What Is A PRI Line, What Are The Advantages And Limitations Of PRI Circuits?

In an ISDN system, there are two types of services: Basic Rate Interface (BRI) and Primary Rate Interface (PRI). While the first one is installed at home or small business organizations, the later one is for large organizations which have their own telephone exchange systems. There are number of B-channels and D-channels in the system which carries data, video, voice with several control and signaling information. But, what is Primary Rate Interface and how does it work?

What is PRI Line?

The Primary Rate Interface comprises of a 64 Kbps D-channels and 23 Kbps B-channels. Here, it uses T-1 line. It also consists of one D-channel and 30 Kbps B-channel, which use an E1 line. If a user accesses the Primary Rate Interface on a T-1 line, he can get internet speed up to 1.544 Mbps. On the other hand, an E1 line user can get services up to Mbps. PRI utilizes Q.931 protocol over D-channel.

There are some countries where this system is carried on a T-carrier system line while E-carrier line is available worldwide. The users of the system are directly connected with the telephone company's central office.

Advantages of PRI Circuits

1. The service provider gives almost 500 numbers for each line. Therefore, it becomes easier for the outsiders to call the extension straight without going through the PBX Auto-attendant.

2. Through a PRI line, it is possible to have voice and data access. There are also some service providers which offer free data transmission for certain period of time.

3. Call hunting is also easy with a Primary Rate system. But for the analog trunks, the service provider needs to extend the facility and also include additional cost.

4. What are the other benefits of this system? It can be utilized for voice connectivity, video conferencing, data connectivity, faxing, etc. And all these can be done simultaneously.

5. This circuit is anytime better than the analog trunks as it is an end-to-end digital system.

6. Due to the fiber optic materials, the wire is far more redundant than analog trunks. Also, you will face less troubleshooting here than other systems.

7. Tapping your digital phone lines and listening to your conversation is almost impossible now.

8. You don't have to wait long to start a call here.

9. As there are several service providers who comes with flexible plans, this system also become economical for small companies.

Limitations of PRI Circuits

1. If the minimum rental is less than the average value of calls in an analog system, then installing PRI circuit is not that much economical.

2. If you have to make international calls, this system is not cost-effective. You can choose SIP or ITSP services at lesser rate to make such calls.

3. You have to pay for Inter branch communication if you install this line. If you install VOIP systems, you can make inter branch communication over internet at much lower cost.

4. You can buy Primary Rate lines only if you buy those from your EPABX vendor.

By Nick A Patel

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How To Find The Best Commercial Telephone System For Your Business

Commercial telephone systems could be a game changer for your small business. With a little investment on this front, you can actually give your business the much-needed boost. Here are some of the factors that you should keep in mind when selecting or choosing these commercial telephone systems.

One of the first aspects to keep in mind would be the overall credibility of the company. You want specialists who have been in the business for a while and thus can give you equipment that is at par with the latest market trends. You would also notice that they offer free advice and quotes to new clients for helping them get an approximate cost also. This is an industry that is flooded with new players but many of them are actually just looking for selling products rather than value.

Beyond this, costs are another crucial factor that come into account. For example, a particular firm may promise you exceptional benefits but in the long run charge you more with high fees, hidden charges, etc. implicating more of losses. You want solutions that are viable and affordable but not really so high on the cost front that you keep losing monetarily.

Also, do check out the term contracts when you are opting for the same. Most commercial telephone companies give you the flexibility to replace and repair devices in case they are under warranty. Complicated though these systems may seem, there is no denying that they can be susceptible to some problems. These state of the art devices are completely automated in nature. Though they simplify your work process they are also prone to once-in-a-while glitches. These should be ideally covered under your commercial telephone systems company.

Watch out for companies that emphasize on sales pressure. It means that they are trying hard to sell. Look for companies that offer solutions without being commission-based and provide complete training for these installations. Doing so would help you in smoother transition and shifting from your regular telephonic devices to these contemporary units. Other aspects to consider here include.

