Seven questions to ask before you switch your switch

The first step an agency should take toward adopting voice over IP is to assess its network, said Jeff Snyder, vice president of Gartner Inc. of Stamford, Conn.“There are products available that will help you monitor and model your network and see where it will change with IP telephony; so you can spot the bottlenecks and see what you need to upgrade.”He advised that enterprises answer seven questions before deciding to make the switch:Only after answering these questions can you make the right decision on whether to implement it now or wait a few years for prices to drop and applications to improve.“IP telephony is inevitable,” Snyder said, “but do it on your own terms.”