The 911 Emergency System
Believe it or not, 9-1-1 was not designated as the “Universal Emergency Number” until 1968. Before this, people would call random places for emergency services. As you can imagine, this was often chaotic and not every emergency was being tended to properly.
Considering all the cities and towns that make up the United States, getting each and every one of them on the same page for an emergency system or code is quite difficult. Every city is different and before the 911 emergency system was put into place, they had to figure out their own way to work these things out.
For example, in 1946 Rosamund Reinhardt of New York attempted to call in a fire at a nearby apartment. She dialed “0” for the operator as it was the easiest number she knew. Because of the high volume of callers, her calls were constantly met with dropped lines. The time she wasted trying to call in the emergency resulted in the hallway becoming impassable because of all the smoke. Although she did survive, this shows just one of the many potential dangers of not having an emergency system in place.
Across the pond, in contrast, a three-digit emergency number (999) was in place as early as 1937 in London. The system was rather effective and run by the post office. Unfortunately, this took some time to reach the United States.
It was not that these emergency issues weren’t realized, the problem was simply figuring out how to implement and manage an effective system. For instance, the fire industry had concerns about how the telephone systems would work during emergencies since fire alarms relied on them. In the 1950s, some cities decided to install single-use physical telephones on city streets that would enable people to talk directly to the fire department should an emergency occur. As imagined, this led to many false alarms and controversy. But by the mid-1950s the International Association of Fire Chiefs began to make a case for a single, national telephone number for the public to call in case of an emergency. And thus began the move toward the 911 emergency system.
After much planning, it was in 1968 that the first 9-1-1 call was made in the United States. However, this emergency system did not work immediately after being put into motion, and some were hesitant to accept it initially.
In terms of funding, the Warren-911-Emergency Assistance Act was a California bill that was signed into law in 1973. The bill proposed a small surcharge on phone bills (a tax, if you will) in order to pay for the system. Its passing was significant in that it set the standard for similar laws and regulations across the nation.
In the same vein, The Johnson Foundation, named for Robert Wood Johnson II (whose father started Johnson & Johnson), played a major role in jumpstarting the 911 system. The foundation had launched a $15 million grant aimed to improve emergency services in rural areas, which, in turn, led more areas to pick up 911, or a similar centralized number. The Johnson Foundation continued to advocate for the growth of the 911 system, and since then, it is now widely accepted with the proper infrastructure to back it.
In 1999, Congress designated 911 the official emergency number, however, now the system would need to keep pace with the way we use our phones.
Since smartphones hit the market, they have been infamously problematic for emergency dispatchers. Although we would like to think that our advanced technologies would help dispatchers locate callers with smartphone GPS capabilities, it unfortunately makes it more difficult to pinpoint locations. People prefer sending text messages and even landlines are more likely to rely on VoIP than actual analog lines.
Sadly, 911 systems are mostly outdated and upgrades and overhauls for these systems are rather costly, let alone impair the quality of service.
The problems faced during the inception of 911 are similar to the ones we are facing now as technology continues to evolve. What are your thoughts or ideas on how we can improve the 911 system? Share with us on Facebook, Google+, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Pinterest.
Find quality business phones, phone systems, and equipment at Startechtel.com. Visit us online or call 800-564-8045 to speak with a representative today!
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Cisco VoIP
Startechtel.com prides itself in offering the best selection of new and refurbished telecom equipment from quality manufacturers. When you browse our inventory, you will find smart pricing on a wide variety of popular products. Among our catalog you will find IP phones and accessories from Cisco Systems Incorporated, more commonly known as Cisco.
Over the years, Cisco has earned a reputation for developing exceptional telecommunication equipment, networking hardware, and more. Today, Cisco is seen as the largest networking company in the world, with a catalog that has evolved with the times. Learn more about Cisco’s impact on the telecom and Voice over IP industry.
History
Thanks to the bright minds of Stanford University computer scientists Sandy Lerner and Leonard Bosack, Cisco came to be in December of 1984. These two came together to innovate and pioneer the concept of a LAN (local area network) that would be used to connect companies remotely through a multiprotocol router system. This life-changing technology hit the public in 1990 and afforded Cisco a NASDAQ listing and an impressive market capitalization of $224 million.
