A. Telkins specializes in telecommunication services for Business.

A. Yes. We are currently working with multiple providers on their VoIP services.

A. Remote branch offices and remote employees are only one of the few benefits. We can integrate VoIP into your current phone system. You can also go with a hosted VoIP system which allows you the benefits of a new phone system, without large capital purchases.

A. This is one of the many benefits of using Telkins. You are still a customer of the carrier, and can give them a call, but you can also feel free to give us a call if you need help. We will work with the provider(s) to get your issue resolved as soon as possible. With the volume of business we do with our providers, we often have access to support tools & contacts that you don't as a customer.

A. Absolutely. We will present you with a detailed quote showing multiple providers, and review the differences in service & price. Our goal is to find the best provider to meet your needs at the best possible price.

A. When a carrier gives you the option of purchasing a full T1, you can get the full 1.544Mbps circuit unchannelized direct into the Internet (or Frame Network, or Point-to-Point); also known as a clear channel T1. A Fractional T1 is a channelized T1 with only some of the channels turned on. Fractional T1's are normally priced in terms of Kbps. For example you can get 384kbps, 512kbps or 768kbps from most carriers. However, given the cost of provisioning, you may be better off paying more money for the full line.

A. Because T1s can be broken out into channels, voice and data can run side by side on the same circuit. They require a device to convert the signaling from that used on the T1 into signaling that can be used by the phone, the equipment, or router. The technical name for this process is multiplexing and the equipment required is called a multiplexer; but it is known more commonly as a channel bank, CSU/DSU or T1 card. In the case of an integrated T1, the service can be run from the phone company's jack into the channel bank where the voice service is terminated and a jack for the data service is located. The benefits of using an integrated version include lower rates for long distance, additional lines for long distance and toll free calling and the ability to bundle your data and phone costs on the same bill and same circuit. Nearly all providers are capable of offering integrated voice and data products, some can even bundle local, long distance and data all on the same circuit.

A. Frame Relay, VPN and Dedicated Internet Access all use T1 connections to make the respective service possible, but they are not the same. By itself, Trunk Level 1 service is nearly useless. It takes a standard or protocol like Frame Relay or VPN to provide data transport over a Wide Area Network.

From one point to another, this is often referred to a Private Line;
From one point into a secure carrier network as with Frame Relay;
From one point into the public Internet;
From one point into a carriers voice network.

A. Many T1 carriers offer bundled and managed T1 service. Bundled T1 service usually incorporates the T1 line charge and the router purchase/lease charge into one monthly fee that can be paid directly to the carrier. Typical routers that are bundled with T1 service include the Cisco 1720, Cisco 1600 series router, and Netopia brand routers. Routers can be leased for a number of years with a $1 buyout at the end of term or they can be purchased upfront for a flat fee. For an extra monthly fee many carriers will "manage" the router on the customer's behalf. This service normally includes maintenance, equipment warranty, software upgrades and router programming. Some T1 carriers include these services for all T1 circuits and others offer the service for an additional fee which ranges from $10-$100 per month. The competitiveness of these bundled packages varies greatly, so it is best to price the T1 service with and without bundled equipment.

A. In order for VoIP to work properly the voice packets must have the highest priority to avoid latency. The equipment responsible for insuring the QoS (Quality of Service) of the voice packets is normally referred to as a VoIP gateway. It is important to note that some of the newest integrated products for T1 service have bundled the functions of multiple devices into one. These products are often capable of routing, prioritizing and converting protocols all through one device.

A. In most cases the installation of the T1 service for example, is handled by the ILEC (Incumbent Local Exchange Carrier) such as Verizon or SBC. These companies are responsible for the last mile of service from the POP (Point-of-presence) to the customers location. For example, with T1 service the ILEC will come to the customers location and install the smart jack (RJ-45) and test the circuit through to the T1 carrier. The provider pays the ILEC for the installation of the line and may or may not pass these charges through to the customer. It is uncommon for a representative of a T1 carrier to visit the customer location and be directly involved with the T1 installation.

A. In order to access multiple services that are delivered over the same T1 circuit, it is necessary that the customer have equipment capable of separating the individual channels. For example if the line was carrying dedicated long distance on channels 1-12 and dedicated Internet on channels 13-24, the router or channel bank would need to split the dedicated voice and Internet apart so that it could be routed to the end device. Most new T1 channel banks are capable of separating voice and data that is delivered on the same line; the same is true for newer T1 routers.

A. Voice T1s can be terminated in a number of fashions but additional equipment is almost always required. If a PBX (Private Branch Exchange) phone system is being used, a T1 line card can be purchased to integrate it into the phone system. If a system is not being used, a T1 channel bank will split out the 24 channels so that they can be used like traditional phone lines. Voice T1 lines are normally delivered via a jack provided by the local phone company; this jack is normally an RJ-45.

A. For companies considering the many alternatives for long distance service, there are two main formats commonly used to transmit long distance voice traffic. The most ubiquitous form of long distance calling is the switched call. These calls originate from regular POTS (Plain Old Telephone Service) lines and are routed through the local telephone company's central switch. Dedicated long distance is transmitted over a digital T1 line from the customer's location through the local telephone company's central office - but not through the switch - where it connects directly to the carrier's voice network. This direct connection to the carrier allows for considerably lower per minute rates but because the carrier charges a monthly fee for the T1 line, the volume of calls must be great enough to produce a savings.