• What is the type of brands being offered to you? Are they renowned international brands or something that is made locally but yet promising?
• Apart from this you should also ensure that it connects well with both infrastructure and networking needs from your side. It can be that you need the connections for both internet and intranet purposes. So do check if the following company is providing for both. 

With these voice and data solutions you get benefits like telephonic cabling that includes the latest CAT 5 and 6 structured data and network cabling. So no matter what the size of your business be, if you are planning on extending your network and make business transactions and processing smooth, a high-end commercial telephone system would definitely be a boon in simplifying this process and also giving you a multi-faceted solution for taking care of all of these needs.

Southern Voice and Data offers your business office or commercial telephone systems with broadband and data service so that it transforms online interests around the UK businesses, public services, and many more. They will provide you with a comprehensive solution for your telephony needs including telephone systems, data network cabling, etc.

By Phil Harwood 

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5 Things You Need To Know About Business Phone Systems And What To Look For

Before you take on the task of researching the best business phone systems out there, here are a few general things you need to know to help you make the best decision for your business communication needs.

1. Premise-based PBX vs. Hosted PBX

For the most part, there are two types of PBX business phone systems: Premise and Hosted. A premise-based business phone system requires clunky equipment to be stored within your office and is usually seen in larger enterprises. Small business owners are recommended to use hosted business phone systems for seamless expansion and cost efficiency.

2. Expensive Equipment is Not Always Necessary

One way your PBX business phone systems save you money is by not requiring you to make expensive purchases on hardware. With BYOD (Bring Your Own Device), you can use your mobile phone or keep using your existing hardware without any issues. Wiring and cabling is also not necessary as hosted PBX business phone systems are powered using your internet connection.

3. It Can Boost Productivity and Help Retain Customers

You won't have to worry about letting a message slip through the cracks. Many business phone systems have features in place like call continuity and voicemail to email to ensure you always stay on top of your messages. Cloud receptionist features like auto attendant are also available so you can offer an overall better customer experience and keep your buyers satisfied.

4. Promotes Workspace Flexibility

Modern systems provide users with the freedom to work from anywhere. These days, you don't need to have an office to have a business phone system; all you need is a reliable internet connection and electricity (unless you're using a virtual PBX and operating straight from your cell phone). It's also easy to expand your team and add extensions, as well as move from one location to another with an easy plug and play solution.

As you search for business phone systems, you will come across providers ranging from those that have been around for decades and some that have sprouted in the last few years. Although we praise experience, it may not always be best to choose a provider solely on their shelf life. Go with a provider that focuses their efforts on business solutions (some providers go as far to make focus medium-sized and small businesses their main focus) to ensure that your business communication needs are being met. Check out their services and decide whether or not they have what your business needs.

5. Not All Business Phone Systems Are Created Equal

How A PBX Phone System Can Benefit Your Business
Don't be fooled by the jargon and heavily technical literature you may find on PBX systems. Contrary to popular belief, you don't need to be tech-savvy to learn how to operate a PBX system. If you're purchasing hardware from a provider, you will most likely receive a pre-configured phone that is ready to use as soon as it arrives. This makes it possible to just plug in the device and start making calls with barely any set up. Cabling and wiring is not necessary with a hosted PBX system so installation fees and downtime is not something you would have to worry about.

All of these benefits lead to one thing: more savings. Without set up costs or expensive hardware, you can use the time and money you're saving and invest it back into your business. For even more savings, you can choose a virtual PBX phone system that allows you to run your business from your mobile phone using your business phone number. It's the simplicity and professionalism many entrepreneurs look for without the cost of a major PBX phone system provider.

Small Business Phone System Features to Look Out For
If you're looking for any limitation that PBX business phone systems bring, it would be that they rely on an internet connection to function. As long as you're using a reliable internet provider your system will stay up and running; however, many PBX business phone systems offer the ability to forward your calls to an external device, like your smartphone. It's an added security feature that gives business owners peace of mind knowing that they won't miss an opportunity regardless of unexpected circumstances. Just like this simple call forwarding feature, there are many services within a small business phone system that can save your business.