Over the course of the next decade, their hard work and determination had accumulated more than $500 billion capitalization of the market, and Cisco was officially announced the most valuable company in the world in 2000. It was during this time, in 1997, that Cisco sold their first IP phone order. Since then, Cisco has made significant headway in the VoIP industry, becoming a major provider of VoIP solutions around the world. And now, acquisitions of heavyweights Linksys and Scientific Atlanta are helping their dream of moving into the home user market come to fruition.
Scientific Atlanta provides VoIP equipment to cable providers, including Rogers Communications, Cablevision, UPC, Time Warner. Linksys integrates consumer VoIP across cordless and wireless phones, partnering with companies like Yahoo!, Microsoft, and Skype.
Cisco has played a significant role in the evolution of IP phones. IP phones bring people together through advanced voice and video technology, and provide interfaces for numerous applications and services. As these technologies continue to develop and adapt, a new collaboration experience filled with virtualized, mobile, and integrated ways to communicate is on the horizon. Now, Cisco users can interchange between their mobile and desk phones, connect with tablet devices, and even join conferences through different interoperating services.
Cisco VoIP Portfolio
With in their portfolio, you will find full-featured, highly-user friendly IP phones built to meet organization-wide needs of employees and other users. Cisco IP phones are commonly used in executive suites, manufacturing floors, company lobbies, managerial desks, home offices, and more.
Many Cisco IP phones have been enhanced to provide new methods for collaboration, including:
- Centralized management solutions designed to simplify remote access administration
- Various deployment options including cloud-based systems, on-premise solutions, hybrid deployments and more
- Apps from development partners that allow clients to enjoy a more personalized IP experience alongside a range of business features
- HD Video that allows for face-to-face interaction on a geographical level
- Basic and full featured IP phones that range from simple to effective solutions to comprehensive and innovative systems
- Single and multi-line VoIP phones established to support various communication needs across a range of industries
Does your office use Cisco IP phones? If so, share your experiences with us on Facebook, Google+, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Pinterest.
Browse our inventory of new and refurbished Cisco IP phones, networking devices, and more at Startechtel.com. If you have any questions or need assistance, please call 800-564-8045.
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Preparing For A VoIP Phone System
If your business is transitioning from landline phones to Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) phones, you should understand the challenges that may arise and prepare accordingly. Whether you need to make minor adjustments or upgrades to your existing network, or you need to completely restructure your system, here are some excellent tips to prepare you for a VoIP phone system.
Calls
First things first, you should determine what kind of calls you will make. You can invest in VoIP phones to be used at a desk, you can make VoIP calls directly from a computer, or you can make VoIP calls via smart phones. Before getting into networking details, you should determine which of these endpoints (if not all) you will provide for your employees.
Cables
Next, if you are switching to VoIP, you will need Ethernet cables to connect your devices to the internet, but be sure that you are purchasing the correct cables. If it is within your budget, Cat 6 Cables are a great choice as they can typically support 10 Gigabit Ethernet (10GbE) at 205 MHz for up to 328 feet. For a more affordable option, Cat 5e cables can support 100-MHz bandwidth. You will want to avoid using older Cat 3 cables, as their compatibility and capacity is not well-suited for VoIP.
Power Supply
To make sure your VoIP phones are receiving enough power, you want to invest in Power over Ethernet (PoE) cables. These allow devices that aren’t plugged into AC sources to obtain power from your internet. PoE is often used for surveillance cameras, ceiling-mounted access points, and even LED lights. If your Ethernet switch doesn’t allow for PoE, you can invest in a PoE Injector, which is an additional power source that can be used alongside non-PoE switches.
Manage Internet Traffic With A Dedicated VLAN
By building your network with a dedicated Virtual Local Area Network, you are able to better control and distribute network traffic to ensure minimal interruptions that may result in dropped voice or video calls. This method allows you to isolate and manage VoIP traffic without worrying about tertiary traffic.
Manage Wireless Traffic With Access Point Handoff
You should analyze your network and determine how many simultaneous calls your wireless connection can manage (Wi-Fi networks are mostly designed for laptops and tablets rather than voice and video). It is recommended that businesses use a managed Wi-Fi that supports access point (AP) handoff when one network is overloaded. Systems that are set for smaller packet sizes, on-premises or cloud-based controller that can manually control AP are other possible solutions.
Firewalls
If someone within your organization cannot help you determine the difference between media and data traffic, you should contact a professional. Software-defined firewalls are recommended as they are designed to filter internal data traffic and packets rather than just data traffic.
