A common question we often hear from our customers is whether the VoIP network stays up when the power is down. My quick answer is no, unless you have another backup plan. But don’t panic! As long as you are well-prepared, your VoIP phones can be as reliable as landlines.

Acting like the heart of VoIP phones, VoIP network is no doubt an indispensable element for making VoIP calls. Here’s a list of solutions that will help tackle the power outage issue.

Solution 1: Prepare softphones on Battery-Powered Devices

The world has gone mobile. Most of our laptops, cell phones, and tablets run on their battery power. VoIP phones on those mobile devices will still work fine without AC power when you experience power outage.

Solution 2: Get The Backup Power Supplies (UPS) Ready For All The Required Elements

Make sure you have backup power supplies to support your VoIP network when the power is out. The required elements of a VoIP network that need a power supply include LAN switches, routers, firewalls, and other connection devices. With the proper backup power supplies, you will stay connected to the Internet even during a power outage. Usually these two backup plans are sufficient enough to avoid a VoIP network interruption. However, if your internet service provider experiences a power outage, then none of your VoIP phones will work, even with the additional power supply. In this situation, you can only make calls using a standard landline.

Solution 3: Keep Your Landline Service Available

Calls can still be placed over landline when the power is down. Landlines pull power through phone lines so they can work without extra electricity.

What is your solution for the VoIP network when the power goes out? Do you have more questions waiting for answers? Please utilize the comment box below or give us a call today at 1-800-398-8647 or email at [email protected] We will be excited to hear what you have to share!

Are you considering deploying VoIP in  your home or business, but are apprehensive about going through with it because of the cost of VoIP hardware? Or perhaps you are an existing VoIP customer looking to replace or update your current VoIP equipment? If so, look no further than VoIP Supply’s Refresh product line.

Refresh is VoIP Supply’s line of refurbished equipment that undergoes a detailed 10-step process by our dedicated Refresh team members to assure that all Refresh products are good as new.

TEN STEP REFRESH PROCESS

1.  Visual Inspection
2. Deal on Arrival
3. Settings Cleared
4. Firmware Upgraded
5. Components Replaced
6. Product Cleaning
7. Final Inspection
8. Product Repackaged
9. Product Reboxed
10. Ready for Sale

After the 10-step reconditioning process, Refresh products offer a cost-effective solution for customers looking to enjoy all the benefits of VoIP hardware, at a discounted price.

Check out some of our best selling Refresh products:

The Polycom VVX 410 is a 12-line IP Phone with a rich feature set. It offers a 3.5 color LCD display and dual Gigabit ports with Power over Ethernet (PoE). The VVX 410 is perfect for knowledge workers and office staff with the ability to easily integrate with third party UC environments and applications.

Another Refresh top pick is the Polycom IP 550. This is a 4-line IP Phone with Power over Ethernet (PoE), an integrated XHTML  micro-browser, which allows users to enjoy web-based applications, and a busy lamp field (BLF).

If you prefer Cisco IP Phones, take a look at the Cisco SPA504G. This 4-line, feature-rich phone has been tested for broad interoperability with top VoIP providers. Features include wideband audio, dual switch, Ethernet ports, and a monochrome backlit display for ease of use.

The Cisco SPA303G is also a great Refresh pick. It is a 3-line VoIP phone ideal for basic IP needs, suitable for common areas and kitchens. The SPA303G features dual switched Ethernet ports, a speakerphone, call hold, caller ID and conferencing abilities.

Six Month Warranty That Covers Mechanical Failures and Defects

VoIP Supply offers an extensive line of Refresh products, from phones, to switches and gateways, as well as IP cameras. We guarantee that our refurbished products provide value and reliability at an affordable price, thus all Refresh products come with a standard six month warranty that covers mechanical failures and defects. So, when looking for refurbished VoIP products you can trust, don’t second guess it, VoIP Supply has you covered with Refresh: Refurbished and Rocking!

If you are looking for an entry level model that provides both comprehensive features and simplicity of routing calls over the Internet, the Panasonic TGP600 Cordless DECT Phone Solution is just what you need.

High Quality, Wideband Voice Services and Noise Reduction

The TGP 600 includes a base station unit and a top of the line SIP cordless handset (with charging station). It gives  you a complete SIP solution at a very reasonable price. Equipped with high quality, wideband voice service and noise cancellation, the TGP600 ensures users a seamless and superior communication experience.

Expendable With Up To Eight Panasonic Cordless and Desktop DECT Phones

Worried about adding more SIP lines in the future? Not a problem! The TGP600 is expandable with up to eight Panasonic phones. You can mix and match any Panasonic Cordless and Desktop DECT phones in any combination you want to meet your business needs, significantly reducing the costs of additional wiring.

That’s Not All…

The Panasonic TGP600 also provides a variety of user-friendly features to meet your special requirements. Here are just some of the great features you can expect from the TGP600:

• Capacity of up to 8 concurrent calls
• Phone book of up to 500 contacts
• 1.8 inch, 65,000 color TFT display
• Nearly 200 hours of standby and up to 11 hours of talk time
• 3 way calling

Where Can I Find It?

