C.I.M. Solutions presents the ultimate solution to one of Ontario’s leading credit unions to assist them in improving their branch to branch communications. The proposal consisted of migrating the Credit Union’s communications from their existing 56K Frame relay based WAN to 4 megabit high speed WAN. Other bids were considered from Industry leaders such as BELL and CGI, however C.I.M. Solutions presented a very cost effective and efficient solution which will overcome many of the branch’s current communication challenges.

Frame Relay is a very complex technology that was originally used as an enhancement to ISDN. Frame relay is designed for data transmission for intermittent traffic between end-points in a wide area network (WAN) and is a data service that is frame-based. It is designed for use by companies with large networks and multiple site locations. However the speed and bandwith associated with Frame Relay is limited compared to other options available in the market place.

C.I.M. Solutions understands that communication between branches is the life-line of a credit union and the speed and band width as it relates to data transfer is important to employee productivity. Therefore, C.I.M. Solutions has put together a plan to convert the credit union to 4 Mbit high speed WAN. In other words, this technology will expand the communication pipe and will give greater control over what is going over the pipe.

This migration will mean big improvements for the Credit Union. The branch will be able to do more with less at the same time as allowing for future growth. Additionally, high speed WAN will enhance branch productivity, reducing recurring communication costs. Greater flexibility and functionality will be available to support Remote Tellers and Mobile Member Service Representatives. As a cost-effective solutions, high speed WAN will provide the branch with an average communication savings of about 80-90%.

C.I.M. Solutions will be hands-on through out the migration handling support issues and managing the project roll-out. They are also equipped to work with the Telecommunications providers to locate, price and install the required communications lines. During this install, C.I.M. Solutions will be working closely with the Credit Union’s on-staff IT department to implement the project.

No doubt about it, VoIP is the next big thing in the world of technology. It appears that in every newspaper or journal there is another article or ad proclaiming the virtues of VoIP. Even traditional phone and cable companies are pushing the technology of VoIP to the forefront of service offerings. But truth be told, the technology of VoIP itself is not new. In fact, traditional telephone companies have been using it within their own infrastructure for years. What is new however is rolling the service out directly to end users.

From a business standpoint, there are a number of points to consider when researching VoIP as a corporate solution other than replacing existing analog phone systems with digital networks. Many service providers will persuade buyers by rhyming off the great advantages of using VoIP such as cost reduction found in the form of reduced-long distance charges or reducing infrastructure cost by converging voice and data networks. Other advantages earned is the simplicity of managing both data and voice together while taking advantage of advanced applications such as web-enabled call centres, collaborative meetings, remote telecommuting and unified message handling.

How VoIP works: the Digital Network

VoIP, which stands for Voice over Internet Protocol, is known by other names such as Voice over IP, IP Telephony, Internet Telephony as well as Digital Phone. Simply put, VoIP defines a type of technology that can deliver standard telephone services over the internet or any other IP-based network such as the corporate intranet. Users are able to communicate using their PC equipped with a standard sound card or by hooking up a dedicated VoIP telephone.
In other words, Voice over IP converts the voice signal from your telephone into a digital signal that travels over the IP network (i.e. the internet or intranet) and then reassembles the voice data at the other end. This technology utilizes packet-switching technology versus the traditional circuit-switching voice transmission lines that exist in current phone systems.

The Buy In

The aspect of VoIP being widely promoted right now is using an Internet connection to replace traditional phone lines. From an IT standpoint, however, what is important is how it can facilitate internal communications. To begin with, it means only one set of wires that have to be strung to the desktop since the computers and phones will both just be nodes on the same network. It also means that staff only needs to support a single transmission protocol.

Systems start from as little as $2400 and provide a bevy of advantages to making the switch from an analog to a digital system. Single-office, and likewise multi-branch businesses benefit from a digital signal that travels over their network. For example, by using a VoIP phone, both your computer and phone plug into a single data jack allowing for simplified port management while reducing cabling and wiring needs.

Ultimately, the real advantage gained is seen in the area of converged functions that VoIP enables. First, it allows voicemail, e-mail and faxes to be delivered to a common inbox such that the recipient can delete, answer, forward or save without having to use several different applications. Second, VoIP technology provides presence management which is the ability to see who else is logged onto the network – anywhere, anytime. Last but not least, call routing capabilities are also enhanced giving the user the ability to route a call seamlessly and transparently to any user anywhere – even at home.

