How to make calls via IP telephony? Most popular questions

When making a telephone call over an IP network (using VoIP technology), the subscriber's speech:

• converted by codecs into digital signals;
• compressed (to prevent redundancy of information and network congestion);
• packaged in IP packages;
• sent to the interlocutor via the Internet.

On the other side, the signal transmitted in IP packets is decoded, and the interlocutor hears live human speech.

Features of virtual PBX operation

The operator provides the organization/enterprise with multi-channel IP numbers. The peculiarity of a virtual PBX is that the IP number can receive up to hundreds of calls simultaneously.

When choosing the recipient of a call, the PBX takes into account many different factors: the client’s location, etc. Eg:

• if the outgoing contact is unfamiliar, then the IP equipment will route the call to the manager, who will then redirect it to one or another specialist;
• if the call comes from a familiar person, then telephony will react differently, connecting him with the employee responsible for the relevant area of ​​the company’s activities.

By connecting IP telephony, the head of the enterprise will be able to conduct business more efficiently. Listening to telephone conversations of subordinates will allow you to quickly and promptly learn about mistakes made and quickly eliminate them. Many companies offer bonuses for quality customer service. This allows you to increase traffic and improve the opinion of partners/clients about the business qualities of the enterprise. And in cooperation with a virtual call center, control of office IP telephony will allow you to determine the objective cost of services.

Beeline rating

Overall score 4 points

★ ★ ★ ★

How do you receive calls to the company number?

To work with calls via IP telephony, the employee receives his address. The virtual PBX forwards all calls that this employee must receive to the devices available to him (depending on the organization of the workplace): a VoIP phone, a regular phone with a connected IP gateway, a mobile phone, an application on a PC/laptop or smartphone.

The following types of addresses exist:

• SIP address in the calling application.
• A virtual company number, calls to which are forwarded to specific employees depending on the call distribution conditions. The conditions are set in the Personal Account of the cloud PBX.
• Extension number of a specific employee. Calls within the company's network to short numbers are also forwarded to the phone or other device used.

Advantages and disadvantages

Advantages

• Cheap talk. The price is low for calls in any direction. In the country it will be 055.rub./min., and calling foreign numbers will cost 1.5 rub./min.;
• High-quality and accurate sound transmission. The voice is not distorted or interrupted. The connection is stable and protected from outside interference;
• Virtual PBX option available;
• Separate tariff plans for different employees of the same company.

Flaws

• Some international calls can be quite expensive. For example, a conversation with the USA will cost 3 rubles per minute;
• Does not work with individuals;
• Requires prior conclusion of a contract.

Voice quality

Modern IP telephony provides high quality communications. The technology itself involves some lag in the transmission of voice encrypted into signals and transmitted in IP packets, but if used correctly, the delays will be minimal.

To avoid surprises when talking via the Internet and cloud PBX, you need to take into account some nuances in advance:

• The quality of speech broadcast in IP packets is directly affected by the speed of the Internet. It is best if it is 128 kb/s for each telephony user.
• The total delay should be no more than 400 ms, otherwise the delay will be noticeable during a conversation.
• It is better to use high quality codecs.

If all these requirements are met, your customers will not feel the difference between communicating via IP telephony and talking via an analogue telephone network. Words transmitted in IP packets will sound without noticeable delays.

Beeline IP telephony

The Beeline operator (VimpelCom company) provides subscribers with many services - from simple mobile communications to virtual PBX. One of these services is IP telephony. It is intended for installing telephones in offices and is provided exclusively to corporate clients. In this review, we will study all the possibilities of IP telephony from Beeline, analyze the current tariff plans and go through user reviews.

Features of Beeline IP telephony

Beeline company provides IP telephony services for business. This is an advanced way of installing telephones in offices that does not require extra costs. No telephone lines with mandatory subscription fees and long-term connection. All you need is an Internet channel available in every office. It is through it that voice data, compressed with a special codec, is transmitted. IP telephony will ensure ease of moving from one office to another and high-quality voice transmission - without interruptions or distortion.

Signaling protocols used

The history of communications includes several different IP protocols (types of call service in IP telephony), here are some of them:

• H.323;
• MGCP (Media Gateway Control Protocol);
• H.248 (similar in purpose to the previous one);
• SIP (Session Establishment Protocol).

IP telephony on the UIS platform supports the SIP signaling protocol; today it is the most flexible, promising and most commonly used in the world for telephone conversations over the Internet.

Possibilities

Beeline cloud mobile PBX includes a lot of functions and capabilities that make the service a completely unique offer for business. Let's look at what is included in the price of telephony, available at cloudpbx.beeline.ru.

• Free multi-channel numbers. You will receive virtual phones with the ability to connect anywhere in the world (without being tied to location), as well as free forwarding of incoming calls;
• Recording of conversations – full or selective;
• Voice menu and greeting. You will be able to reduce the response time to an incoming call, as well as improve customer service;
• Back call. A special widget will be installed on the site, allowing you to reach a larger audience and increase conversion and sales;
• Number 8-800, which will allow customers to make calls and not think about the cost;
• Convenient connection of SIM cards with free calls and call forwarding throughout the Russian Federation;
• Sip telephony. You will be able to make calls both via mobile and via the Internet over an unlimited number of lines.

