VOIP For Small Business

I work for a small company and we are looking at the possibility of going to VOIP. We currently have approximately 25 employees and it will probably max out at around 50. We are looking at VOIP to help cut down on our long distance costs. We do have a decent data connection so I think that part is covered. How good of connection do we need? Also, we have looked at Asterisk but don't know where to get started. Any insight you can provide is greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Hi

First things first, you need to work out what you are trying to do. Is it cut long distance call costs or replace your system?
Then you need to work out how many concurrent call you expect make. This is what determins what type of data connection you need.

As to Asterisk. do you have the skills in house to deploy it ?
and then support it ?

Changing a perfectly good system out just to save long distance charges is a bad move, It will take many years to save the money you will spend over just putting an IPgateway on your exsting system.

You need to work out what your budget is, and as a guide it will be $150 - $250 per station depending on quality of handsets.

Ian

To answer some of your questions, cutting costs is the primary reason for us to look at VOIP. Due to us offering a "1-800" number, our phone bill is fairly high. From what I am being told it runs over 1 K per month. I would estimate that we need to be able to handle appro. 15 calls at a time. To give you a little background, we are a technology company that is providing sales and support.

In terms of the skills to handle Asterisk's, I definitely don't but I feel confident that someone in the organization could.

On the $150-250 per station, is there any way to use our existing hardware or would all have to be replaced?

--Jeff

Hi

I see you say you use a 1-800 number, it this the majority of your cost ? If it is you are going to find it hard to cut this cost.
as to using your existing hardware then yes ou can just use as gateway such as a vegastream or multitech to connect to some trunks on the PBX, Or you could build a asterisk gateway using an fxo or IsDN card.

Ian