The Panasonic TGP600 Cordless DECT phone system is currently on backorder but you can preorder your phones at VoIP Supply online store today! The estimated ship date is May, 27th, 2016.

If you would like more information about the Panasonic TGP600, please contact us today at 1-800-398-VoIP or email at [email protected]. Our VoIP experts will be happy to assist you with any question you may have.

VoIP, or Voice Over Internet Protocol, has been steadily replacing traditional communications since 2004. VoIP is where calls are made through the internet versus using analog phone lines to route the calls. It is similar to the way Skype makes video calls, or the way Facebook allows you to make calls through its Messenger Application.

Since making calls through the internet is less expensive and users can enjoy many enterprise level features through VoIP, analog lines are being replaced by hosted or on premise VoIP solutions across many residential and business settings.

There are major differences between an On-Premise solution and a Hosted VoIP Solution, and their initial costs are very different, but overall they both can offer cost savings ranging from 50% to 70% in the long run. The amount of savings is different on a case by case basis, but 99.99% of customers witness a decrease in their phone expenses after switching to VoIP.

Let’s first sum up why VoIP is a less expensive option over a traditional phone system:

1.  VoIP takes advantage of the existing technology businesses already have, the Internet. In contrast, traditional telephone systems require that the business be wired with telephone lines. The customer would then incur the installation expense of the telephone company through their monthly bill. If a business is already equipped with a traditional phone system, chances are that the monthly bill is higher than what you would pay a VoIP provider.
2. VoIP allows for users to call anywhere, even internationally, for way less than a regular telephone call. Users can make international calls at local rates because when you dial an international call, VoIP technology initiates the call within that country so that the call is made “locally” and you are paying their local rate.
3. VoIP is also a less expensive option because the quality of a VoIP call does not surpass the quality of a call through a regular telephone line. Since VoIP calls are sent through the Internet connection, if the internet connection is poor, it will in turn hinder the call quality. That being said, there are thousands of businesses and large corporations that use VoIP as their main telephony solution and it has proven to be an effective method of communication.

Now that we’ve discussed why VoIP is a better option, let’s get into the two types of VoIP solutions that are available.

On-Premise VoIP

An On-Premise VoIP solution is where you have all the phone system hardware required to run VoIP right on your site (Servers, switches, phones.) Having access to your equipment provides ease of scalability and migration and offers great flexibility when it comes to adding lines and routing calls. When selecting this option, it is best and recommended to have someone who has a working knowledge in VoIP.

The main thing about switching to an on site VoIP solution is that the startup costs are significantly higher than a hosted solution. With this option you must purchase the hardware. The system would also need to be maintained periodically, so although a dedicated IT person isn’t necessary after the initial installation, it is recommended, especially if you are planning on making continuous changes to the system.

One of the benefits of an on site solution is that the hardware is yours to keep and can be great investment for your business. Equipment can range anywhere from the low hundreds all the way up to six figures depending on the size of the deployment. Moreover, an on site solution comes with low monthly rate, allowing you to save money on your communications that can utilize to improve another aspect of your business.

Let Our VoIP Solutions Specialists pair you with the best VoIP Solution. Please submit the form below if you are interested:

Hosted VoIP Solution

A Hosted VoIP solution is where everything is taken care of for you off premise “in the cloud” by a third party company. You pay the Cloud System Provider a monthly fee for using their VoIP services, but the upfront expense of buying the equipment is eliminated. You simply house your phones and any maintenance or upgrade is taken care of by the provider.

For both Hosted and On-premise solutions, you do not have to purchase VoIP phones, per say, you are able to keep your existing infrastructure and use adapters to give service to your existing analog phones. You can find a small adapter for $40. If you choose to purchase IP phones, they range anywhere from $50 to $700 for high end models.

Deciding on an On-Premise or Hosted solution is a decision that calls for careful consideration because 1. An On-Prem solution requires an upfront expense, and 2. Hosted seats for a Hosted solution run around $20 a seat. For large businesses or enterprises, paying $20 a seat for a Hosted solution may not be cost-effective, so here an On-Prem solution makes more sense. However, for small-medium-business (SMB’s), a Hosted solution could be a great fit because they may not have the initial capital necessary to purchase hardware for an On-site solution, but they can afford to pay a low monthly fee for the number of seats that they need.

So there you have it, VoIP is an amazing technology that is cheaper than regular landlines and that many individuals and businesses have already began to take advantage of. VoIP telephony is highly customizable and offers many features.

The benefits of a VoIP system are endless and the cost savings are real. VoIP can be implemented on many different settings and platforms. To find out more about the benefits of VoIP when implemented in a school system check out 5 Benefits of VoIP Phone Systems in Schools.

Feel free to give our Solution Experts a call at 1-800-398-VoIP if you are wanting to find out more about how you can save money by using a VoIP system. The cost savings vary on a case by case basis, so give us a call and we can personalize your situation and let you know how much you can save!