VOIP solutions?

Question

If you have a lets say a router and a PBX built in like the ones shortel and allworx sell. Do you need landlines. What is it with VOIP when is it when you dont need to have land lines to call out? Can your internet connection turn into your line to you dont need services like from att, etc?

I want to know the technical and fundamental aspect please

Answer 1

The shorter answer is Yes, you can do away with landlines IF you have enough bandwidth for all your users. Typically you will need 128Kbps (up/downstream) per voice call. Most SIP connections (SIP (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Session_Initiation_Protocol) is the VOIP standard)

Look into the Asterisk open source PBX system. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asterisk_PBX

You can also subscribe to Broadvoice or packet8 for your service or any one of hundred others

Answer 2

If you are running a good enough broadband connection, VOI is great. Myself use Vonage, free modem calls everywhere, can look up numbers called out and in on the net, does not affect my net connection and calls are clear. Still have ID, call waiting etc. When I had my landline typical month phone bill was $80, with Vonage $28.53

Answer 3

Skype will allow you to purchase a phone number I believe, and people have used it as their main service. I just wouldn't use it because power outages will cause problems.