Learning VoIP and Unified Communications

- [Lisa] Today, we can pick up a phone and talk to others around the globe. While some of that traffic passes over traditional phone networks, today, much of that communication is facilitated by voice over IP or VoIP. That's what this course is all about. Hello, my name is Lisa Bock. In this course, I'll provide an overview of unified communications, components, gateways, codex, and protocols of unified communications.

I'll share how unified communications integrates phone, voicemail, messaging, presence, email, and facts onto a single system. I'll begin by discussing the heart of unified communications. Voice over IP, or IP telephony. I'll cover a brief history, workings and evolution of the public switch telephone network and demonstrate how unified communications is a framework that includes terminals, applications, protocols, and network operations.

I'll compare the various codex and characteristics such as bit rate and voice quality. I'll then talk about the multiple protocols that are involved to provide setup, communication control, and data transport. I'll discuss media gateways and compare signaling protocols, such as megaco and session initiation protocol. Students will discover necessary network operations along with intermediary systems called translators and mixers.

Explore business integration methods and the importance of a needs analysis and network assessment prior to implementation. I'll discuss how unified communications provides many value added services, such as integrating VoIP with email, billing, and management software. I'll wrap up by explaining how ensuring quality of service in a VoIP network minimizes latency and jitter, and the importance of recognizing VoIP security to prevent malware threats, impersonation, hijacking, and denial of service.

Are you ready? Let's get started.