Download Deploying Wi-Fi Telephony in the Enterprise Ben Guderian

Deploying Wi-Fi Telephony
in the Enterprise
Ben Guderian
SpectraLink Corporation
Enterprise Wi-Fi Telephony
Cordless and cellular
technologies are not suited for
enterprise environments
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Coverage
Reliability
Telephone system integration
Cost
Wi-Fi and VoIP technologies are
lowering cost of deployment
Return on investment

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Soft dollars: productivity,
responsiveness, customer
service
Hard dollars: wiring costs,
MAC
Target Markets
Vertical markets

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Compelling need for
telephone communication
among a mobile workforce
Return on investment based
on productivity,
responsiveness, and customer
satisfaction
General enterprise markets

Opportunity to leverage
economies of Wi-Fi and VoIP
technologies
Enterprise vs. Consumer
Priorities
Enterprise:
Consumer:
Business features
Investment protection
Security
Voice quality
Personalization
Obsolescence
Ease of use
Network ubiquity
Strategic Impact
Mobility requirements

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Telephone support for mobile data device users
Enable true “mobile workplace”
Infrastructure implementation

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Leverage investment in wireless network
Interoperability allows “best of breed” solutions
Return on investment
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Productivity gains
Reduced downtime or lost time
Reduced wiring costs
Competitive advantages
Device Decisions
PDAs as phones
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Audio capabilities – many don’t
support full-duplex audio
Acoustics – limited by form factor
Wi-Fi functionality – minimal security,
no QoS, poor roaming, poor power
management
Cellular functionality – not bad
Phones as data devices
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Limited user interface, display size
OS, processor and memory limitations
Good for messaging applications
General issues
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PBX functionality
Security
Administration and management
Management and
Administration Perspectives
Enterprise Wi-Fi telephony overlaps the traditional
telecom and datacom worlds
Dumb terminal
Class of service
Extensions
Feature assignments
Application platform
Security & access
User assignment
Frequent updates
Workplace Wireless
Requirements
End user

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Access to critical information
Corded voice quality throughout
Telephone switch features
Ease of use, minimal training
Workplace-sensitive ergonomics, durability
Information Systems / Telecom
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Scalability for various applications and future expansion
Leverage existing infrastructure
Easy to maintain
Privacy and security
9
Enterprise Wi-Fi Telephony
Implementation Issues
Voice quality
Security
Roaming
Functionality
Capacity
Wi-Fi Telephony
Implementation Issues
Voice quality
Security
Roaming
Functionality
Capacity
QoS is a must-have for Wi-Fi
telephony

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Voice applications have little
tolerance for delay and jitter
Availability, reliability, and quality
must be nearly equivalent to wired
telephones for enterprise use
QoS implementation impacts voice
quality, capacity, and battery life
QoS solutions

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SpectraLink SVP “stopgap” has
broad industry support
IEEE 802.11e defines reservation
and polling based mechanisms
Wi-Fi Alliance WMM is based on
802.11e drafts
Wi-Fi Telephony
Implementation Issues
Voice quality
Security
Roaming
Functionality
Capacity
“All or nothing” security approach
poor for voice

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Significant interruptions for
authentication process during
handoff
User interface and usability issues
Good interim solutions are
available
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Policy-based access control using
MAC address
Separate VLAN for voice devices
Voice-friendly proprietary schemes
Standards

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WFA’s WPA/WPA2 with pre-shared
key is acceptable
Secure roaming techniques still
necessary (802.11r)
Wi-Fi Telephony
Implementation Issues
Voice quality
Security
Roaming
Functionality
Capacity
Comprehensive coverage is critical
for voice applications
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Voice devices are used everywhere
– stairways, smoking areas,
bathrooms, etc.
Voice users are highly-mobile
Within the Wi-Fi network
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Roaming between wireless LAN
access points must be transparent
Subnet roaming requires solution
to maintain VoIP call
To/from cellular network
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Possible with dual-radio devices
Various enterprise and carrierbased solutions available
Wi-Fi Telephony
Implementation Issues
Voice quality
Security
Roaming
Functionality
Capacity
Enterprise users expect business
telephone functionality
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Multiple lines or extensions,
display features, voicemail
integration
Enterprise telephone integration

VoIP standards offer minimal
functionality, inconsistent levels of
support
• SIP, MGCP, H.323
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Proprietary VoIP protocols offer
richest functionality, but unique
implementation for every switch
platform
• Cisco SCCP, Nortel Unistim, Avaya
CCMS, Mitel MiNet, etc.
Wi-Fi Telephony
Implementation Issues
Voice quality
Network factors:
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Security
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Roaming
VoIP factors:
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Functionality
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Capacity
Access point bandwidth
Density of access points
Reservation for data applications
Sampling rate
Codec
Protocol overhead
Real-world implementation
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802.11b supports up to 12
simultaneous calls; sufficient for
30+ users in typical enterprise
applications
802.11a can meet high density
applications
Wired vs. Wireless Office Costs
Telephone set
Traditional Wired
Office
Wireless Office
$350
$500
(enterprise-grade IP
deskset)
(enterprise-grade IP
handset w/ accessories)
$60
Wireless Network
$0
PC Wireless NIC
$0
$50
$300
$15
Cable Installation
TOTAL
($600 AP for 10 users)
($150 each for data and
phone line)
($150 per AP for 10
users)
$650
$625
Summary
Different users need different devices
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Opportunities to innovate, exploit niches
Enterprise management issues must be considered
Today’s Wi-Fi technology addresses enterprise challenges

QoS, security, capacity
Enterprise Wi-Fi and VoIP adoption will drive costs down
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Meanwhile vertical market opportunities will continue to
dominate
Standards will lower costs, drive innovation
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Network TCO will continue to drop with lower equipment cost,
better management and administration
Resistance to truly open VoIP protocol will maintain current
enterprise market paradigm
Thank you
www.spectralink.com