Telephony servers are the software and hardware that manage your company's telephone system. The most popular telephony servers today are Internet Protocol (IP) telephony servers, which integrate your phone system to your network and the Internet using Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) and Voice Over IP (VoIP).

Telephony servers are also used to manage Private Branch Exchange (PBX) systems. A PBX is a switch used by an organization to provide a limited number of outside lines and multiple extensions and inside lines. PBX systems use either ISDN or IP protocols.

A telephony server for computer networks can improve your company's communication and management efforts in several ways:

1. IP telephony servers can integrate with email and instant messaging applications.

2. Advanced call center features and management are features of many telephony server software applications.

3. A telephony solution can enable your employees to take calls remotely.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Look at network telephony servers from industry leaders

Many large providers have been in business for years and have developed solutions that incorporate evolving telephony technology. These providers offer scalable solutions for businesses of all sizes and a menu of options.

I recommend: True Data Technology offers industrial telephony servers that have been tested with many telephony applications. Avaya Inc. offers scalable solutions with powerful processing and storage capabilities. The Live Business Gateway from Mitel Networks Corporation integrates with the Microsoft Office Communications Server. The Alcatel-Lucent 5420 Converged Telephony Server provides telephony services over basic POTS (Plain Old Telephone Service), SIP or IP.

Consider a call center computer telephony server

Call center environments, such as those used for customer service or telemarketing, can benefit from outbound calling management functions and inbound telephony server applications.

I recommend: Telescript from Digisoft (a TouchStar Software company) is a CRM solution that provides enhanced call management functions for call centers. Outbound calling features include advanced dialing programs that can redial or reschedule calls. For inbound calls, the caller's records can be displayed before the call is answered. The Contact Center Manager Server from Nortel Networks is a scalable software program that features real time displays, advanced routing capabilities and management and reporting tools.

Save with open source computer telephony servers

Open source VoIP telephony is an alternative to proprietary telephony products. While you'll still have to pay for server and system hardware and phones, open source software products are usually free or very low-cost. Besides saving money, they allow your system to be open to further development without buying newer software releases.

I recommend: Asterisk, from Digium Inc., is an open source IP PBX that runs on Windows, MAC and Linux. It supports caller ID, call manager and three-way calling. Pingtel Corporation offers an enterprise-grade SIP PBX based on open source software. It runs on Linux and supports a wide variety of IP phones and gateways.

Examine small Internet telephony servers

A simple solution can be cost effective and easy to manage for small or home offices.

I recommend: The VoIP Telephony Server from IceWarp Inc. uses SIP protocol and is compatible with many softphones and VoIP enabled phones. It offers an inexpensive solution for small offices. For very small or home offices, consider Phlink from Ovolab. Phlink, which runs on a MAC, logs incoming calls, sends voicemail to email and provides caller ID functions.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  If you have employees who travel or work from home, look for an IP telephony server that offers remote features, such as phones the user can plug in at home or the ability to have calls follow the users, forwarding calls to cell phones or other phone numbers.