Router
Determine whether or not your router has Packet Per Second (PPS) capability, which provides traffic shaping and policing, allowing you to prioritize voice and video data on your network. To determine how many Mbps of traffic your router should be able to manage, assume that one out of every five people will be on a 1 Mbps voice call, and one out of every seven will be on a video conference at 100 Mbps. Next, multiply the number of voice users at your company who will be on a voice call and a video call at any given moment, and then multiply that number by a minimum of five. If your router cannot support this minimum amount, you should consider upgrading to a router than can.
Considering all these aspects will help you make the best decisions about your new VoIP phone system. If you need more assistance, have any questions, or are looking for VoIP phones and equipment, please feel free to call 800-564-8045 or visit Startechtel.com. You can also connect with us on Facebook, Google+, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Pinterest.
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Communication In The Digital Age
Gone are the days when businesses solely relied on snail mail to reach out to customers. Now businesses can utilize email, social media, and even text messaging to alert customers. This digital transformation has made communications much more convenient both externally and internally. Within the company, employees can access one another from anywhere, promoting the ability for remote work. However, this adds pressure on workers to meet clients’ increasing demands. Learn more about how companies are managing these changes.
Internal Communication
Before, employees were kept in the loop of company news and happenings via a newsletters or weekly email digests. In today’s modern work environment, those simply don’t cut it. Because everything is more fast-paced, employees need to feel more involved in every step immediately. When appropriate, they should be able to voice their opinions and insights and be heard.
With Unified Communications, which has been evolving and advancing with the digital transformation, companies can take advantage of video conferencing, webinars, virtual huddles, and more. Thanks to these communication tools, employees no longer need to be in the same room – with the appropriate devices and connections, they can access each other remotely and as needed.
Despite the shift toward remote work, the company intranet still holds value. Mobile and messaging apps are being implemented to keep employees connected and informed. For company alerts and announcements, text messages are more immediate than email and enable a relief in email overload. The result is an agile workforce on top of the latest happenings.
Customer Communications
As periodic newsletters and messages do not work for employees, the same goes for customers. The customer experience is a top priority, and these days, they crave a real-time relationship with companies.
A strategic communications plan should be put into place and aim to build loyalty and trust with their customers on an omni-channel level. For example, personalized and targeted email marketing and instant incentives sent to customers nearby can improve sales as well as the customer relationship. Social media is also a large part of the customer experience and should be included within the plan. Brands should establish a strong presence and engage with customers in a timely fashion. When it comes to social media, companies are able to address concerns and do “damage control” in the event a disgruntled customer decides to share their experience. To limit communication overload, push apps, artificial intelligence, and automation can assist marketing and customer service teams.
Digitization is not only helping the customer relationship, but it is also helping companies save money. Spending on tradition communication media (ex. printed brochures, catalogs) is eliminated as the use of digital resources and tools takeover.
Essentially, with this shift, companies are doing more with less. Only time and technology will tell where communications will go from here. Share your thoughts on the digital transition with us on Facebook, Google+, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Pinterest!
Visit Startechtel.com to browse our expansive selection of new and refurbished business phone systems and equipment. To speak with us directly, please call 800-564-8045.
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Improving The Business Phone Call
A large part of business success lies in effective communication. Utilizing communication outlets efficiently can lead to better sales, returning customers, and referrals. Any errors or mishaps in communication can lead to poor customer service and possibly negative word of mouth, which hurts your business overall.
How can businesses improve their communications to ensure continued success and growth?
It begins with the call experience. Believe it or not, the telephone is still a powerful tool in which businesses communicate and engage with customers. While some businesses may leverage their social media channels for communications, most still rely on the good old fashioned phone call.
All things considered, here are some ways you can enhance the customer experience by refining your communication skills.
First Impression
First impressions are everything, especially in business. A bad first impression can very easily send your customer to other competitors, and the easiest way to ruin this is to answer your phone incorrectly. You can also lose customers by not having enough people to answer phones, especially if your business experiences high call volumes.
Enlisting an automated answering system, also known as auto attendant, can help you route calls appropriately, however, if not programmed properly, can end up hurting your business as well.
When it comes to automated systems, customers may get frustrated and upset if your system fails to recognize their commands or improperly routes calls. In fact, customers may even avoid a business even after one poor experience with an automated system.
Choosing the right auto attendant for your business is important. Be sure to enlist a system that is developed with the customer experience in mind. It should sound professional and answer your calls quickly with a friendly voice. Calls should be routed appropriately and efficiently so that customers are not constantly being held and transferred from one department to the next. Auto attendant can also improve productivity since answering calls will no longer disrupt your employees’ workflow. First time callers will also feel confident in their professional and streamlined experience with your business.
