Unlike conventional telephony infrastructure, which was developed and tailored to be used exclusively for voice, today’s telecom networks accommodate a multitude of different data traffic types, of which VoIP is just one of many. Because of this, it can be challenging to adapt a network to accommodate voice.

One of the most common challenges involves a technology called Network Address Translation (NAT), which for data networks has been a godsend, but if not configured carefully, could cause problems for voice applications. In particular, NAT is a common cause of one-way and no-way audio on VoIP calls.

In this article, we dive into how NAT can impair voice sessions, cite some common symptoms that indicate NAT may be at the root of your call audio problems, and address how to resolve the issues. 

Topics: VoIP, SIP, Troubleshooting, Routers

By Dorothy Murach, Marketing Manager at Grandstream Networks*

The on-premise vs. hosted IP PBX battle continues. Which to choose? Each IP PBX option comes with its own characteristics and benefits, and the key is to determine which works best for your business’s unique needs. While it may seem that everything is moving to the cloud, hosted IP PBX options are not right for everyone. I’ll help you navigate through the details of each to see which IP PBX is the right choice for you.

Topics: IP PBX, Business Telephone System, VoIP, SIP, Grandstream, Cloud

Integrating Bluetooth technologies into IP desk phones transforms the phone into a Swiss Army knife-like device that allows a lot of useful functions, well beyond connecting a wireless headset. Here we look at innovative IP phones from Panasonic, Grandstream, Yealink, Snom, Sangoma, Allworx and Gigaset that have integrated Bluetooth and other productivity-enhancing features. 

Topics: Wireless, SIP, Grandstream, Yealink, Headsets, Product Review, Bluetooth

Product Review

Sangoma has raised the bar for entry-level IP phones with the s205. Now, the robust feature sets ordinarily reserved for executive-level phones are available on this entry-level endpoint, giving access to productivity-enhancing functionality to all the employees in your organization, while controlling costs at the same time.

Topics: SIP Phones, Business Telephone System, VoIP, SIP, Product Review

Product review

Topics: IP PBX, Business Telephone System, VoIP, SIP, Grandstream, Business Continuity, Product Review, Business Strategy

A decade ago, it would have been rare to meet someone who could carry out their profession from anywhere. For most, “going to work” involved physically going to a place of business. Today, because of the swift development of collaboration tools and the ubiquitousness of connectivity to the internet, working from anywhere is not only an option, but is often preferred by both employer and employee. Studies have shown that a mobile workforce tends to be more productive and experience higher job satisfaction.

Voice over IP (VoIP) technology is one of the major facilitators of employee mobility. Here we highlight some of the functionalities and tools that allow for a seamlessly mobile workforce.

Topics: Business Telephone System, SIP, Mobility (including remote work), Productivity

Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) has become the de-facto standard protocol for voice-over-IP (VoIP) phone systems. What does it do and why has it won out over other protocols? We address these questions and more in this article.

Topics: VoIP, SIP

One of the most common matters we discuss with customers on our support calls is network security – specifically, how to lock down SIP Trunks, IP PBXs, SIP phones, and routers from hacking. Here we review different ways hackers can break into your voice network and the steps you can take to secure your system.

Topics: SIP Phones, IP PBX, SIP, Network Security, Routers

How you connect to the internet will impact your VoIP phone system

Because SIP trunks leverage the WAN technology used to connect to the internet, it is imperative to understand how the choice of WAN technology will impact the functionality of the SIP trunk. There are different ways to connect to the internet, and each has implications for voice traffic.

In this article, we discuss the main considerations to take into account when choosing between MPLS, metro Ethernet, LTE and SD-WAN.

Topics: Business Telephone System, VoIP, SIP, Network Design

New Eastern Management Group study reflects input from more than 3,500 IT managers surveyed worldwide.

Topics: SIP, Trends