Beware of SIP Impersonaters!

Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) is a buzz word in today’s technology circles. SIP trunks work with your business phone system by utilizing your Ethernet or internet pipe. SIP rides on the same Internet Protocol (IP) that data does and allows both voice and data traffic to share the circuit.

The language can be a little confusing because you can have an IP phone system and not have SIP, yet you can have a TDM phone system and have SIP.

SIP is, however, important to research and consider. SIP trunks can present noteworthy cost-savings for businesses, reducing the need for local Public Switch Telephone Network (PSTN) gateways, expensive Integrated Services Digital Network Basic Rate Interface (ISDN BRI’s) or Primary Rate Interfaces (PRIs). Sound too good to be true? It could be. You could find yourself in a situation where you think you are buying the latest technology, but if that technology is not up to current standards you may not be able to achieve what you are hoping to.

There are some core questions you should ask if considering the use of SIP trunks:

1. Is the SIP carrier credible? There are many people selling SIP technology without Quality of Service (QoS) on the circuit. Since SIP rides on the data path, you need the control to keep the voice as priority or voice quality could be impacted. (Imagine if your business telephone calls sounded like you were talking on a cell phone in an area with poor cell reception…)


2. Can the SIP trunks be connected directly into your phone system or is additional hardware required to convert it? Anytime more hardware is concerned you should be asking about cost and if you are risking voice quality.


3. Does your business require faxing capabilities? SIP faxing isn’t always reliable and it may mean you need to keep a Plain Old Telephone System (POTS) line for faxing.


4. What is your business environment like? Do you have multiple sites? For example, if your main office is located in Indianapolis and your secondary offices are located in Fort Wayne, Reno, and /or Biloxi, each location can utilize the same SIP trunks regardless of where the call is placed.


5. Is your business seasonal? SIP trunks allow you to “burst” or expand during your seasonal times and only pay for what you need during those times instead of paying for costly terms on larger circuits.

What additional risks or considerations are important as you review Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) and SIP?

• Most SIP providers want you to keep a POTS line as a backup so you have a priority line for 911 calls, so don’t expect to cancel all your lines.


• If your internet goes down, you lose both voice and data. However, if you purchase your SIP trunks through a major carrier, they will publish their commitment to your up time and what point they will reimburse you for lost business.

So, what does all of this mean? It is OK to get “jiggy” about new technology, but be cautious to ensure you are asking the right questions and involving trusted resources to ensure you are protecting your business and your investment.

This was Amy Hershman's latest conversation with Bill Taylor.Thank you and kind regards.

Spinning Our Web On the Internet

Recently Bill decided to take a walk down memory lane via the internet by checking out a link called http://www.archive.org/ and used the “Way Back Machine” to check out his website and see how it has changed through the years. Bill discovered that it was October of 1994 when he began the first Taylored Systems website, and it was a far cry from what technology is capable of at this time. Back then websites were just beginning to become popular on the internet for companies. In the following years Taylored Systems began to make some changes to the website starting in 1998 with the last major change in 2006.

Bill along with his Marketing Team recently decided to make some new changes to the website and depict not only who we are, but what we do in the community. They worked on making it more customer friendly and incorporated the knowledge from the minds of the Taylored Systems employees to provide helpful and pertinent information in a format that was easily understood. The final product was very professional and will be another avenue for customers to communicate with Taylored Systems.

Last week Taylored Systems launched this new and improved website complete with the capability for customers to now submit a service request, or ask for a quote online. In addition to a new “look”, the website has new features and functionality. We are able to make changes, add items, create new pages, and update information instead of having another company do it for us which is very cost effective. We have also increased the amount of information available to our customers – whether through the frequently asked questions and glossary, or just in general knowledge of our products and services. Our Taylored Systems glossary assists with the foreign language of telecommunications. If you know a term you hear often, you can search for it, and the search will identify where that term is used throughout the website. This increases the customer’s knowledge of what they are using, and what it is called which is always helpful on a service call.

Down the road Bill and the Taylored Systems Marketing Team is looking at perhaps incorporating an interactive telephone demonstration, or film clip taking the website to another level. With the constant change in technology, who knows what the future will bring us, or what our website will look like, or be capable of in the coming years.

We would like to thank Foundry Advertising Company for all their help and assistance in the website redevelopment. Foundry is an ad company headquartered here in Indianapolis, specializing in jargon-free advice and guidence in building your brand. Please contact Foundry - foundryadco.com


Mary Couch’s conversation with Bill Taylor.

Keyless to Success

“Rib eyes, New York Strips, Filets!” exclaimed a man with a Midwestern draw. This man was not a butcher in a butcher shop or a barker in a meat market, but a guy standing in the Taylored Systems sales department hawking meat out of his refrigerated truck. The peddler walked in the front door to sell his goods. Bill looked up from his desk, scratched his head in confusion, and escorted the gentleman to the door, past the “No Soliciting” sign. Bill could respect the salesmen’s drive but was concerned with the security of his building.

Bill had been planning and designing a new Taylored Systems office building. Incidentally, the office move happened the weekend following the attacks on September 11th. With the question of access to our building, coupled with the concern for security that was in all of our minds, we needed to monitor who could gain access to our building.

In 2001, door access technology was simple and easy. A key fob or card waved in front of a reader device sent a signal to the electronic lock giving it authorization to open. A controller in the data room controlled access to the doors and locks. Multiple wires run from this controller to each door allowing the system to work. We receive reports of which key fob or card was swiped, by whom, at what time. Our employees can access their offices any time to work.

Door access technology has changed and now integrates with phone systems. One product we carry has the ability to add door access readers and key fobs or cards with the phone system expense. An employee waves their fob or card in front of the reader to signal the phone system and trigger the reporting feature to mark that user as “In” for a time clock function. It can also mark the employee as “In” for their Automatic Call Distribution (ACD) agent seat or trigger their Do Not Disturb (DND) setting. This works the opposite way at the end of the day to mark them as “Out” for their time clock, ACD, and DND.

Today we use Internet Protocol (IP) for everything technology related. We send voice over the IP (VoIP), use IP to stream images from our security cameras, use IP telephones to work remotely in a seamless fashion.. IP can also control door access, allowing easier management with one centralized computer to monitor and change settings on all locks in either your home or remote locations. IP also allows for easier cabling and door access devices can work in tandem with IP security cameras. When a fob or card is waved, it sends a signal to your camera triggering it to focus on the door.

Wireless capabilities are moving into door access technology. Rather than cabling from the locks back, a wireless access point near the door can use wireless technology to connect to the network and carry the signal as IP to the locking device and the central controller.

Some may think door access is only for the large corporations. There are many benefits that can be used for businesses of all sizes. Do your research and consult a trusted advisor before ruling out or jumping in.

This was Michael Martin’s latest conversation with Bill Taylor.