Using VoIP Codecs

Codecs encode voice sounds into digital signals when packaged into IP packets and, accordingly, decode the signals when they are converted back into the words of the interlocutor.

There are various digitization algorithms for IP telephony, including both paid and freely available. They also differ in technical properties - some compress the voice 8 times or even stronger, others do not compress at all. Sound quality can also vary - some codecs significantly distort the sound when encoding into signals, while others provide HD quality.

Let's list some solutions.

Open codecs:

• CELT
• GSM
• G.711 μ-, a-law
• G722
• G.726
• OPUS
• Speex
• ILBC

Paid:

• G.729
• G.729A
• G.723
• G.723.1

Basic tariffs and costs

For legal entities and individual entrepreneurs, prices directly depend on the chosen tariff.

"Minimum"

This package of services implies a subscription fee of 500 rubles/month, and the cost of a multi-channel number in addition to the package is 110 rubles/month.

The tariff includes:

• 3 rooms for employees;
• unlimited number of users and multi-channel numbers;
• 100 channels on multi-channel numbers;
• additional package of options “Voice menu” - 260 rub./month;
• caller ID, call statistics, voice mail, call distribution and forwarding;
• call recording - 1500 rub./month;
• audio conference: 15 participants - 1100 rub./month, 30 - 1650 rub./month, 50 - 2200 rub./month, 75 - 2750 rub./month. (prices are the same for all tariff groups).

"Base"

The cost of this PBX is higher - 850 rubles/month, multi-channel number above the tariff - 100 rubles/month.

This also includes:

• 7 users per package;
• recording conversations for 1,750 rubles/month;
• selective forwarding, user search by several numbers, black and white lists in the “Individual functions” category;
• call from the site - 550 rub./month, fax - 170 rub./month. (prices are the same for all tariff groups);
• up to 5 people simultaneously participating in an audio conference.

"Standard"

A virtual telephone exchange at a standard tariff will cost 1,500 rubles/month, a multi-channel number in addition to the package will cost 85 rubles/month.

Plus to everything:

• up to 15 rooms for employees;
• 3 voice menus included in the tariff;
• 3 call groups;
• 1 melody included in the service package;
• call recording - 3000 rub./month.

"Professional"

The cost of the tariff is 2600 rubles/month, multi-channel numbers above the service package are 50 rubles/month.

This applies to:

• 30 rooms for employees;
• 5 multi-channel numbers;
• 5 additional packages of the “Voice Menu” option;
• 3 calling groups included in the tariff;
• 10 users in the call center group;
• call recordings - 4,500 rubles/month;
• up to 7 people simultaneously participating in an audio conference;
• 1 “Call from website” widget included in the tariff.

Service packages.

Beeline hotline menu structure

For the convenience of users, all information is divided into large and small blocks. To find the desired subsection, the subscriber must press numeric symbols (buttons) on the phone keyboard in accordance with the prompts of the voice assistant.

The first block contains information for new clients. The following lists the items for an existing Beeline subscriber number. Then the company's tariff offers, information about traffic packages and roaming services are presented. This is followed by a block with information on wired Internet.

Response time and operator competence

The length of the waiting period to connect with a consultant depends on a number of factors. During the daytime, the telephone line is often overloaded and all operators are busy. The average waiting time is 5-10 minutes, after which one of the operators will be able to free up and take the call.

An alternative may be an evening call, as well as communication with consultants through other means of communication.

The company employs specialists who have all the necessary knowledge, which allows them to solve any problems.

Main help line operators answer general questions. If necessary, they provide the number of the required specialist or switch to him.

What questions can technical support not help you with?

By calling the operators on the hotline, the client will be able to resolve the technical problems that have arisen. Personal information on the subscriber’s personal account will not be available if he refuses to provide his passport information, as required by the procedure established for such cases.

Technical support will not be able to help with personal information.

Consultations available

A Beeline client can get help in solving any problems related to technical issues.

The user can find out:

• about the availability of paid services on the selected tariff;
• Is it possible to use a router that is already available;
• about connecting additional devices (TVs or set-top boxes);
• how the subscription fee is charged;
• equipment rental details;
• Is it possible not to pay for a service if the subscriber does not intend to use it for a certain period of time?

In addition, consultations are carried out when setting up devices and troubleshooting any problems.

ABOUT

"Beeline" is a trademark of VimpelCom.
PJSC VimpelCom is officially registered and has been operating since 1992. “Beeline” is the name of a trademark owned by the company. Its subsidiaries operate in the Russian Federation and a number of CIS countries.

Telecommunications, provision of communication services, provision of access to the Internet are the main areas of activity of VimpelCom PJSC. In its work, the company adheres to such principles as development, efficiency, and cooperation.