How Does Network Telephony Work?

Network, or LAN, telephony is an entirely new approach to voice communications that is rendering conventional phone systems as impractical and obsolete as the telegraph. This strategy leverages your existing Ethernet LAN (local area network) to deliver feature-rich voice communications and extremely sophisticated business capabilities. Since network telephony is Ethernet-based, it is less costly to install and operate than traditional business telephone systems and vastly easier to use.

A network telephony solution makes compelling business sense. Your conventional phone system, with its wiring and handsets, is a network similar to your computer network. Its sole purpose is to distribute voice traffic to users. Your computer network, however, can distribute virtually any kind of traffic – data, video and voice. Network telephony integrates your telephone communications with your computer network, meaning voice and data communications share the same cabling. Why pay for and manage two separate networks when all you need is one?

Key components that comprise a network telephony system

A network telephone system basically consists of three components: a call control processor, which is housed in a compact box called a chassis; handsets, which look and operate like traditional business telephones; and ports on a switch or hub used to connect everything together via cables.

The chassis connects to the public telephone system via standard “outside” lines and to your network via standard Ethernet ports. The handsets connect to any hub or switch ports in your Ethernet network. You plug them in as you would a computer or printer.

The system uses your network’s cabling to transmit calls within your organization. It digitizes voice communications into pieces of data called “packets,” just as computers digitize text, numbers or video. The system forwards the packets to users’ phones, which convert them back to audio voice data. For calls outside the company, the chassis converts the packets into a format that the public telephone system can use, allowing employees to call anyone in the world just as they do with conventional phones.

What if my organization lacks a LAN?

With a network telephony system, you obtain an Ethernet network at no extra cost. With one installation, your firm gets a feature-rich telephone system plus all the printing, file sharing and shared Internet benefits of a LAN. Just plug your PCs into your network telephones or directly into the Ethernet ports of the call processor chassis. In addition to voice communications, your network will support data and video applications.

If my network crashes, will my phones still work?

Yes. Advanced network telephony systems work independently of a network’s operating system. This ensures that the phone system continues to function even with a network server failure.

Can I install a network telephony system myself?

No. Your reseller must install the system. Once installed, however, you or your employees can make changes to your phones or add or move phones easily.