We speak a lot about unified communications and how network convergence allows it. Getting your customers migrated to VoIP is the first step to introducing them to unified communications (UC). Once that is established, they will be much more likely to embrace UC if you can show them the business problems it can help solve.

In this article, we look at some of the key drivers of demand for UC, which you can keep in mind when selling systems upgrades to your customers.

Product Review

In a competitive and fast-changing market, telephony solutions for any business must offer flexibility, the ability to scale, and the capability to adapt and expand to meet the needs of the client without breaking the bank. This is especially true of small to medium-sized businesses that don’t have the luxury of spending large sums of money for their communications system.

With these challenges in mind, VTech presents a new line of wireless telephony products that offer the ultimate package when it comes to scalability, modularity, and value for money in both the short and long term. The VDP650 series of base stations, repeaters, and wireless phones provides a complete solution for any SMB requiring employee mobility, without compromising on exceptional quality and an innovative feature set. This combination of mobility and quality make it ideal for companies whose employees need to roam within the workplace like hospitals, manufacturing plants, department stores or universities, to name a few.

The new line is composed of the VDP650 base station, the VDP651 wireless handset, the VDP658 wireless desk phone, and the VSP605 repeater. When employed together in a total wireless voice solution, these devices can fulfill the needs of almost any SMB.

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. 

Product Review

Netgear, a company with a heritage spanning over 22 years (an eternity in the telecom market), is steadily gaining prestige and recognition for the quality of its products and their attractive quality/price ratio (QPR). 

In this article we review Netgear's Insight Managed Gigabit Ethernet/10G SFP+ Smart Cloud Switches, which are incredibly feature-rich considering their affordable price point!

Product Review

Until recently, acquiring a video surveillance system for your home or business required recruiting expert personnel, specialized proprietary equipment and a hefty budget allocation. Only over the past few years have there been systems available on the market that are not only inexpensive, but configurable and installable by even the most modestly technologically adept individuals. 

Today, obtaining, installing and configuring a security system has become even easier with the introduction of Netgear’s Arlo video surveillance systems.

This week we focus on ADTRAN, a global provider of telecommunications networking equipment and internetworking products that has stood the test of time in a volatile and dynamic market by maintaining a solid level of market innovation and reliability. In this article we review ADTRAN’s network switches, routers and media gateways.

The Internet of Things (IoT) is a field of information and communications technology (ICT) that has been increasing exponentially for the past few years, with the number of connected devices now exceeding the world’s human population.

But many IoT device users may not be aware of the inherent security risks of their internet-connected devices, according to a January 2018  study by the Cybersecurity Research Institute. According to the report, hackers have already proven themselves adept at discovering flaws in these devices and turning them into botnets (botnets are a collection of connected devices infected with malware and controlled without the owners' knowledge).

In this article, we review some of the vulnerabilities inherent in connected devices and steps you can take to secure your network and protect against hackers.

Product Review

Wireless networks have evolved into an almost ubiquitous service. Coffee shops, restaurants and shopping malls are all expected to provide Wi-Fi connectivity as part of the customer experience. For many establishments such as hotels, the existence and the quality of a wireless network can make or break its ratings on travel websites. Large corporate enterprises, educational institutions and conference centers all have extensive facilities where large-scale Wi-Fi networks are not only desirable, but absolutely necessary.

With the needs of the market so great and the breakneck speed at which this technology keeps advancing, a solution which is innovative, cost effective, futureproof and easy to deploy and manage is a must.

TP-Link, a company which entered the international market in the mid-2000s, has become a major contender to provide just what the market needs. In this article, we review the new EAP225V3 indoor and EAP225 outdoor access points,  TP-Link’s smart PoE switches and its world-class EAP Controller Software.

...Especially if they have lousy internet service

Because of its name, most people think of SD-WAN as being relevant only for companies with multiple sites. But SD-WAN can do wonders for many types of companies – even a single-site business located in a remote area with an unreliable internet connection. If you work with a company that fits this description, SD-WAN can resolve a lot of their VoIP issues.

Product Review

Yealink’s W41P IP DECT phone solution brings a new level of flexibility to cordless phones in the workplace. The W41P package includes a W60B DECT base station, a T41S IP desk phone, and a DD10K DECT USB dongle that allows the IP phone to double as a DECT handset, so you get all the rich features and functionalities of VoIP combined with the convenience and mobility of DECT.