What is IP Telephony?

IP telephony enables voice communication over internet protocol (IP) networks. It unites an organization's many locations - including mobile workers - into a single converged network. It promises cost savings by combining voice and data on one network that can be centrally maintained, as well as by eliminating call expenses for calls between locations.

IP telephony works by converting voice communications into data packets. Telephones are connected to data ports on the IP network. But the function of a telephone can easily be provided using a device that is already connected to the network - the PC or a PC type device such as an IP telephone (SIP Phone).

Terms such as client-server telephony, telephony-enabled LAN, pure IP telephony, converged telephony, and LAN telephony all describe the same fundamental, distributed IP telephony architecture. Simply put, Westlake supply both distributed (client-server) IP telephony and IP-enabled PBXs without forcing customers to compromise on either approach.

Instead of a separate, multi-line phone beside the PC at each desk, IP telephony allows software on the PC to serve as a "soft" phone. Software, unlike telephone hardware, is easily upgraded and enhanced, without work disruption, without equipment cost… without even visiting every desk.

The concept of transmitting voice over a data network is exciting to companies that are maintaining intranet connections for all of their branch offices, while paying for voice circuits to PBXs in those same locations. The cost savings alone are appealing - although security, reliability, and quality questions can make network managers apprehensive about IP telephony. That's why Westlake offers comprehensive solutions for delivering secure, scalable IP telephony across the enterprise, together with Wide Area Networking solutions for bandwidth management to ensure control of IP traffic and to ensure VOIP call quality.

Westlake combines these solutions with services to ensure that the network will handle voice with the utmost quality and reliability. Westlake Communications help companies select the right solutions, assess the readiness of the LAN to carry voice traffic, implement the solutions, and maintain them after installation.