Phone Systems - Digital vs. VoIP

Many people ask me which type of system is better to buy; a system that is digital using standard phone lines, or a VoIP system utilizing IP services.  There is no one answer that suits all situations, but there are a couple guidelines to go by.   For a small business, a digital phone system using standard CO lines is still a great solution because of the amount of bandwith needed to assure quality calls on an IP system.  Standard CO lines are dedicated lines from the phone company, so the quality is managed and pretty much guaranteed.  For best performance on an IP system, DSL does not provide a managed connection, so a T1 is required and is a large investment for a small organization.   Of couse, there is always the option to use an IP system inside connected to CO lines.  This gives you the benefits of IP inside the office, while assuring high quality phone calls.  Drop me an email if you have any questions about the services - terryh@generaltel.com.