If you haven't figured it out already, the IT world is full of acronyms. Here at LightBound we work with several acronyms on a daily basis like WAN, VPN, and PBX. You may
not be the IT person at your company, but there is a good chance you come across terms like these. One of the latest technologies that can help your business is
VoIP.
Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) is a relatively newer tool that has been developed (like so many other recent services) from the digital era. This technology allows you to make telephone calls over a data network. The VoIP converts the voice signal from your telephone into a digital signal that travels over the data network, and then converts itself back at the other end so you can speak to anyone with a regular phone number.
What does this mean?Simply put- your computer, along with your data network, acts as your voice service provider.
Why choose a VoIP?- Lower cost- No more dealing with multiple providers for separate voice and Internet access services. If you have a T1 circuit or higher bandwidth Internet connection, you don't need to maintain separate lines and to pay more to do so.
- Increased functionality- Because VoIP is digital, it can offer features and services that are not available with a traditional phone.
- No limitations- You can call anyone who has a telephone number, including local, long distance, mobile, 411 operating assistance, and international numbers.
- Total solution- More functionality at a lower price allows organizations to focus personnel and budget on core business activity.
LightBound offers VoIP services that allow for all of these benefits, along with the convenience of integrating with (most) current phone systems without the hassle of changing phone numbers, direct inward dial (DID) numbers, or toll-free numbers. To learn more about how your business could value from LightBound's VoIP services
click here.
Finding an Internet Service Provider (ISP), or more importantly the
right ISP for your business can be challenging. With all the choices, companies, and important key features to look for, you could end up choosing a provider that isn't necessarily right for your business. You don't have to be a tech guru, but it is important to be educated and to be exposed to the different options and crucial elements involved in selecting an ISP.
Below are several tips to include within your search for the perfect ISP for your business.
- Know what you're really buying. Generally, a low priced ISP will result in a low quality service. While a strong network infrastructure is important, it is equally as important to have great support.
- Look for the best coverage area. Most ISP's can offer T1 or higher service anywhere within the U.S. at a reasonable cost. However, an ISP that matches up well with your company footprint can save you thousands of telecom WAN costs.
- Ask about the Network Operations Center (NOC). The NOC should be staffed by networking personnel who proactively monitor your connection 24/7 for 365 day of the year, as well as work directly with the telecommunications vendors in case of an outage to personally troubleshoot any problems immediately.
- Check the peering agreements. It's important to look for an ISP who has agreements with more than one upstream provider, as those with only one are at risk of losing all connectivity-should their upstream provider have a Point of Presence (POP) problem.
- Verify utilization of a SAS 70 Type II certified data center. It's critical to your business that the ISP houses their equipment in a facility that is protected from high winds, power failures, fires, etc., as well as perfoms documented processes and procedures that are audited annually.
- Ensure there is adequate upstream bandwidth. You need an ISP with enough bandwidth to support your needs. Therefore, look for a provider with at least an OC-3 level connections to guarantee adequte service.
- Check for multiple points of entry. Look for an ISP that delivers circuits over a self-healing SONET network with dual entrances. Without this, your business could be at risk of unwanted downtime.
By understanding a few key features to look for (like the suggestions above), you can feel
more knowledable and
less stressed when choosing an ISP for your business. To learn more specifics regarding LightBound's Internet services,
click here.
Have multiple offices? Need better communications between your offices? Managing multiple firewalls a hassle? Looking at consolidating your servers and SANS in a data center? Talk to your LightBound Account Manager or email us at sales@lightBound.net
LightBound is your VoIP PBX solutions provider for both hosted and premise based IP Based Telephony.
LightBound overs VoIP across America with SIP, PRI or Analog. LightBound can provide service to over 98% of the populated country. This is a great option for companies wanting to have virtual numbers in other cities. Connecting multiple offices with a centralized IP PBX phone system.
LightBound, your Virtual Service provider, can combine your managed servers hosting, Shared Storage server, voice and data services to provide you with a seamless Cloud Service that is economical and provides the business continuity that all businesses require regardless of their technical expertise.
