BigCreek
God Is Good.
Premium
join:2002-06-25
Heber Springs, AR
| VOIP 24 channel
I'm not terribly experienced with VOIP, so I'd appreciate some ideas...
I have a client with a call center looking to expand and use VOIP. She needs 24 channels and has been told to run it over a T-1.
- Will an Internet T-1 handle 24 simultaneous VOIP calls with good quality?
- Any suggestions on a provider (T-1 or VOIP or both) that would be good to deal with on this? Should I get one provider for both?
- Is it better to use common analog phones and a VOIP PBX or actual VOIP phones and a VOIP router?
- What hardware should I use for the main VOIP box and also the stations? In lieu of a better plan I'll probably spec a Linux server with Asterisk software and FX cards.
- What else should I have asked but didn't know enough to do so?
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Alltel EVDO; Linux. Terrific wife & kids; live on a farm by Big Creek. Software & network consultant. I ride a Suzuki DL1000 V-Strom. |
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RockyBB
Premium
join:2005-01-31
Castle Rock, CO
| the key word here is "call center." This means that the "unlimited" providers are out because they restrict against the heavy usage demands of call centers. So you're stuck paying per minute. A lot of folks think "VOIP" because they have stuck in their mind that VOIP is free or close to free. You can get sub 1.5¢ with VOIP for call centers, but you've got to have the broadband, too. For clients near a carrier POP, it might just be cheaper to run traditional local loops and do traditional LD, than it would be to put internet on the T1s and then do the LD minutes. You really have to weigh the options -- especially if they would end up having to replace a phone system that now works fine with something with a SIP interface.
When evaluation options, you really need to know what the customer wants to do. Inbound or outbound call center? Unsolicited telemarketing (lots of short calls) or speaking to existing customers (longer call duration)? [If it's outbound unsolicited calls are they scrubbing their phone numbers against do not call lists?] Mostly in-state calls or out-of-state calls? Unfortunately, everything really does "depend."
Relative to hardware, the biggest question is: is it your business, or is it someone else's business. If it's your business, then go to town with linux servers on spare PCs running free software with commodity cards. If it's someone else's business, and they're paying you, feel certain that when something breaks on your DIY system and there's no support organization available 24x7 to help you troubleshoot that you will regret it.
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"Teleblend has an agreement with the Assignee to solicit and support former SunRocket customers." |
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balazone
60 billion
Premium
join:2002-04-01
Wheeling, WV
 ·Comcast Formerly ..
| reply to BigCreek
First is this an inbound or outbound call center?
If it's outbound you will need a predictive dialer.
You also need to keep the following in mind-
Call logs, do not call list, call recording and follow all FCC rules.
As for a T-1 you have 2 options. You can get a voice T-1 (23 voice channels 1 data channel) you need the data channel to send caller ID, FCC requirement.
A data T-1 and then you can find a VoIP provider. Some VoIP providers will do your PBX functions for you and all you need are IP phones. The problem is that a SIP call takes about 87kbps of traffic so 24 calls is more than 1 T-1 can handle you would need 2 T-1's.
It's all about how much work you want, do you want a company to setup everything and you just pay the monthly fee? Or do you want to install a PBX, log calls, maintenance etc...
I work for a company that has built 300+ seat call centers(some in under 7 days!) so feel free to ask or PM me. |
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MrTelakom
join:2007-10-22
San Clemente, CA
| Their are co/s that can do 24 channel VOIP, 24 lines is not a problem for a T1 at all today. 84k is history. They also like the previous gentlmn stated will do all the services for you also. That is the future. Now if you are a call center then you might also want to look in Metro ENET or SIP TRUNKING (JUST SEARCH THESE KEYWORDS). Contact me off list when you have a moment and I can assist with your concerns.
mrtelakom@yahoo.com |
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Mizzat
Will post for thumbs
Premium
join:2003-05-03
Atlanta, GA
edit:
November 20th, @01:52PM
| AT&T provides VoIP T1s that can handle up to 48 voice channels over a single T1. You can also do a DS3 if you need more bandwidth and voice.
If you're interesed PM me your info. |
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Splitpair
Premium
join:2000-07-29
Cow Towne
 ·T-Mobile US
·T-Mobile US
 ·AT&T Southeast
| reply to MrTelakom
said by MrTelakom  :84k is history. mrtelakom@yahoo.com 64K right.
Wayne
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If you cannot fix it with a buttset and some beanies you ain't a technician. |
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