Minimize Hold Times
Most customers believe that it simply takes too long to reach a live agent. You may have even experienced it yourself. This delay often results in frustration, leading to unhappy customers. Anything more than a couple minutes can be trying, therefore, you should take the necessary steps to minimize this time.
Ensure that calls are routed to the appropriate person or voicemail promptly by enlisting an automated answering system. You can also utilize business phones that will signal when someone has been on hold for a certain amount of time. While this may seem like a nuisance, it is a smart way to ensure that no caller is left hanging on the line for too long.
Prioritize Customer Service Calls
As a business, customer service should always be a top priority. Customers will often ditch a transaction or purchase because of poor customer service. Even if they do complete the transaction, a bad experience can deter customers from returning.
Don’t let communication break down over the phone. Tend to customer service calls promptly and with care.
Your Customers = Real People
It may be obvious, but we could use a reminder here and there. Your customers are real people and should be spoken to in that manner. Make the experience more personable rather than strictly scripted.
First of all, the glass should always be half full; that is, keep your language positive. For example, if a product is backordered, avoid saying “That item is unavailable at this time. It is backordered until next month” as this comes off as negative. Try saying, “This product will be available next month. I can place the order now to make sure that it is sent to you as soon as it reaches our warehouse.” Notice this puts a positive, hopeful spin on the fact that the item is backordered.
In addition to adjusting language and wording, equipping your customer service team with the right tools can also create a better customer experience. Some modern phone systems are able to sync with customer relationship management (CRM) tools, which allows your customer service team to access customer information (ex. purchase history, recent interactions) online and over the phone. All of this information will help your team better serve your customer, creating a more personalized customer experience.
Lastly, you should train your team in becoming the customer’s ally in resolving issues. Rather than focusing on metrics (ex. fastest support time), members should meaningfully engage with the customer by asking about the problem and their expectations. By understanding the customer’s point of view, your team can aim to meet or exceed expectations.
Improving communication and service will leave a lasting impression on customers, making it more likely for them to return and possibly refer business to you. What are some ways your business delivers quality service and communication? Share with us on Facebook, Google+, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Pinterest.
Find quality business phones, phone systems, and equipment at Startechtel.com. Visit us online or call 800-564-8045 to speak with a representative today!
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Millennial Communication
More and more millennials are filling the workplace and influencing the way we work and communicate. It benefits both businesses and workers to take a look at millennial communication habits and preferences as these may soon become the new norm within the workplace.
Phone Calls
What was once the most popular form of communication is now slowly fading away thanks to convenient and advanced technology. As many of us know, most people dislike actually talking on the phone, especially millennials. Growing up with instant messaging, email, and other forms of written communication made them accustomed to these modes rather than speaking on the telephone. When you think about it, those types of communication are more instantaneous and allow you to think through your thoughts and choose your words wisely. Whereas phone calls can be seen as an interruption to your day, emails and texts may be opened and read at the recipient’s leisure, again, adding to their convenience.
Text Messages
There are several advantages to text messaging. They are instant, mobile, and can be well thought-out messages, rather than immediate reactions as in phone calls or in-person conversations. Also, many find the mass-messaging options helpful, whether for business or personal use. For businesses, they can reach all employees at once, for business-related or emergency matters, as texts are read more immediately than emails.
Email
Despite text messages being more immediate and convenient, email remains a popular method of communication among millennials. This may be due to their relaxed nature, along with the unlimited space emails offer (emails offering formatting features without the restriction of a character limit). While most still expect responses to emails in a timely fashion, it is widely understood that emails are less urgent (unless otherwise noted) and likely not to be checked on nights and weekends.
Informal Communication
Millennial influence is also making the workplace less formal. Flexible hours, casual environments, relaxed dress codes, and informal communication are among the many ways the workplace is changing. With these changes come more friendly and familiar interactions with coworkers, leading to a closer, more unified team.
After reviewing these concepts, what can we take away?
- We must adjust to new standards. These communication trends will soon take over and rather than trying to resist the change, we should embrace and familiarize ourselves with them.
- Be aware of the advantages and disadvantages. There are still plenty of options out there, so it would behoove us to understand the pros and cons of them and know which works best for different situations.
- Communicate along generational lines. While more millennials are joining the workforce, they are not the entirety of it. Adjust your communication style according to your audience. For example, be mindful that the older generation is more accustomed to formal communications.