LightBound is also expanding. Ask about our new state of the art 47,000 sq ft. Data Center that's now open.
Let us take care of technology, so you can take care of business.
One of the unique abilities of LightBound is to be able to provide and support many different services. Many clients have multiple locations and are looking for WAN area networks to connect their data and voice. Some look at MPLS, which can be very cost effective for larger companies, however small and medium size customers often feel they are little fish in a very big pond. LightBound provides a MPLS type managed network that allows us to deliver data, internet and voice to a customer bringing all the circuits back to our LightBound Data Center in Indianapolis. Many customers will get collocation space from us and put their PBX's or LightBounds Hosted PBX service, servers and firewall in rack or take advantage of LightBounds Managed Virtual Services,managed storage or replication. This lets LightBound with our redundant internet, voice and power to be the host site and have the customers sites be the remotes. This allows LightBound to provide a one stop shop for all of the customers needs and usually for less expense.
LightBound, your Virtual Service provider, can combine your managed servers hosting, Shared Storage server, voice and data services to provide you with a seamless Cloud Service that is economical and provides the business continuity that all businesses require regardless of their technical expertise.
LightBound is also expanding. Be on the lookout for our new state of the art 47,000 sq ft. Data Center coming out of the ground and available for occupancy in first or second quarter of 2011.
Light Bound can be your Virtual Service Provider. We help you answer that email and return the telephone call without worry.
LightBound is your Fonality Authorized Reseller for trixBox Pro Editions for VoIP PBXsolutions both hosted and premise based IP Based Telephony.
www.lightbound.net
Voice Service 101: Learning voice basics and cost saving strategies for IT & Financial Managers
Description
Are you new in the game of supporting voice services for your company? Do the terms SIP, PRI, PBX, VoIP, PSTN make you dizzy? Does looking at your phone bill seem like you trying to read Greek? Does the costs you are paying for voice service seem like your paying for a house on the Riviera? If you are an IT and financial manager and have responsibility for managing voice services and getting costs under control then this lunch and learn is for you. LightBound's voice solution engineer, Jay Cutler, will be presenting on the basics of voice service, consolidating of voice and data services over IP, and cost savings that can result from consolidations will be covered in this webinar. LightBound voice solutions including hosted and premise based VoIP PBX based on Fonality trixbox, voice services (SIP, PRI, analog), conference bridge, fax-to-email, and free long distance voice over your internal WAN will be covered at this session.
Please click here to register. Once you register the call information will be provided.
LightBound is your Fonality Authorized Reseller for trixBox Pro Editions for VoIP PBXsolutions both hosted and premise based IP Based Telephony.
LightBound offers VoIP across America with SIP, PRI or Analog. LightBound can provide service to over 98% of the populated country. This is a great option for companies wanting to have virtual numbers in other cities. Connecting multiple offices with a centralized IP PBX phone system.
Let us take care of technology, so you can take care of business.
LightBound overs VoIP across America with SIP, PRI or Analog. LightBound can provide service to over 98% of the populated country. This is a great option for companies wanting to have virtual numbers in other cities. Connecting multiple offices with a centralized IP PBX phone system.
Many of our larger customers have or a looking at MPLS services. MPLS allows companies to connect locations anywhere into one network with local IP addresses. We have a customer that had a MPLS network but wanted to keep all their servers and firewall at the LightBound data center. We accomplished this by working with the customers MPLS provider to move the MPLS circuit to LightBound's data center and connect to the Colocation cabinet. This allows the customer to get their internet access at the data center and not have to have all the locations come back to the main office to get onto the internet. This is one solution. We can also help companies build their own WAN's without costly MPLS services and LightBound's superior customer service.
LightBound, your Virtual Service provider, can combine your managed servers hosting, Shared Storage server, voice and data services to provide you with a seamless Cloud Service that is economical and provides the business continuity that all businesses require regardless of their technical expertise.
