Knowledge Base
The more you know … the safer our world becomes.

Welcome to TCI’s Knowledge Base. Within this section you will find the information you need to help assure your PSAP is utilizing the latest strategies and technologies to their fullest advantage.



The First Step to the Next Generation 9-1-1 Network
by Lee Moore Founder 911 Consult, Inc.

View This White Paper as a PDF

VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) based CPE (Customer Premise Equipment) is here today and offers all of the features of existing switch based CPE systems as well as many of the features required to connect to and use the Next Generation 9-1-1 network as it is envisioned.

This White Paper describes the basics of VoIP based CPE and looks at several questions being asked by PSAP managers and directors.



The Difference Between IP Telephony and VoIP
by Avaya, Inc.

IP telephony enables voice communication over internet protocol (VoIP) networks. It unites an organization's many locations - including mobile workers - into a single converged network. It promises cost savings by combining voice and data on one network that can be centrally maintained, as well as by eliminating toll expenses for calls between locations. IP telephony works by converting voice communications into data packets. Telephones are connected to data ports on the IP network. But the function of a telephone can easily be provided using a device that is already connected to the network - the PC. Terms such as client-server telephony, telephony-enabled LAN, pure IP telephony, converged telephony, and LAN telephony all describe the same fundamental, distributed IP telephony architecture. Simply put, Avaya supports both distributed (client-server) IP telephony and IP-enabled PBXs without forcing customers to compromise on either approach.

Instead of a separate, multi-line phone beside the PC at each desk, IP telephony allows software on the PC to serve as a "soft" phone. Software, unlike telephone hardware, is easily upgraded and enhanced, without work disruption, without equipment cost… without even visiting every desk.

The concept of transmitting voice over a data network is exciting to companies that are maintaining intranet connections for all of their branch offices, while paying for voice circuits to PBXs in those same locations. The cost savings alone are appealing - although security, reliability, and quality questions can make network managers apprehensive about IP telephony. That's why Avaya offers comprehensive solutions for delivering secure, scalable IP telephony across the enterprise.

Avaya combines these solutions with services to ensure that the network will handle voice with the utmost quality and reliability. Avaya Services help companies select the right solutions, assess the readiness of the LAN to carry voice traffic, implement the solutions, and maintain them after installation.