Despite the new communication trends, the fundamentals remain the same. Active listening and clear communication is still as important as it has ever been, it simply needs to be properly applied to the mode of communication you choose.
Have you seen a change in the way you communicate and interact within your workplace? What do you predict for the future of communications? Share with us on Facebook, Google+, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Pinterest.
Find the perfect VoIP business phone system and accessories for your office at Startechtel.com. Visit us online or call 800-564-8045 for more information.
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How To Place A Call On The Allworx 9224 Phone
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4H6F8h18-DE
Learn the different ways you can place a call on the Allworx 9224 phone by following these steps.
To place an outbound call, you may lift the handset or press the SPEAKER button. Next, you may dial the extension or press the Speed Dial (SpDial) soft key to automatically dial a programmed number. The phone configuration enables users to dial without lifting the handset or pressing a button. Dialing automatically activates the speaker phone or headset.
The Call Appearance Programmable Function Key (PFK), places extension-to-extension calls or obtains an outside line, but you must dial 9 first.
The Line Appearance PFK seizes the outside line without dialing 9 first.
The Speed Dial PFK automatically dials the programmed number.
The Shared Call Appearance PFK places extension-to-extension calls or obtains an outside line, but you must dial 9 first. If the PFK LED is solid red, the line is in use “remotely” on another assigned handset of the same Shared Call Appearance.
And that’s it! Check out this and other video tutorials on our YouTube channel. You may also connect with us on Facebook, Google+, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Pinterest for updates.
For an excellent selection of business phone systems and equipment, you may visit us online or call 1-800-564-8045.
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Evolved, Effective Communication Skills
With the emergence of new media channels, social conversation, and engagement, however, leaders must learn to adapt their skills to suit these communication styles. Here are just some of the ways leaders can expand their communication skills and improve their influence.
Relationship Building Through New Media
The relationships among employees and company leaders seem to be diminishing thanks to remote work and a more mobile workforce. But building and maintaining these relationships is important, and, in order to do so, executives must find ways to be seen and heard more often. Video webcasting, virtual town hall meetings, forums, and blogs are growing in popularity when it comes to new media channels for communication.
Empathetic Listening
When it comes to listening, you can listen to learn, listen to evaluate and analyze a situation, and listen for empathy. Truly understanding emotions and concerns of others involved in your business enable executives to properly represent and lead the company in the right direction. By combining all three, business leaders strengthen their relationships and move forward with purpose.
Diverse & Inclusive Communication
The workplace has become a melting pot of multicultural, economic, educational and generational differences. If leaders continuously communicate the importance of diversity and inclusion, they will influence the entire organization and it will become a fundamental aspect of the company’s vision.
Transparency, Honesty & Trust
Thanks to social media creating a fishbowl environment, the need for transparency and honesty is more crucial than ever. Whether you want it or not, the ability to share any interaction with your company is at your employees’ and customer’s fingertips at all times. For executives, transparency and honesty will help create a public trust, which can be extremely helpful in times when the company needs a little more support.
Humility In Engagement
Executives and senior communicators should keep their egos in check and practice humility when engaging with the public. Especially in times of crisis or when issues arise, humbleness and modesty wins.
Sharing Passion Power
Leaders who communicate with passion often get better results. If they cannot express their feelings about the organization, why would anyone listen? Audiences connect and believe genuine compassion, therefore, expressing this can effectively influence other to feel passionate about your cause.
What characteristics do you think make a great and powerful communicator and leader? Share with us on Facebook, Google+, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Pinterest.
Equip your home or office with the best new and refurbished phone systems and equipment from Startechtel.com today! Visit us online or call 800-564-8045 to speak with a representative.
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How To Make A Conference Call On The Avaya MLS 12D Phone
Conference calls can save you time and money by allowing you to “meet” with different parties via telephone. The Avaya MLS 12D Phone allows you to conference up to four parties, plus yourself. Follow these steps to learn how to make a conference call on your Avaya phone.
You may begin by calling the first party. Either dial the phone number or extension manually, or use the Speed Dial or Auto Dial buttons.
After the first party answers, press the Conference button (CONF).
Press the idle LINE button, and then dial the second party. If you are adding an inside party, you may press INTERCOM and dial the extension number.
After the second party answers, press CONF again and you will be connected with both parties. You may repeat these steps to add more parties (up to four). The lights at all extensions in the conference flash red and green.
To drop the last outside party added to the call, simply press FEATURE 06.
