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The purpose of this webpage is to help AT&T customers plan and prepare for a successful migration of their
current phone systems to newer technologies mainly 'voice over IP' (VoIP). Although we mention AT&T, as this
is our local telephone company this guide can be helpful with other telephone companies like Verizon, BellSouth,
QWest and others.
Before any residential or business customer takes the plunge he or she should ask a few questions. VoIP come in different flavors and from different companies. In this webpage we will discuss the solutions provided by the cable companies and in particular Time Warner's business digital phone. Later we will add other VoIP solutions like Vonage and others.
Cost/Savings:
For AT&T customers the most important reason to consider other phone service providers is cost. Residential customers can save lot by switching phone companies but for busineess customers the savings can be significant especially in these tight economic times. Some small business customers have seen savings of $300 or even $400 USD a month for a 4 line plus internet.
Reliability:
Digital phone is very reliable but requires special attention specailly during power outages. Digital phone requires a special phone adapter that is provided by the cable company. This adapter comes with a battery backup in case of a power failure lasting less than 10 minutes. In power outages lasting more than 10 minutes an external UPS is recommended like the one in the following picture that is suppling power to the cable modem, cable phone adapter and to the phone system control unit.
Phone number portability:
One very important issue current telephone company clients must consider is phone number porting. Do they want to keep their old phone numbers or do they want to make a clean start. To keep the old phone numbers clients need to contact their cable company and let them cancel the telco service. If business customers cancel the telco service before the porting takes place the phone numbers will be lost. It is better to let the cable company handle this step.
Required bandwidth:
Unlike other VoIP providers TWC's business digital phone use a dedicated segment in the cable network spectrum to handle voice communications. This means that internet and TV are not affected when customers use the telephone system.
Equipment:
To be able to use TWC's business digital phone the subscriber will need an MTA or commonly named phone adapter. This adapter function is to convert the RF signals traveling trough the coaxial cable to analog signals used by any telephone, fax, modem or any other legacy equipment. Some adapters can be used as cable modems for internet others are used in conjuction with another dedicated cable modem for internet usage. Residential phone adapters usually have to outputs for two phones while business adapters have four or more outputs.
The phone adpaters are includded with the service and most of them have an internal battery backup that powers the phone adapter in case of a power failure.
External services like FAX, modems, alarms, TV equipment etc:
This feature varies from VoIP to VoIP. Offerings from the cable companies work as real phone lines, by this we mean that FAX, modems or any other legacy device can be used. Other VoIP solutions like Vonage don't allow the use of FAX or modems (Vonage have an option for a dedicated FAX line)
Sound quality:
The sound quality of TWC's business digital phone is superb. The days of static on the line or scratchy noises are over. The first time we used TWC's digital phone we were pleasantly surprised by the hi-fidelity of the service.
Security, E911:
TWC have done an excellent job in providing E911 to their product. All features have been implemented and are includded in the monthly price.
Options and additional features:
Again TWC have done an excellent job in includding all the options and additional services. Call waiting, call forwarding, caller ID among many other features are includded in the monthly price.
Before any residential or business customer takes the plunge he or she should ask a few questions. VoIP come in different flavors and from different companies. In this webpage we will discuss the solutions provided by the cable companies and in particular Time Warner's business digital phone. Later we will add other VoIP solutions like Vonage and others.
Cost/Savings:
For AT&T customers the most important reason to consider other phone service providers is cost. Residential customers can save lot by switching phone companies but for busineess customers the savings can be significant especially in these tight economic times. Some small business customers have seen savings of $300 or even $400 USD a month for a 4 line plus internet.
Reliability:
Digital phone is very reliable but requires special attention specailly during power outages. Digital phone requires a special phone adapter that is provided by the cable company. This adapter comes with a battery backup in case of a power failure lasting less than 10 minutes. In power outages lasting more than 10 minutes an external UPS is recommended like the one in the following picture that is suppling power to the cable modem, cable phone adapter and to the phone system control unit.
Phone number portability:
One very important issue current telephone company clients must consider is phone number porting. Do they want to keep their old phone numbers or do they want to make a clean start. To keep the old phone numbers clients need to contact their cable company and let them cancel the telco service. If business customers cancel the telco service before the porting takes place the phone numbers will be lost. It is better to let the cable company handle this step.
Required bandwidth:
Unlike other VoIP providers TWC's business digital phone use a dedicated segment in the cable network spectrum to handle voice communications. This means that internet and TV are not affected when customers use the telephone system.
Equipment:
To be able to use TWC's business digital phone the subscriber will need an MTA or commonly named phone adapter. This adapter function is to convert the RF signals traveling trough the coaxial cable to analog signals used by any telephone, fax, modem or any other legacy equipment. Some adapters can be used as cable modems for internet others are used in conjuction with another dedicated cable modem for internet usage. Residential phone adapters usually have to outputs for two phones while business adapters have four or more outputs.
The phone adpaters are includded with the service and most of them have an internal battery backup that powers the phone adapter in case of a power failure.
External services like FAX, modems, alarms, TV equipment etc:
This feature varies from VoIP to VoIP. Offerings from the cable companies work as real phone lines, by this we mean that FAX, modems or any other legacy device can be used. Other VoIP solutions like Vonage don't allow the use of FAX or modems (Vonage have an option for a dedicated FAX line)
Sound quality:
The sound quality of TWC's business digital phone is superb. The days of static on the line or scratchy noises are over. The first time we used TWC's digital phone we were pleasantly surprised by the hi-fidelity of the service.
Security, E911:
TWC have done an excellent job in providing E911 to their product. All features have been implemented and are includded in the monthly price.
Options and additional features:
Again TWC have done an excellent job in includding all the options and additional services. Call waiting, call forwarding, caller ID among many other features are includded in the monthly price.
- Online call detail.
- Caller ID.
- Caller ID on TV* (with digital cable)
- Call waiting.
- Call waiting ID.
- Call forwarding.
- Caller ID blocking.
- Speed dial.
- 3 way calling.
- Anonymous call reject.
- Enhanced 911.
- Unlimited local calls.
- Unlimited In-state calls.
- Unlimited long distance.
If you need help in switching to TWC digital phone in the San Antonio or Rio Grande Valley area
contact us using the link of our online form below.
Contact us here.
contact us using the link of our online form below.
Contact us here.
