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If you are looking at VoIP PBX Solutions and VoIP Service Providers that say they can offer voice with QOS over the open Internet you need to beware. We have run into this several times and this is how the scenario goes.   The provider that is offering voice services over the open Internet  tells customers that they provide QOS in their router or phone system and if they have enough bandwidth it should not be a problem.   The customer signs up for the service and then after several months they begin experiencing problems.  The provider then tells them it’s the problem of their ISP not having QOS.   The ISP (LightBound in this case) gets a black eye for not having “QOS” and then the provider tells them if they get their Internet directly through them the problem will be resolved.  The customer is bound under contract for the voice service and then winds up having to pay for another Internet circuit that has QOS.   

There is no way to provide QOS over the open Internet because there is not end to end control of the circuit.  Once the data packet carrier voice leave the router or switch from your location there is no guarantee that other routers downstream will treat the QOS packet with any priority. Will voice work over the open Internet?   Yes it will, sometimes, but there is no guarantee and it is on a best effort basis.  LightBound is able to offer QOS to your office because the circuit is directly connected from the LightBound data center to your office and there is equipment that can be set up to provide QOS at each end.