LightBound is also expanding. Be on the lookout for our new state of the art 47,000 sq ft. Data Center coming out of the ground and available for occupancy in first or second quarter of 2011.
Light Bound can be your Virtual Service Provider. We help you answer that email and return the telephone call without worry.
LightBound is your Fonality Authorized Reseller for trixBox Pro Editions for VoIP PBXsolutions both hosted and premise based IP Based Telephony.
Let us take care of technology, so you can take care of business.
One of the unique abilities of LightBound is to be able to provide and support many different services. Many clients have multiple locations and are looking for WAN area networks to connect their data and voice. Some look at MPLS, which can be very cost effective for larger companies, however small and medium size customers often feel they are little fish in a very big pond. LightBound provides a MPLS type managed network that allows us to deliver data, internet and voice to a customer bringing all the circuits back to our LightBound Data Center in Indianapolis. Many customers will get collocation space from us and put their PBX's or LightBounds Hosted PBX service, servers and firewall in rack or take advantage of LightBounds Managed Virtual Services,managed storage or replication. This lets LightBound with our redundant internet, voice and power to be the host site and have the customers sites be the remotes. This allows LightBound to provide a one stop shop for all of the customers needs and usually for less expense.
LightBound, your Virtual Service provider, can combine your managed servers hosting, Shared Storage server, voice and data services to provide you with a seamless Cloud Service that is economical and provides the business continuity that all businesses require regardless of their technical expertise.
LightBound is also expanding. Be on the lookout for our new state of the art 47,000 sq ft. Data Center coming out of the ground and available for occupancy in first or second quarter of 2011.
Light Bound can be your Virtual Service Provider. We help you answer that email and return the telephone call without worry.
LightBound is your Fonality Authorized Reseller for trixBox Pro Editions for VoIP PBXsolutions both hosted and premise based IP Based Telephony.
www.lightbound.net
One of the unique abilities of LightBound is to be able to provide and support many different services. Many clients have multiple locations and are looking for WAN area networks to connect their data and voice. Some look at MPLS, which can be very cost effective for larger companies, however small and medium size customers often feel they are little fish in a very big pond. LightBound provides a MPLS type managed network that allows us to deliver data, internet and voice to a customer bringing all the circuits back to our LightBound Data Center in Indianapolis. Many customers will get collocation space from us and put their PBX's or LightBounds Hosted PBX service, servers and firewall in rack or take advantage of LightBounds Managed Virtual Services,managed storage or replication. This lets LightBound with our redundant internet, voice and power to be the host site and have the customers sites be the remotes. This allows LightBound to provide a one stop shop for all of the customers needs and usually for less expense.
LightBound, your Virtual Service provider, can combine your managed servers hosting, Shared Storage server, voice and data services to provide you with a seamless Cloud Service that is economical and provides the business continuity that all businesses require regardless of their technical expertise.
LightBound is also expanding. Be on the lookout for our new state of the art 47,000 sq ft. Data Center coming out of the ground and available for occupancy in first or second quarter of 2011.
Light Bound can be your Virtual Service Provider. We help you answer that email and return the telephone call without worry.
LightBound is your Fonality Authorized Reseller for trixBox Pro Editions for VoIP PBXsolutions both hosted and premise based IP Based Telephony.
www.lightbound.net
LightBound, an Indiana based Internet and voice provider, specializes in WAN Consolidation and business continuity to insure your business is never interrupted. Using a combination of data center colocation and managed networks, LightBound can offer the best in business continuity. Businesses with multiple locations can benefit with cost and reliability by bringing each locations circuit to the LightBound data center, the Network Operations Center can monitor each circuit for latency and connectivity issues.
