The Pros and Cons of Hosted Communications Solutions

1
The Pros and Cons of Hosted Communications
Solutions

• by
• Paul F. Barton, President
• Westelcom Family of Companies

2
Purpose

• Provide an overview of the Pros and Cons of
  Hosted Communications Solutions
• What are Hosted Communications Solutions?
• How do they work?
• What are the Pros and Cons?

3
What are Hosted Communications Solutions?

• Definition The placement and/or offering of a
  communications hardware and/or software solution
  at the location of a Communications Service
  Provider rather than the customers location.

4
How Do they Work?
Voice Mail
Email
PBX/ Key
PBX/ Key
Cable, DSL, Fiber
Communications Service Provider (CSP)
Fat Pipe
--- and/or ---
Auto Attendant
Fat Pipe
Web Server
Desktop Applications
Customer Home/Business

• Characteristics
• Delivered via IP
• Uses 1 or multiple high-speed connections
  (redundancy or QOS)
• Customers computers and phones authenticate off
  CSPs Firewall

Server Applications
5
What are the Pros and Cons?
Pros
Cons

• Customer doesnt own applications.
• Higher recurring costs

• Lower up front costs for customer
• Greater long-term ROI
• Can pace with technology changes
• Allows redundant communications
• More efficient use of bandwidth
• Greater network reporting and stats
• Reduces burden on in-house IT staff
• Flexible access to services
• Enables unified communications

6
Summary

• Hosted Communications Solutions are
• They work via a FAT Pipe(s) and are delivered via
  IP with..
• The customer doesnt own hardware or software
  however hosting creates flexible, redundant, and
  cost effective communications
• Enabling ability to unify communications