Call recording is a great way to keep voice records, just be sure to follow your state's laws in regards to voice recording. It comes in handy with industries like travel agencies and medical offices when there is miscommunication or an incident regarding an exchange of information over the phone. It's a way to meet compliance standards for certain industries and has been a crucial tool for business owners who rely on record-keeping for accountability and training purposes.

You can easily streamline your customer's calling experience with an automated attendant and customized caller menu. These two features work together to give your caller relevant information, like new promotions or upcoming changes to your office hours, and direct them to the people they need to speak with. Your callers will appreciate the updates and their positive experience will encourage them to recommend your service to others.

Overall, keep it simple. You might not need all the bells and whistles a major provider might offer, so be sure to understand your specific business communication needs. Look for business phone systems that reduce the headaches, not add to it.

Alicia Sandino has been working in the virtual phone service industry for several years providing insights on the benefits of business phones.

She is currently with FastPBX, which focuses on helping medium-sized and small businesses grow by offering products and services that promote productivity, as well as effective internal and external communications. You can read more about business growth tips, news & events, and tech updates by visiting the blog at http://www.fastpbx.com.

By Alicia Sandino

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PBX Vs VoIP...Making Sense Of Today's Business Phone Systems

For the past few years, VoIP has quickly become a part of people's vocabulary. It has been touted as a convenient and cost-effective way to stay in touch with your business network and is used to optimize internal call flow. Before VoIP, however, analog PBX systems were the go-to business phone systems of choice.

PBX relates more to the traditional analog phone system that relied on the presence of large equipment and complex cabling. It also wasn't as cost effective since expenses would accumulate due to maintenance and long distance fees, and expansion was time consuming. PBX is still being utilized for business communications today, but users are quickly realizing the downsides to this technology in comparison to VoIP.

Reliability

Some will say that a PBX system is more reliable than a VoIP system because of VoIP's dependability on an internet connection. That may have been true a few years ago but just as technology has quickly evolved in the last few years, VoIP has also evolved to bypass these emergency situations with simple call forwarding features.

VoIP indeed uses your internet connection to operate but implementing a fail over strategy that involves back up endpoints allows you to continue receiving calls to a mobile device with or without internet or electricity so your customers can reach you whenever they need to regardless of your connectivity status.

Cost

If you're running a business you'll want to take any chance to save on expenses, so investing on business phone systems that can reduce your monthly phone bill should be a no brainer. With traditional analog PBX business phone systems, the initial cost can be significant when you factor in equipment and installation costs, as well as the maintenance and long distance fees which can become significant over time.

Implementing a VoIP business phone system is known to alleviate the strain of monthly bills because there is virtually no cost in setting the system up. If your office already has IP business phones, all you need to do is have the provider implement their system, which usually won't take more than a few minutes once all the documentation and ports have been completed, and you'll be ready to make calls in no time.

Even if you don't have the proper phone hardware, you can find business phones for sale at great prices that meet most budgets. Other than hardware and service, there are no maintenance fees or pricey long distance fees.

Expansion

Like most business owners, you probably intend to expand your business. Even if you don't have any immediate plans to expand your business locations, internal expansion is on every business owner's mind. With a traditional PBX, expansion meant having to install more cables, purchase the hardware, and additional maintenance costs.

With VoIP business phone systems, adding extensions is easy and affordable. With some providers, all it takes is getting in touch with a preferred agent and notifying them of the changes you want to make to your system. Some hardware may be necessary if you're adding a physical phone but it still won't add up to the spend levels of a traditional PBX.

Improvements to the PBX Phone System Over Time

Before the technology we know today, businesses hired receptionists and secretaries to physically connect communication lines to their desired destinations using switchboards. By the 1990s, VoIP started to become more popular with its ability to exchange voice data on other devices such as PCs. Fast forward to today's communication methods and we're surrounded by endless ways to stay in touch with each other right at our fingertips. In an effort to modernize business communications, the traditional analog PBX phone system is becoming more cloud based, evolving into what is known as IP PBX and Hosted PBX. Now, there is no need for excess equipment since this communication technology is making its way to the cloud.

