| A VOIP gateway is a necessity in your VOIP | | | | If this is the case, you will also need to make a |
| phone system because it serves as a bridge | | | | note of it when you visit a gateway vendor. You |
| between the VOIP connection and your port. | | | | should also look into issues like call compression in |
| There are a number of factors to consider when | | | | order to find that VOIP gateway provider that will |
| you are making your gateway purchase, so make | | | | best work with your purposes and plans. |
| sure that you know what you will be doing with | | | | You should also get to know your gateway's |
| your VOIP set-up and system. | | | | maintenance requirements. If you do not know |
| Ensure that you have enough answers when you | | | | what maintenance your gateway requires, you |
| purchase your gateway so that you can properly | | | | may lose some service time. Most gateways are |
| set it up to handle all of the calls and data you | | | | simply; you can simply plug your VOIP gateway |
| plan to handle through the voice over IP services. | | | | into the LAN side and a web browser opens, |
| Voice over IP services, or VOIP, needs a VOIP | | | | allowing for configuration of all of your needs for |
| gateway that works with the full purposes of the | | | | Voice over IP services. |
| service in mind. If you are using it for corporate | | | | There are other gateways that offer other |
| use, your gateway services will need to be | | | | services, however, including those that fit right |
| significantly more up-to-speed than those of a | | | | into the IP's framework. These gateways often |
| personal system. | | | | offer more service than the conventional |
| There are a lot of gateway options available on | | | | gateway that plugs directly to the LAN, but they |
| the market today, likely upwards of thirty | | | | can require a lot more tinkering to get the |
| vendors and possibilities selling their gateway | | | | configuration settings right. In those cases, it is |
| services. Many of these vendors are in the small | | | | always best to call a professional in to help you |
| business area, selling gateways such as PBX VOIP | | | | set up your network. |
| providers to third party vendors that, in turn, sell | | | | Gateways are entirely upgradeable, too, which |
| it to you as a consumer. | | | | makes the need to find new ones a non-factor. |
| If you are using your VOIP service to route data | | | | Instead, you can design your VOIP network with |
| as well as voice conversations, you will need to | | | | the proper upgrades that will make your system |
| consider this and make a note of it when you are | | | | more than capable of handing any call or data |
| looking into your gateway. It is also important to | | | | load. You can also prepare your system for any |
| consider if you are getting a lot of fax traffic on | | | | setbacks using updated software, which is easily |
| your VOIP service. | | | | installed through your internet browser window. |