there is no point in radically changing your communication service from simple, stable and established provision to a relatively more complex, newer technology, unless the benefits both now and in the long-term are crystal clear."
With the introduction of Internet Protocol telephony, the communications landscape has been littered with a host of new challenges in technology, regulations, cost control and marketing hype. Artec Computer Systems has the competencies, skills and experience to guide companies safely through these troubled waters to deliver the most cost-effective communications possible in SA.
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