If you're not quite sure yet that VoIP is the best option for you and you want to continue using your traditional PBX phone system, it is possible to use VoIP with your traditional PBX phone system. This hybrid option can reduce your costs just as well and make the transition to a more modern communication system smoother.

Ready to Upgrade to a VoIP Phone System?

If you're looking for a modernized VoIP phone system, be aware that VoIP and IP PBX have become similar technologies and getting the most out of these communication methods depends on the quality of the provider. With the rapid development of multi-channel communication tools and devices, it's easy to get lost in the novelty and endless list of features but always remember your specific VoIP phone system needs and the value that your new communication strategy can bring to your business for longevity and growth.

By Alicia Sandino 

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What You Should Know About Fixed Wireless Broadband Access

Fixed wireless is a method of transmission of high speed data traffic via a wireless connection between two fixed points. Subscriber service consists of a microwave antenna and radio on customer's rooftop for transmitting and receiving RF signals. The customer's antenna points to the service provider's RF transceiver (Access Point) located on the radio tower or tall building. Fixed wireless connection with customer has clear Line of Sight (LOS) to the Access Point can reach distance up to 50 miles and data rate up to hundreds of Mbps.

Fixed Wireless has two configurations, point-to-point (PtP) or point-to-multipoint (PtMP). PtP networking connects two locations by using two radios and two antennas dedicated to only each other. PtMP networking refers to communications between one access point and multiple customer radios. Fixed wireless can use frequency either in licensed band or unlicensed band. Unlicensed band frequencies of 900MHz (902-928), 2.4GHz, 5.3GHz, 5.4GHz, 5.8GHz, 24GHz, and 60GHz are exempt from FCC licensing requirement. Unlicensed wireless systems, although quick to deploy, do not promise exclusive use of the band and are susceptible to potential interference. Licensed microwave wireless systems operate within parts of the radio spectrum (VHF, 900MHz, 2GHz, 3.65GHz, 4.9GHz, 6GHz, 7GHz, 11GHz, 13GHz, 18GHz, 23GHz, and 80GHz) designated by the FCC. To operate a licensed microwave fixed wireless radio system, one must apply for a license from the FCC. Licensed operators are permitted exclusive use of part of the band over an assigned geographic area.

Fixed Wireless Broadband is designed to emulate coaxial cable connection and support both TDM and packet traffic such as T1, T3, frame relay, Ethernet and ATM. High-capacity carrier-grade wireless backhaul radio combines TDM with Ethernet to provide smooth evolution to advanced, packet-based radio performance and facilitating cost effective, risk-free migration to IP/Ethernet. Enhanced Fixed Wireless can deliver Internet, Voice and MPLS, all with guaranteed Service Level Agreements. The advantages of fixed wireless include lower costs, greater flexibility, and faster deployment. Reliability is on a par with wireline networks and can be engineered to achieve 99.999% availability. Service carriers go to great lengths to ensure secure data transmission through the use of high-gain directional antennas tightly focusing the signal and directing it precisely at the customer's CPE. Fixed Wireless Broadband transmits and receives encrypted signals from specific, authenticated devices only. It employs the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES), which is the standard adopted by the U.S. government to protect its data. Hence, fixed-wireless data transmission using AES are as secure as any transmission in the world.

Latest technology innovation has made fixed wireless a competitive mode of broadband delivery in increasingly high density environments such as the suburban, urban, and enterprise customers. Multiple Input Multiple Output or MIMO technology has enabled the rapid growth in bandwidth capacity by continually improving spectrum efficiency with the addition of more and more MIMO streams and smart antenna array technologies. Antenna beamforming is a crucial technology enabling the spectrum used by an access point to be reused by multiple clients simultaneously. Beamforming uses precise geoposition information from each wireless client to focus wireless antenna transmit signals towards each unique client, achieving improved focused wireless signals, and significantly reducing interference in the spectrum. Because beamforming isolates client signals, it creates spatial opportunities in the spectrum for additional MIMO streams to be used simultaneously using SDMA (Space Division Multiple Access). This is called Multi-User (MU-) MIMO. When downstream traffic arrives for multiple clients, the access point identifies geolocation based beamforming opportunities to service those clients simultaneously, drastically improves the capacity of the radios. MU-MINO enables fixed wireless to deliver fiberlike broadband connectivity at a fraction of the cost of traditional wireline solutions, in any environment, from low-density rural broadband to high-capacity, high-reliability business connectivity for the enterprise.

