FAQs: Services
What services does iVox provide to its Service Provider partners?
iVox provides the following services to its Service Provider customers:
- Complete Telephone Service over IP
- Value-add Services
- IP Centrex
- Hosted Softswitch & Billing Platform
- IP Call Termination / Origination
- VoIP Hardware
iVox's Complete Telephone Service over IP
What features are supported with the standard iVox service?
- Call Hold
- Call waiting
- Call transfer
- Call transfer with Conference
- 3 Way Call Conference
- Call Forward Always
- Call Forward on Busy
- Toggle Call Forward No Answer
- Do Not Disturb
- Call Line ID Block / Unblock (within iVox network)
- Anonymous Call Reject
- Toggle Repeat Dial on Busy
Do end users need to keep their existing phone service?
This depends on the terms and conditions of their existing service. Typically business users can cancel all of their PSTN phone lines except one, which may be required for their broadband service or as a backup line.
Residential cable users will not need to keep their existing service. Residential ADSL users may need to keep their existing phone service as it is linked to their ADSL connection.
Do end users at the call destination also need to have an iVox service?
No. iVox provides a complete telephone service to its end users so that they can call anyone, anywhere, anytime.
Can an iVox voice service be set-up over a dial-up connection?
While it is possible to use the iVox service over a dialup connection, we recommend a broadband IP service (cable, DSL, wireless, fibre etc) in order to experience the best possible service quality.
Can end users keep their existing phone number?
Yes. Local Number Portability is available on the iVox network, however some residential ADSL users may need to follow special provisions. For example of your ADSL service is linked to your home phone number, you may need to keep your PSTN telephone line active.
Can end users get a new number or number range with their iVox service.
Yes. iVox can provide end users with a new geographic number (or number range) for use with the iVox service.
Can end users have multiple phone services (i.e. numbers)?
Yes. Residential and business users can have any combination of phone numbers and devices. For example you could have one phone with 2 numbers, or an 8 port VOIP gateway with a single phone number.
Will end users be listed in the White Pages?
Yes.
Can end users dial 000 and and make emergency calls as normal?
Yes.
Is Caller ID displayed?
Customers using caller ID compatible phones will see the caller ID of incoming calls.
Outbound calls within the iVox network will send the caller ID to other iVox users. Outbound calls to the PSTN (e.g.Telstra, Optus, etc) will not send the caller ID.
Will an iVox voice service work if mains power or internet connectivity is lost?
iVox can provide VOIP gateways and ATA's (Analog Telephone Adapters) with life-line failover ports, which will switch calls to a PSTN line in the event of a power or IP failure.
The end-user will need to ensure, however, that their telephone equipment will function without power, or has a backup power source.
Are Fax Machines compatible with the iVox service?
Yes. iVox supports G711 fax pass-thru, and is currently rolling out T.38 fax relay capability.
What options are there for Quality of Service with an iVox service?
iVox can provide VOIP gateways and routers that prioritise voice traffic over data traffic.
iVox is also partnering with national broadband and IP providers to enable broadband services to be QoS controlled end-to-end from the customer to the iVox network.
iVox can provide managed private links to enable service providers to connect directly to the iVox network, bypassing the public internet altogether.
Does the iVox service conform to ACMA (Australian Communications & Media Authority) standards?
Yes. iVox works closely with the ACMA to ensure our services adhere to strict telecommunications regulatory guidelines.
Value-add Services
What features are available in addition to the Complete Telephone Service?
- Find-me / Follow-me rules
- Voicemail
- Backup line / lifeline options
IP Centrex (Hosted PBX)
What is IP Centrex?
IP Centrex is a hosted PBX service, whereby business customers do not need to invest in their own expensive PBX or key systems, as the PBX functions are managed by iVox within our datacentre. Customers need only purchase IP Telephones, which then connect to the iVox IP Centrex as if they were connecting to a local PBX. All the standard PBX functions are supported, plus a lot more:
- Line Hunt
- Group Ring
- Call Hold
- Call Transfer
- 3-way Conference
- Voicemail
- Follow-me rules (e.g. if my phone rings out, forward to my mobile)
- All of the above features are customisable by the end-customer or the service provider via an easy to use GUI.
Hosted Softswitch & Billing Platform
What does the Hosted Softswitch & Billing Platform enable me to do?
The Hosted Softswitch and Billing is a core component of our wholesale offering to Service Providers. It is these services that allow a Service Provider to become a full IP Telephony Service Provider without needing to make a time-consuming and costly investment in their own nationwide VOIP infrastructure.
The softswitch comprises of a SIP registrar server, call routing engine, and media proxy. This is the heart of our network and handles call registration and routing to our various gateways and carriers nationwide.
The hosted billing solution allows our service providers to manage their customers details, rate plans, invoicing, and reporting. Service Providers have the option of invoicing their customers directly out of our system, or downloading the data for import into their own billing system.
IP Call Termination / Origination
What is IP Call Termination / Origination?
iVox provides it's Service Providers with a complete hosted softswitch, billing and customer management platform. For Service Providers who already have their own systems they may wish to simply use iVox as a termination (outbound) call provider. The iVox Call Termination Service allows Service Providers to aggregate their customers' voice traffic within their own network, to then send large volumes of voice traffic to a single iVox termination point. Our intelligent switching platform will then terminate the call via the most efficient inter-carrier link to the PSTN.
In addition to Termination, iVox provides Origination services (inbound calls) to enable Service Providers to have all their inbound voice traffic delivered to them via a single IP gateway. This saves on infrastructure costs and simplifies network design and maintenance.
VOIP Hardware
What hardware do I need for access to iVox's services? Can I get it from iVox?
To connect to an iVox service your end-customers will need SIP compatible telephones, or VOIP gateways to connect to legacy telephones, key systems or PBX's.
iVox provides a range of VOIP hardware tailored specifically to our extensive range of services. Whether your end-customer is a home user, a business, or a large corporate, iVox can supply all hardware necessary to connect their new, or existing, telephony systems to the iVox service.
Fax: +61 2 8252 0202