If you have a Compellent or Scale SAN and desire to replicate for business continuity or data disaster recover LightBound offers Storage as a Service to meet your needs. LightBound can be the one stop shop to accommodate as we have Indiana WAN services with multiple carriers to provide a large circuit directly from your office to our data center to provide backup needs. A large circuit is generally needed as 100 GB takes 2.2 hours to replicate your SAN. If you have a SAN with another manufacturer and would like off site data backup service you can use a backup application to a NFS or CIFS share to back up remotely. If you need to also need a server platform to recoer we also offer hosted virtual server platform that can be paired with replicated SAN or can be used to restore backup data. If you would like some more information plan on attending our lunch and learn in April or contact one of our account managers.
Come hear about one of the most exciting stories in the technology industry in Indiana on February 10, 2010 @ 11:30 by attending LightBound's lunch and learn. Go to www.lightbound.net to register. Scale Computing has been recognized as one of the top 20 technology companies to watch in 2010. Scale is headquartered out of Indianapolis. LightBound is a Scale Computing partner having deployed their solution for managed storage services for use with managed servers hosting or server collocation. The Scale solution is a very cost effective solution for local storage (3 TB for $14K). LightBound managed storage services can facilitate a data disaster recovery plan through a high speed WAN connection to provide off site data back service to yield a very effective business continuity plan in event of a disaster. Come learn about what we have to offer!
LightBound, an Indiana Internet Access Service Provider offers high speed Internet unlike what most other Internet service providers can offer. LightBound peers directly with the top Internet providers in the country in order to provide a robust and redundant network with low latency.
I spoke with a customer today that is struggling with the cost of bandwidth and trying to weigh the options between a more cost-effective option versus the more costly option with higher speed. In their daily business they upload large graphic files and need to have a robust network in order to guarantee Internet access at all times, with a high upload speed. After reviewing their options they decided upon LightBound's Internet access service so that they can insure their business is constantly online and running.
LightBound also offers business continuity, WAN configuration, and VoIP services over their high-speed network.
LightBound will be adding a third data center for server collocation before the end of the year. This is a great site for data disaster recovery. The new site will be at 800 Oliver Ave, and is located just South of 731 W. Henry Street. This new data center is about 800 square feet and will have 26 cabinets. This data center is using some new designs and technologies. First it will be powered with a separate power feed and generator from the 731 W. Henry Street data center. So if customers want some redundancy this will be a good option. Flywheel UPS technology will be deployed. This technology has advantage of being less prone to problems due to not having to maintain batteries. Hot row containment cooling will also be used in this data center. Cabinets are configured so there are two rows of cabinets with the back facing each other and enclosed on both ends of the row and all above with heat venting out. There front of cabinets are facing out. This would be a great site for WAN consolidation due to access of carriers, 24 x 7 x 365 availability as well as having seasoned WAN engineers available to monitor and support.
I just finished a webinar on Fonality trixbox VoIP PBX Solutions with a K-12 education prospective customer. There were two features that they IT director really like. He thought the chat feature was a very usual feature built into trixbox Pro HUD. He thought that staff could use this quick method to communicate without having to play voicemail tag. He also liked the idea of the presence management through the HUD. He has staff distributed in five buildings over a dispersed area and liked the ability at a glance to see who is on line, and to quickly click an icon to chat, call their land line, cell phone, or email. Another feature he liked was managed servers hosting services that could be provided in support the solution for him. As long as he has high speed Internet in Indiana and direct WAN connection to the LightBound data center almost all support can be provided remotely over the Internet. In the event that on-site support is needed LightBound partners with the AME Group which can service all customers in Indiana within a 4 hour response time. The final thing he liked was that the Fonality trixbox is about half the cost of traditional VoIP PBX providers. With costs being tight for schools this is a great solution to consider to increase functionality at a low cost.
LightBound is one of the VoIP Service Providers in Indiana that can deliver SIP voice through dedicated WAN connections to customer sites. The end voice service is delivered as SIP or through a gateway as digital (PRI) or analog. LightBound also offers long distance with our VoIP offering. Many times we get comparisons with other providers who offer long distance services at much lower costs for outbound interstate long distance calling than LightBound. The initially looks like a much lower cost. The catch is when customers have a lot of toll free or intrastate calling. Typically these costs are much more than interstate calling. When all is averaged out with the competitor's different costs LightBound's long distance cost is usually very competitive. LightBound is an Indiana PBX provider for Fonality trixbox Pro so we can provide the voice service and also all the business phone system needs. With our long distance service we can round out a complete solution for all the voice needs.
