1. A Project on
IP Telephony Based Services in USA
Prepared by
Asifur Rahman Khan
Id: 072852056
Sub: IP Telephony (ETE-605)
MS in Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering
North South University
2. Abstract
IP telephony (IPT) is transport of telephone calls over the Internet, no matter whether
traditional telephony devices, multimedia PCs or dedicated terminals take part in the calls
and no matter whether the calls are entirely or only partially transmitted over the Internet.
The most significant benefit of IPT and driver of its evolution is money-saving and easy
implementation of innovative services:
In the future, Internet Telephony Service Providers (ITSP) may use a single infrastructure
for providing both, Internet access and Internet telephony. Only data-oriented switches
could be deployed for switching data as well as pocketsize voice. Multiplexing data and
voice could also result in better bandwidth utilization than in today's over-engineered
voice-or-nothing links. Not only the providers, but also their clients will profit of lower
costs eventually.
Now, customers may take advantage of flat Internet rating vs. hierarchical PSTN rating
and save money while letting their long-distance calls be routed over Internet. This is
especially true in Europe, where the prices of long-distance calls are still higher than in
US. But: according to some estimation, the prices of the traditional and the Internet
telephony will equalize together with the convergence of quality of services provided by
them.
In this project we will discuss on IP Telephony based service in USA and one of the
largest service providers is Vonage. We will discuss about their technology and business
aspect in this project.
3. Introduction
Vonage is a leading provider of broadband telephone services with over 2.4 million
subscriber lines as of May 1, 2007. Our award-winning technology enables anyone to
make and receive phone calls with a touch tone telephone almost anywhere a broadband
Internet connection is available. We offer feature-rich and cost effective communication
services that offer users an experience similar to traditional telephone services.
Vonage is an all-inclusive phone service. Vonage gives you local and long distance
calling anywhere in the US, Canada and Puerto Rico. We can do this because we use
your existing high-speed Internet connection (also known as broadband) instead of
standard phones lines. You’ll save money and get great local features like Caller ID with
Name, Call Waiting and Voicemail Plus included at no additional cost.
With Vonage, you connect your telephone to your high-speed internet connection using
the Vonage phone adapter that we send you. Pick up the phone, and use it like you do
today.
When you pick up the phone, the Vonage phone adapter converts your voice into data
and sends it through the Internet like an email. Our network sends the call where you
want it and translates it back into voice. When the person you’re calling picks up the
phone, it sounds just the same as any other call. When someone calls you, they dial your
number, your phone rings, and all you have to do is answer it.
Once you’re connected, pick up your phone and use it just like you do today. The person
you’re calling doesn’t need to have Vonage or an Internet connection on their side. They
just need a phone. And your phone rings when someone calls you as it always did. You
use your same touch-tone phone. You’re just connecting it to Vonage instead of your old
phone company. Also, using Vonage doesn’t affect your computer usage. Continue to
surf the web or send and receive email with no problem.
4. Digital Overview
In USA Vonage offers DigitalVoiceTM service, which is an innovative Internet offering
that enables customers to communicate over the Internet. DigitalVoiceTM is a form of
Voice over Internet Protocol ("VoIP") service that allows customers with broadband
Internet connections and specialized Customer Premises Equipment ("CPE") to
communicate without using a telephone line. Vonage’s customers cannot access
DigitalVoice service by "dialing in" over the Public Switch Telephone Network
("PSTN"). Vonage’s service can be used anywhere in the world where a broadband
Internet connection is available and, therefore, is inherently nomadic.
Vonage’s service offers integrated capabilities and features that allow the customer to
manage personal communications. Users of the service are able to leverage the
capabilities of the Internet in multiple ways, including: a function that allows customers
to receive their voicemails via email to an Internet-enabled device of their choice; the
ability to use their device at any location that has a high-speed Internet connection; and
the ability to manage their account through the World Wide Web.
5. Vonage 9-1-1 System Builds to the Specifications of Public
Safety
Vonage proposes for regions that require the use of multiple Emergency Service
Numbers (ESN)1 for E9-1-1 call routing the establishment of a Memorandum of
Understanding (MOU) between Vonage and the public safety authority. This MOU
would implement E9-1-1 immediately through the use of a single ESN and document
Vonage’s on-going commitment to a migration to multiple ESN services as soon as
national methods, coordination and/or new technology become available.
With the enactment of the Federal Communications Commissions VoIP E9-1-1 Order,
Vonage has demonstrated an on-going commitment to E9-1-1 in thousands of
communities nationwide. Through extensive outreach, Vonage has encouraged and
supported greater national and state coordination within the 9-1-1 community to ensure
that all voice service offerings are afforded the same technical capabilities. Without the
support of national public safety resources, nomadic VoIP providers like Vonage must
kluge together various elements in an uncoordinated and unmanageable approach that
further frustrates the native 9-1-1 infrastructure and present FCC Order.
Therefore, Vonage is requesting an initial implementation to occur using a single ESN
until the multiple ESN service deployment is completed.
8. Conclusion
The result of these types of VoIP based company is the cheapest call rate. For this reason
we can talk to other country in a cheaper rate. People who are living far away from their
family can take these kinds of services
As VoIP offers benefits that every business today could ever dreamed of, such as
flexibility, cost efficiency and not forgetting enhanced customer service applications, Call
Centers are now showing their interest in VoIP and are starting to make the switch too.
In the past, a Call Center is located in a building where you operate your business. This
becomes a problem when your business eventually expands to another location where
another Call Center would then have to be provided and set up. This means spending
more money and consuming more time.
With VoIP, should your business expand one day, you now have the option of
outsourcing your work overseas by employing home-based employees for a lot less in
terms of labor virtually anywhere in the world and able to work in different time zones.
Not only will this save you money, your business can now afford even greater worldwide
customer service around the clock all year round.
As previously discussed, with the integration of data, audio and other web based features,
customer service calls will be handled more efficiently. In this case, calls will be
transferred more professionally and greater care can be provided to customers.