Paul Ngai, P.E. is a telecom consultant specialized in RF and Fiber Optic Networks. He is also the principal of Network Systems Technologies LLC http://www.nstecs.net, a telecommunications consulting firm provides planning, analysis, design, testing and operation support services.

By Paul Ngai 

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6 Tips To Follow While Using VPN

VPN is obviously extremely useful if you have given all your trusted employees and also the key contractors a remote access to your network with the help of a client VPN or a virtual private network. There are so many cost benefits and productivity related benefits of using a VPN. Below are some useful tips that you can follow while using a VPN.

1. You must use a strong authentication method

This will surely depend upon the infrastructure of your network. You should also be able to check your VPN and documentation of your operating system in order to determine all your options.

2. A strong encryption method should be used

An L2TP or a layer two tunneling protocol can be very helpful when used. This is a network with certain types of Microsoft Servers. For example, a Point to point protocol can be termed to be very weak unless the password of your clients are guaranteed to be very strong.

3. Limit your VPN access to all those with a valid reason for business

Any VPN connection is a door that can be used to enter the LAN. You should only keep it open when it essentially needs to be open. The remote contractors and employees should any time be discouraged from connecting to your VPN to download the files that are required on a common basis.

4. Access to the selected files through extranet and intranet

If you have a secure HTTP site that comes with a safe password and authentication, it will expose only the selected files on one of the single servers and not your entire network.

5. Email access should be enabled without requirement of VPN

On all the servers of Microsoft Exchange, you must set up a server for Exchange proxy in order to allow the Outlook to access this Exchange by using an RPC or remote procedure call. This is obviously protected with the help of an SSL encryption.

6. Enforcing and implementing a strong password

There should be a very strong policy for a password. You must also understand, that your network is only as secure as the weakest of password that is in use. There should not be anyone that can be allowed to keep a password on a permanent basis. Use a word, a number or any other alphanumeric combination of password. This can help you to secure your VPN on a long term basis.

By Aman Tumukur Khanna 

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5 Things To Understand About VPN Speed

The speed of a VPN is an important thing to consider, and may also be a determining factor for many people when deciding whether they should use a VPN at all. Speed really does matter when it comes to the Internet. Even if a VPN provides improved online security and can help get around blocked content, if the service is slow, the overall experience will be far from ideal.

In this article, I will look at several factors that can influence the speed of a VPN, and how they can be mitigated.

1) The VPN Server Location

Typically, establishing a connection with a VPN server closer to your location will result in better speed. This is because the complexity of Internet traffic goes up as the distance between you and the VPN server increases. The more complex the traffic, and the greater the distance data has to travel, the slower the VPN speed.

If you don't have a good reason for connecting to a particular VPN location, picking the one closest to you is the best option. For example, if you live in Texas and want to log into a US VPN server, use one in Houston or Dallas instead of one in New York. Similarly, if you're located in China and need a US VPN server, find one that is available on the West Coast over one somewhere in the east.

2) The VPN Protocols

Different protocols can be used to establish a VPN connection. Some of the more popular ones include OpenVPN (over UDP or TCP), SSTP, PPTP and L2TP/IPSec. Everything else being equal, each protocol can result in a significantly different VPN speed. For example, using OpenVPN over UDP typically results in a faster connection than OpenVPN over TCP.

There are no hard set rules as to which protocol will give you the best speed. OpenVPN over UDP is a good default to try. If you find yourself having issues, try switching to a different protocol to see if your VPN speed improves.

