I read with high interest your article published in Network World as of January 4, 2002 under “Voice, data camps prepare for war”. I’d like to comment on one of the aspects of your article where you wrote at the end of the article:
“Because the IP phone is an intelligent device, you can relocate….” as a citation from Henkelman. It is then said: “With a traditional PBX you have to reprogram the twisted pair…..”
This statement is partially false and misleading. It is often used as an argument by some suppliers who want to demonstrate the economical and practical advantages of IP telephony. It just shows they don’t know enough about traditional networking.
The reality is that with or without IP telephony, as well as for any pure data network, IF ALL YOUR OUTLETS ARE LIVE AND CONNECTED TO A PORT ON A SWITCH you can move them easily from one area to another.
BUT, if only the jacks that are used are connected to a live port on a switch, you’ll have to send someone to cross-connect or modify the connection at the risers end, VOICE or DATA.
MOST organizations DO NOT have all their jacks live since this would require in some case to double the number of ports as well as the costs (number of switches, space in the closets, power requirements …..).
Truly,
Claude Lessard
Coordinator, Information Services, Telecommunications
McGill University Health Centre
Montreal
