A telecom person in an VoIP world

A telecom person in an VoIP world

The switch from Telecom to VoIP (voice over internet protocol) has been a long time coming. For those of us who work with Telecom, we have been nervously looking over our shoulder as VoIP technology gains momentum. If you are like me, you may have first greeted it with a confident snicker or brash statements like, “That’s not a phone system!” and “It will never work, they don’t understand Telephony!” But time passed and Telephony’s significance didn’t diminish; we all had to accept the fact that VoIP technology is the future.
Employees with legacy PBX systems experience might think the future is bleak, since familiarity with Telephony can increase your standing within a company. But after 16 years’ experience, I’ve found VoIP Telephony has come a long way and it’s actually very exciting. The open architecture and the ease with which administration is handled are some of the appealing qualities of the system.
The technology is great, but it takes a certain mind-set to install and deploy VoIP properly in a complex situation. You need to learn the importance of detailed station reviews and end-user training, how intricate the dial plan can become and what it takes to make sure every call routes properly. You know Telephony, and once you learn the VoIP system it becomes clear it is just another system. Every legacy manufacturer has unique characteristics and differences within its system–as does VoIP Telephony.
When your company begins to talk about making the move to VoIP Telephony, don’t cringe and start to list all the reasons why it is not a good idea. Switching technology will save your company money and ensure your future. Make sure your company chooses a partner who understands the importance of the Telecom manager’s knowledge and the company’s Telecom needs. See it as an opportunity to shine. The sooner you take steps toward Telephony, the sooner you will find yourself in a new phase of your career. You will find yourself in the IP Telephony world, which is a great place to be.
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Pam McCord is a professional services manager for Inacom Information Systems.