Please note that you cannot add more than two outside parties, transfer a conference call, nor join a conference call.
And that is how you make a conference call on your Avaya phone. Check out this and other video tutorials on our YouTube channel. You may also connect with us on Facebook, Google+, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Pinterest for updates.
For an excellent selection of business phone systems and equipment, you may visit us online or call 1-800-564-8045.
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What Is Blockchain?
So what is blockchain and how does it work? As the behind the scene details can get rather complicated, we’ll keep it simple. And since it came along as a method of verifying financial transactions, we’ll explain it from that point of view.
What Is Blockchain?
The most important factor of blockchain is that it allows the transfer and exchange of bitcoin currency without the need for a bank. But how is that done?
In terms of bitcoin, blockchain is used to create somewhat of a community “ledger” for “monetary transactions” through the internet, and can even be automated to trigger specific actions.
Bank Vs. Blockchain
Traditionally, we transfer money through a central unit (i.e. banks) which normally keeps track of everyone’s information. Banks have access to all current balances as well as incoming and outgoing transactions, while we are only granted access to our own account information.
The banks verify that the funds exist in order to complete transactions, and process the actual transfers accordingly. Banks are trusted to allow valid transactions and deny impossible requests (ex. insufficient funds). Since banks are regulated and trusted, we can feel safe that our money is being handled properly.
On the other hand, blockchain works a bit differently. Essentially, all users hold a copy of the digital ledger.
Blockchain operates a network of nodes, each node being a single user who owns and uses bitcoins. Everyone bitcoin owner has their own copy of the bitcoin ledger, which is a massive document with every single transaction on it.
When a user transfers money to another, a unique “block” is created that contains privacy information, encryption, and its own unique digital signature that cannot be reproduced. When a transaction occurs, the block is simultaneously added to every single existing ledger.
Since every user has a ledger, no one user can start creating or duplication transactions. If the transaction is not found on every existing ledger, then the transaction is fraudulent. This is how the need for one central agency to verify the legitimacy and existence of funds or transactions is eliminated.
Encryption
Encryption protects every single transaction, ensuring transactions remains private and authentic. Nearly everything in the blockchain process is encrypted. While the thought of everyone having access to the digital ledger may seem scary, every copy is encrypted, limiting users from prying at the details. However, the correct user will be able to verify the authenticity of a transaction.
Here’s where it gets a bit more complicated. Bitcoin’s rules require a password, like a digital signature, to prove authenticity of a message and unlock and spend funds. This digital signature is created via mathematical algorithm that cannot be copied, and a different unique signature is required for every transaction.
Along with this, each signature requires both a private and public key to unlock and verify. The private key is the true password, but the signature acts as a liaison that proves you have the password without revealing what it is. The public keys are then the “send to” addresses in bitcoin.
So in order to verify that you are the true owner of the public key, a private key is generated when sending a message. Other nodes then use this signature to verify that it corresponds to the public key. And since the signature depends on the message it will be different for every transaction so that it cannot be reused for another transaction, assuring you that it wasn’t just copied or modified.
The Process, Simplified
As an example, let’s say John sends five bitcoins to Sally. John’s digital signature will produce an encrypted “key.” Sally will receive a verification “key” to unlock the code that John is sending her. Every ledger is then updated with the new transfer of funds. Within this process, the ledgers are checked for the validity of the transaction, as well as verifying that John has the five bitcoins to transfer by reviewing John’s past transaction history. Once everything checks out, the ledger is updated with the new transaction plus the new balances of John and Sally’s accounts. Because the transaction has its own unique identifier, it cannot be reproduced or duplicated.
Overall, blockchain helps to increase speed and security as actions are being verified at various points rather than through one system.
Blockchain For VoIP?
While this technology is undoubtedly changing the banking industry, how can it make an impact on telecommunications?
A proposed thought is that blockchain could influence the authentication process. If implemented, blockchain could possibly eliminate the need for a carrier between almost any method of communication.
Recently, the provider EncryptoTel emerged, boasting its use of blockchain-based VoIP communication, however, it is still in its infancy. We have yet to see how, or if, blockchain technology will make its way into the telecommunications industry.
What are your thoughts on blockchain? Will telecom companies begin adopting this technology? Share with us on Facebook, Google+, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Pinterest.
Visit Startechtel.com to browse our great selection of new and refurbished VoIP phones, business phone systems, and more. Please feel free to call 800-564-8045 if you have any questions.
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