Linking PC's from VoIP handset for network connection

First post from a new user, so please be gentle!

I'm looking to understand the potential pitfalls of connecting your PC's through the phone handset rather than using a seperate voice network.

I understand that the whole point of VoIP in an office situation is covergence but what are the actual disadvantages?

I hope that the above is not a stupid question and I won't be shot down in flames but in the back of mind there are issues but I'm looking for actual examples rather than a vague memory of a conversation.

Welcome to VoIP User Proco.

Quote:

I understand that the whole point of VoIP in an office situation is covergence but what are the actual disadvantages?

The disadvantages are a reduction in voice quality if the data side of the network gets saturated.

In medium to large deployments it's a good policy to keep the voice and data networks segregated (through dedicated bandwidth VPN's on managed switches or two completely different sets of cabling).

Mileage will vary though. If you don't have that many PC's, a 100mb+ LAN and don't do masses of file transfers you may find it's fine.

How many PC's and how many phones? What length of cabling and what type?