News from BBW Consultants Ltd - March 2008
 

Outsourcing

Managing communications facilities can be extremely expensive in-house but also expensive to transfer ownership and management to a large integrator. In recent years it has become increasing popular to retain strategic control and direction internally but outsource the management.

There is however an “in-between” option of which you may not be aware.  BBW offer a managed Operations Support Package (Ops Support) for many of our clients.  We provide the usual independent advice but extend this to supporting your systems.  This extends to fault management and fault detection, where we handle any problems or issues that arise and in many cases resolve these without you knowing. 

After a quick email or call to our dedicated Ops Support team, we log your requirement or problem and do the rest, this includes updates to key staff at regular intervals and chasing suppliers all the way through the process.  Our service also includes the development of a network manual which gives in depth details of the infrastructure of your business.

For more details please click here.

Get Ready for 03 Numbering

03 numbers are now widely available, they are charged the same as standard geographic 01 or 02 numbers but do not relate to a geographic area, you can install an 03 number anywhere in the UK. Is this an effective alternative to the problems with 0800/0845? Are your voice systems ready to handle 03 numbers?

BBW have found that most end users and consumers have welcomed the new numbering scheme (03) with consumers having a good impression of the service.  This has real benefits for clients and although hasn’t been widely adopted as yet, has had good press throughout the industry.  One of the main points that customers have indicated they liked was that the numbering scheme is not a revenue sharing system, unlike other non-geographical numbers.  This has given increased confidence when calling these number schemes.

Consider if 03 numbering is suitable for your organisation, particularly if you use 0844 or 0845 numbers.  Also, does your telephony infrastructure need reprogramming to allow 03 numbers to be dialled?  For further information and advice please contact us.

2008 - The Year of SIP?

The press have been reporting on a new protocol called SIP for many years. In theory it allows different SIP compliant devices (such as VoIP handsets) to work on any system. More interestingly, SIP allows the removal of ISDN 30's, with their associated costs and failure rates.  ISDN 30's are simply replaced with SIP trunks.

In theory there will be no need for PSTN media gateways directly within your infrastructure, this means that PRI and BRI cards will no longer be required.  Once you have SIP trunks installed you will be able to talk directly to the public telephone exchange.  This results in a more reliable infrastructure at a lower cost. 

The role of SIP as a protocol is for real-time communication, this includes presence information, instant messaging, application sharing, video conferencing, file transfer and virtual wallboards for shared projects etc. 

For further information and advice please contact us.

Check your Licences

Are you licenced for the use of music on hold? Even the playing of a radio within the office requires a Performing Rights Society licence.  

You may require a Public Performance Licence (PPL) and a Performing Rights Society Licence (PRS).  For more details look at http://www.ppluk.com/ and http://www.mcps-prs-alliance.co.uk/

Also, check the licence conditions and if they relate to an individual site or across your organisation.

Local Loop Unbundling (LLU)

The process of LLU is proceeding at a pace. LLU is the ability for other providers to install their equipment in BT’s exchanges and then use the “last mile” of copper cable, directly into their customers. This can create additional services and lower costs.

Although initially used to provide analogue exchange lines, often in the residential market, this is now being extended to providing business data services, often at quite high speeds.

LLU can also provide cost effective ADSL and SDSL services.

If you are reviewing your PSTN, WAN or Remote Access strategy, please contact us.

SPECIAL OFFER – Call Logging

Many clients already benefit from BBW’s high quality but low cost call logging service.  We are pleased to present a special offer to any new or existing clients ordering new sites before the end of March 2008 with HALF PRICE installation. 

Full details of our market leading call logging service can be found by clicking here.

Alternatively, for a free, quotation, including HALF PRICE installation, please click here.