Phasing in VoIP

To begin with, there is the utmost need of having a network robust enough to handle the additional load and provide an adequate level of service. This means testing, modeling and, if necessary, building out the network so that it can handle the traffic. Remember, if the network is down, people can't use their computers or phones.
Next, it involves replacing the existing telephony hardware and software including switches, private branch exchanges, voice mail, answering system, and the like. As can be seen in the diagram below, the VoIP infrastructure within an enterprise is organized into three basic components known as the VoIP Call Controller, devices and the network.

The VoIP Call Controller knows where every device is and once a call is accepted the location server drops out of the packet flow, allowing the endpoints to communicate using the fastest, shortest paths. The VoIP device such as phones, gateways or computers is an intelligent device because it has an IP address, is sending and receiving packets, and in many designs can include data services such as global directory, network time, local weather reports, news streaming and the like. The network has a large role in ensuring the quality of the audio transmitted. Quality of Service features in the network can allow voice packets to earn priority transit through network bottlenecks and avoid congestion, packet loss, and jittery sound.

VoIP promises to deliver an entirely new set of applications beyond dial tone. These have been promised for the past five years and are only now emerging in the enterprise market. These new applications enable business productivity and new levels of customer interaction and are keys contributors to moving towards VoIP

Next Steps

VoIP promises to deliver an entirely new set of applications beyond dial tone. These have been promised for the past five years and are only now emerging in the enterprise market. These new applications enable business productivity and new levels of customer interaction and are keys contributors to moving towards VoIP

If provisioning a new office and building a network from scratch, you should go ahead and put in VoIP, providing, of course that your critical applications will work within the VoIP infrastructure. But for most organizations that already have an adequate phone system in place it is sometimes recommended to wait until it is time to refresh existing switching hardware.
For more information please contact us at 905-458-5090 x700

Information Technology firm, C.I.M. Solutions Inc., has launched a series of learning experiences aimed at local small-medium sized businesses. The learning experience, aptly named the Lunch & Learn Series is offered free of charge to attendees and invites business leaders in the local area to “get out of the office, come lunch and learn”. In earlier days, C.I.M. Solutions would host a number of “information technology get-togethers” through out the year inviting a handful of customers to attend at their Brampton office. These information sessions would attempt to address any IT-pain the customers were experiencing. Over time, C.I.M. Solutions realized that the information sessions needed to reach a larger audience since many business leaders were probably dealing with similar IT issues as that of C.I.M.’s customer base.

And so the Lunch & Learn Series of Seminars was born and was launched in early Spring 2005. Each Lunch & Learn Seminar gives attendees the opportunity to learn first hand about some of the hottest topics in Information technology (IT) while providing ideas on how to overcome many of the IT challenges businesses face today. Various seminar dates are booked through out the year with industry leading guest speakers addressing such hot IT topics as pests and spyware, mobilizing your workforce, anti-spam and anti-virus as well as demystifying corporate Voice over IP. Registration is always free and guests are provided with a light lunch with refreshments.

Sean Jennings, President of CIM Solutions understands the challenges decision makers face when trying to stay on top of the constant changes within the IT Industry. “Business leaders are extremely busy trying to keep up with the day-to-day activities of their business. Keeping abreast of current IT issues may be the last thing on their mind until they absolutely need an IT solution to either increase productivity or to solve a problem. At that point these decision makers are scrambling to research various IT options. And for the non-IT manager, this is an extremely daunting task”. CIM Solutions believes very strongly that IT can be an enabler to a business however business executives, decision makers and team leads need to invest time in understanding how IT can improve their business process.

The advantages of attending the C.I.M. Solutions’ Lunch & Learn Series of seminars is simply that business leaders are provided with a non-evasive forum to learn and discuss IT solutions for their company. With industry leading guest speakers, attendees are able to have their questions answered by experts in the field of technology. Attendees are also given the chance to network with each other providing opportunities for future business growth. And to ad some fun to the event, each seminar provides participants with take-away materials for future reference as well as the chance to win special giveaways and door prizes.

Ultimately, businesses who attend the Lunch & Learn Series benefit from being in a comfortable environment which facilitates learning by discussion and questions. Gregory Haddow of Bolair Distribution in Brampton has attended a number of sessions and feels that “C.I.M's Lunch & Learn series provided me valuable information on subjects that can sometimes prove challenging for small businesses. The information was thorough and delivered effectively. I can't forget the delicious lunch that I enjoyed while listening to the presentation. CIM and the presenters did an outstanding job of encouraging participation from the audience. The atmosphere provided an opportunity to discuss these subjects with other companies and how each deal with or plan to deal with them."

For information on up-coming Lunch & Learn events please visit www.cim-solutions.com/lunchandlearns/ or call 905-458-5090 x700