
In the past, voice, data, and video traffic had to travel along separate networks. Since each type of information had specific transport requirements, this limited an individual network's usefulness and made each one expensive to install, maintain, and reconfigure. In addition, integration was practically impossible. Now, by using a common transport for voice, data, and video, we can effectively merge three networks into one. For our clients, this results in easier manageability, lower service and support costs, and new tools for collaboration--ultimately leading to increased profitability and productivity.
At its most basic, IP telephony is simply a technology that allows voice, data, and video collaboration through existing IP telephony-based LANs, WANs, and the Internet. By using open IETF and ITU standards to move multimedia traffic over any network, IP gives users more choices in media--such as coaxial cable, ISDN, POTS lines, ADSL, leased lines, satellite and twisted pair--and location. Thus, the same networks that support a company's email and web data traffic could be used to increase its global connectivity to other companies, individuals, and educational and social institutions. Businesses and individuals could reduce communication costs for items like voice and broadcast video and, at the same time, diversify to include video conferencing, application sharing, and white-boarding tools.
Use a firewall to keep others away from your data.