Archive for October, 2009
What is the difference between a Hosted VoIP product and a SIP Trunk VoIP product?
I decided to place a poll on my web site and at last count it was split 50/50 as to who knows the difference. We have 500 small to medium size hotels that we provide telecom services for, but I knew there had to be a way about a year ago to put them on a VoIP solution without having to replace every room phone with an IP telephone. The costs involved would be astronomical So off to work I went looking for the best program out there. I attended the Channel Partners Conference in Washington, DC and went from booth to booth looking for this product.
I explained that the properties wanted to utilize their existing PBX systems, but take advantage of the calling features and cost savings of VoIP. Let’s face it over the years I’ve become accustomed to people looking at me as if I am from another planet. In fact I do live in another world, My World. Anything is possible in “My World,” you just have to believe to succeed and my permanent restraining order to always remain a minimum of 15 feet away from inside the box doesn’t impede upon my existing world either. With that being said I carried on……and on….and on in my search for SIP Trunk VoIP.
I had a systems engineer tell me from a large provider that “it’s just not possible.” I had all this fancy literature all these new found connections if I wanted to get in the box with everyone else, but I kept moving forward. I then came across a man working at a booth for a provider and we started shooting the breeze and I told him what I was up to and that no one can provide this service. He had a colorful metaphor to say and at that point I was filled with hope again. However when he introduced to the V.P. of Agent Channels for the company he was representing I thought I was in the clear to lay out my deal for them. 500 hotels is not chump change so I was full of confidence until the V.P. told me that wasn’t, possible. I played it cool to never close a door, but I quickly made a departure.
Of course the man who told me it was possible I later ran into him again with a beer in hand he told me they just don’t know “colorful metaphor” it can be done and confirmed my thought. He proceeded to go through the process of how it can be done.
SIP Trunk VoIP can be deployed from companies existing PBX system directly if it is IP enabled. If not a gateway is installed that converts the traditional POTS line to VoIP. In layman’s term
SIP Trunk VoIP is best suite for small businesses that want to deploy telephony phone service while utilizing their existing PBX phone system. If their PBX is not IP enabled a gateway is installed on the premise on the PBX and converts all calls from traditional phone service to VoIP. This type of VoIP service can drastically decrease company phone bills by as much as 40-70%.
Hosted VoIP is best suited for companies that need a new phone system. The phone system is taken off premise and hosted in a secure facility. Users access the administrative calling system via an online portal system. I have listed reasons why businesses would opt for a Hosted VoIP PBX:
Cost savings on long distance, monthly access costs and equipment
IP applications that improve employees’ communications, productivity and capability
Existing communications system is at end of lifecycle
Limited growth or expansion capabilities
Changing or adding locations
Standardization of equipment & features across multiple locations
Reduce costs of maintenance, upgrades and growth
Improve MAC (move, add and change)
VoIP providers do not necessarily need to offer SIP Trunk VoIP as part of their product line, but to train their employees as to the differences can be beneficial to everyone involved. I have found those who deploy SIP Trunk VoIP are out of the box thinkers and really know their network capabilities. Many of them merge a little of each system and have come up with the ultimate calling plans.
Lisa Kaye
http://www.articlesbase.com/business-articles/what-is-sip-trunk-voip-and-how-can-it-help-my-business-74703.html
Accounting is one of the most vital processes in any business. To say the least, it is even more important than manufacturing goods and selling them. Flow of revenues and expenditures ultimately decides the fate of a business as does its proper management. The requirements of every business may vary, but the general requirements of a business like collection, classification and analysis of financial data is what constitutes the crux of accounting.
Nowadays, it is becoming a norm to purchase accounting software before starting a business. You can find accounting software for both small business as well as large businesses. In fact, a whole basket of accounting software programs is there to choose from. Depending on the type of business you have and how you run it, you have to choose the accounting software that compliments your business, instead of being a limiting force to it.
Before reviewing any accounting software, it is important to classify the market of accounting software in the following manner:
a) Small business/personal accounting software is targeted at home users. Such software are simple, easy to use and inexpensive. They perform simple functions such as management of budgets quite at ease.
b) Low end accounting software is known for its ’single entry’ products. It serves a single national market quite easily.
c) Mid market accounting software for mid-level businesses serve multiple national accountancy standards. You can do accounting in numerous currencies.
d) High end accounting software is also known as Enterprise Resource Planning or ERP software. These expensive solutions cater to the needs of huge organizations.
Since the mid 1990s, with the entry of Microsoft and Sage, accounting software market has simply evolved. In fact, it is simply increasing at a break-neck pace. There are various good accounting software in the above categories of accounting software. Selecting the best one is not that easy.
In the small business/personal accounting section, the best accounting software would doubtlessly be the Intuit’s QuickBooks Accounting Software pro edition for small business. This accounting software has all the accounting features necessary for small businesses. QuickBooks Small Business 2006/ 7, through its time-saving features and improved functionality aids management of business. By applying online accounts management of bank statements, this software easily helps in integrating bank records in a smart way. With this software, you can rule your growing business accounts effortlessly and productively.
One excellent software, targeted at the low-end accounting software market is Sage MAS 90 ERP/MAS 200 ERP. This software is also applicable in mid-market accounting software market. This software encompasses different worthy solutions. Some of them are e-commerce, payroll, financial reporting, customer relationship management, core accounting and much more. This is an award-winning accounting software. With key processes like bill of materials, inventory management and job costing, it aids in the management of business. The advanced version MAS 200 ERP has the extra function of a client/server platform. It is known for its scalability and reliability.
In the high end accounting software market, several excellent accounting software, from some well known manufacturers like Microsoft and Sage are competing with each other for the market pie. No doubt, selecting the best one is difficult. Still, I would go with the ACCPAC Advantage Series which is known for its world-class multi-tiered functionalities. ACCPAC accounting software is perfect in the sense that it allows a business to tune its functionalities according to the needs. The ACCPAC Advantage Series is available in three editions- Enterprise Edition, Corporate Edition and Small Business Edition.
The Sage ACCPAC ERP system/Enterprise edition helps you to increase the productivity of your entire enterprise with end-to-end solutions, such as CRM. This high end software provides integrated set of end-to-end business management applications. Like other Sage software, this accounting software is known for its seamless integration, reliability and high performance which a large organization desires for keeping its competitive advantage over its rivals.
Ashish Jain
http://www.articlesbase.com/advertising-articles/review-on-business-accounting-software-by-sage-and-microsoft-74498.html