I had a customer who recently was coordinating a renewal of a managed WAN project through us. They had multiple contract renewal dates for 10 different locations. They also had 5 contracts with different renewal dates. They desired to have a single contract for all WAN locations that co terminated at the same date. Due to contract end dates of existing contracts they asked if we could do a 39 month contract to target a start and end date for a contract to meet a renewal date in February. We were able to do that as opposed to most carriers who are limited to 12, 24, or 36 month contracts. The customer also wanted to minimize duplicate circuit costs to locations for the new circuits they were ordering. Here is where we shine by being able to order the new circuits as close to the old circuit termination date and have the wiggle room to extend old circuit disconnect dates if (or most likely when) the new carrier circuits are delayed. Why hassle with trying to coordinate all of this yourself? LightBound's Indiana WAN consolidation service can help ease the hassle of coordinating new circuit installs, coordinating contract service dates, and monitoring and troubleshooting. Leverage our years of experience in dealing with telecommunication carriers so you can concentrate on business applications that can make your business more profitable!
Businesses have to plan for operating in event of a disruption in business operations at their main facilities. This planning is commonly referred to as business continuity. Since most business rely heavily on IT it would make sense to plan on having critical resources available over the Internet. Internet is highly available so employees can access when they are on the road traveling away from the office or working at home. To keep the business up and running it would pay off to have your critical information backed up using off site data backup service and using server collocation to have backup servers or primary servers This would surely help in data disaster recovery if the primary location was every effected by a power outage, damage of equipment, or theft. The data housed on equipment at the data center or back up service could be restored and get the business up and running at the main facility. LightBound can be a one stop shop for business continuity needs providing WAN, Indiana Server Hosting, and Internet Service Indiana.
Does your current PBX use a PRI circuit? Are you on the verge of needing to add another PRI because you are at capacity for phone lines? If so you may want to consider VoIP Service Providers that provide SIP voice circuits. PRI comes with 23 voice lines, but when you need the 24th you mustpurchase another PRI, and 23 more lines, even though you need only one line. Wouldn't it be much more cost effective just to buy the single voice line? Most SIP providers can do this, and deliver SIP to the PBX through a gateway device that connects to your to the PRI interface on the PBX. Additional cost savings can also be realized as SIP can be delivered over your data WAN, eliminating the need for separate voice network. If you are looking for an Indiana based VoIP provider who can deliver SIP LightBound can get the job done!
A Wide area network (WAN) is a communication network made up of computers that are non-local to one another, exchanging data across a wide area or great distance. The most common example is the Internet, though a WAN need not be global to qualify as a wide area network. Since computer aeronyms have become virtual words, the terminology “WAN network” is often used in the public sector, even though redundant. For those new to these acronyms, adding the word “network” can be a reminder of what a WAN is, so while this article uses the common term, the proper term is WAN .
I've had a few companies asking about video conferencing to help with communications in event of the H1N1 virus. They told me that limiting interaction among branches can help with spread of the virus. This is one strategy that can help in event of a major business disruption that effects the work population. In order to accommodate this a solid WAN must be in place to support the video conferencing. This can go a step further by also using VoIP PBX Solutions that can work anywhere your employees are. This can help if they are working at home or remote locations due to sickness or weather related issues. There are even desktop and PC based video conferencing for key managers and executives. The key to supporting this is to make sure that each person in the company has High Speed Internet in Indiana at their homes along with a strong VPN solution to be able to conduct business communications even when the workers are not at home. Having a plan in place where employees can get work done using IP communications is essential for business continuity as we approach the season for rougher weather and illness.
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