3) Encryption Level

Stronger encryption is often more complex and can, as a result, slow down a VPN. A 128-bit encryption will in most cases lead to a faster connection than a 256-bit one.

On the downside, lowering encryption strength will make the VPN connection less secure and the transmitted data more vulnerable. So, you can try playing around with the encryption level, but unless you see significant speed improvements with weaker encryption, it is best to stick to the stronger versions.

4) VPN Server Load and Bandwidth

How powerful the VPN server is will have a significant impact on the speed. Overloaded servers with a bandwidth that cannot keep up with the demand will result in a much slower experience.

The client software you use to connect to a VPN service will usually tell you how many IP addresses and how much bandwidth a server has. The higher those numbers, the more powerful the server. Those same clients sometimes even show real-time usage. If the server you're connected to is overloaded, switching to a different one is usually as simple as a couple of mouse clicks.

5) Your Network Setup

Whether your device is on a wired network and physically connected to a router or using WiFi can affect VPN speed. This distinction is especially relevant if you have a fast connection to the outside world. Because a wired connection is often quicker than WiFi, the latter can be a limiting factor. You can try plugging your computer directly into the router to see if there is a speed improvement.

Ultimately, not all VPN providers are created equal. Even under ideal conditions, the speed and reliability they offer may be drastically different. If you have tried implementing several of the methods mentioned in this article but are still not seeing speed improvements, it may be time to consider switching VPN providers.

Visit http://www.fastestvpnguide.com/ for tests, reviews and comparisons of the fastest VPN services around. Let us help you pick the right one for your specific needs.

By Tim Tremblay 

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Everything You Need To Know About VPN Services

What is VPN? VPN is an abbreviation for virtual private network. It can be defined as the method that is usually applied so as to add to the privacy and the security into the public and private networks, the internet and Wi-Fi hotspots.

VPNs are usually used by different kinds of corporations so as to enable them to protect any sensitive data that they may have. There has however been an increase in the use of the personal VPN option today. This can be attributed to the different transitions that are facing the internet today.

When you use a VPN, then the privacy is improved to a very large extent. The reason why you get better privacy with a BPN is the fact that the initial IP address you may have been using is replaced with one that is provided by your VPN provider. This is a great way for subscribers to get an IP address from the gateway city that they may want, provided that it is offered by the VPN provider. You can use VPN to alter your location. You may be living in New York, but you can use VPN to make it look like you are in London and so on. Each VPN provider offers different gateway cities that you can select from.

Security

The security features that are offered by VPNs are what attract most people. There are lots of methods that one can apply so as to intercept any data traveling to a given network. Firesheep and Wi-Fi spoofing are easy ways applied to hacking any information that is needed. The analogy is the fact that the firewall will protect the data in the computer while the VPN will protect data even on the web.

Usually, the VPNs use highly advanced encryption protocols and the techniques that guarantee tunneling techniques that are secure so as to encapsulate different data transfers. Anyone who considers themselves as a savvy computer user may never use the internet without having a firewall as well as an antivirus that is updated.

Security is becoming very important to most people because the security threats seem to be increasing. More and more people are also relying on the internet which makes VPN even more attractive because they are well rounded for purposes of security. There are different integrity checks that can be applied so as to make sure that data isn't lost and that the connection isn't hijacked in any way. All traffic is well protected and the method is greatly preferred to the proxies.

The VPN setup

Setting up a VPN is a process that is quite straightforward. Usually, you only need a user name and the server address. There are smartphones that are quite dominant and they can actually configure the VPN using PPTP as well as L2TP/IPsec protocols. All the major OS can also configure the PPTP VPN kind of connections. Getting a VPN may be the best idea that you may have for your business. Usually, the protocol numbers and the features that are offered grow as time passes. You may select the kind of VPN you need depending on what you require it for.

There are lots of VPN providers out there. Some may offer free services while others may offer their services at a cost. There are different advantages and disadvantages of using either of the two. https://switchvpn.net will give you an insight on this topic and also offer Fast VPN Service.

By http:// Shalini Madhav

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