Deciding Whether to Buy ISDN or an IP Based Video Conferencing System

If you are considering purchasing a video conferencing system for your business, you may find yourself facing a decision between an ISDN system or an IP based system. Each if these different types of video conferencing systems have their own advantages and disadvantages, and deciding on the one that will best meet your company's needs isn't always easy to do. In order to help you decide whether ISDN or IP is best for your video conferencing system, take a moment to consider the following pros and cons of each so that you can make up your own mind on which is right for you and your business interests.

How ISDN Works

ISDN, which stands for Integrated Services Digital Network, is a telephone-based networking system which allows video and audio signals to be transferred over a standard copper telephone line. ISDN technologies were originally designed in the 1980's, succeeding in allowing a video conferencing system to work effectively where earlier attempts had generally failed. An ISDN-based video conferencing system allows users to send two or more types of data (such as audio, video, text, or fax transmissions) simultaneously through a standard telephone connection in a digital format. A minimum transfer rate is maintained throughout, so as to help prevent choppy video, glitches in audio, and so many other problems that were common with early attempts at creating a video conferencing system.

How IP Works

IP, which stands for Internet Protocol, is a more recent technology that allows access to the internet and the transmission of multiple types of data in a packet-switching network. This means that data is sent in small bundles back and forth between users, with each user's computer system reassembling the packets as they are received. An IP-based video conferencing system requires an internet connection, but can generally offer a better rate of video and audio transmission as well as additional data types which can be transmitted. Though IP transmission may be faster, it is not always a more reliable method of transfer… it is possible for errors to occur in packet transmission, which can result in corrupted data or interruptions in the transmission itself. This generally only results in a temporary problem with video conferencing systems, of course; since it is a continuous transmission, any interruption that occurs with packets sent via IP will generally be corrected as the next packets of data arrive to replace the ones that caused the problem.

Choosing the Right System

To make sure that you choose the video conferencing system that's best for your company, consider whether you would be better served by the reliability and access of an ISDN connection or if you instead would prefer the speed, clarity, and features which are offered by an IP-based system. Make sure that you take into account any additional equipment that you might need with each option, as well as how easy or difficult it would be to use each system with your current telephone or internet connections. By weighing your company's needs and your existing infrastructure against the features and drawbacks of each type of connection, you should be able to determine which solution would be best for your company's needs.

Ricardo Trinidad, President of Telcom & Data, is a telecommunications professional. Established in 1997, he has molded his company into a top-notch telecommunications provider. Telcom-Data offers telecommunications solutions to those business professionals in search of quality products and superior services.