| T1 technology is a quantum improvement in the world | | | | When you sign up a contract with a service provider, |
| of communication. This technology replaces the earlier | | | | his representative visits your office and checks the |
| one which depended on conversion of sound into | | | | already existing infrastructure. He checks up the |
| analog signals which were carried through a pair of | | | | circuits you had already installed in your premises. |
| copper wires again to be converted back to sound at | | | | After that he proceeds to install the new system. The |
| the receiver's end. | | | | pieces of hardware usually installed are routers, T1 |
| When T1 technology is opted for, the first visible | | | | pipes and Ethernet cables. |
| difference to a non technical user is that the service | | | | It usually takes thirty to forty five days from the date |
| provider lays an optic fiber cable and this becomes the | | | | of the signing the contract for the new system to be |
| medium of transmission instead of the conventional | | | | fully operational. So, if you decide to go for the new |
| copper wires. | | | | system, please be prepared to accept this time lag. |
| The other more vital difference which obviously is not | | | | Another very important aspect which you must keep |
| apparent to a non technical user is, the sound is now | | | | in mind while signing a contract with a service provider |
| digitized and the digitized signals are transported along | | | | is his assurance regarding availability of this service. |
| the fiber optic cables. This gives exceptional clarity to | | | | Though most providers claim a 99.99% availability rate, |
| the voice and telephoning now becomes a pleasure. | | | | please ensure that this is incorporated in the contract |
| The noise and disruptions which are inseparable | | | | with a penalty clause to be imposed on the provider, |
| accompaniments of a conventional phone | | | | should the availability rate fall below the agreed rate. |
| conversation, is completely absent in this system. | | | | These contracts are usually for a period of at least |
| The biggest advantage of T1 phones is their capacity | | | | three years. Should you terminate the contract prior to |
| to carry huge volumes of traffic. One T1 line can | | | | the expiry of the contract, you are liable to pay the |
| support as many as 24 simultaneous conversations. | | | | unexpired amount of the contract together with some |
| The other advantage is these lines are not dedicated | | | | sort of a penalty. So, carefully assess and reassess |
| to specific phones. Rather, these exist in a pool and | | | | your requirement of a T1 phone line before signing on |
| once a line is free it reverts to the pool. This allows at | | | | the dotted line. |
| least 100-150 people to use a single line capable of | | | | The last thing which you must be keeping mind before |
| supporting 24 conversations without ever having to | | | | negotiating with a service provider is that there is very |
| wait till the other person is through with his discussion. | | | | stiff competition among them and they are prepared |
| This leads to maximum utilization of this facility. | | | | to go to any length to net another new customer. So, |
| In the highly improbable event of all the lines getting | | | | in spite of all the posturing by the sales person, refuse |
| busy, your existing phone network can be | | | | to be cowed down and ruthlessly haggle to squeeze |
| programmed to allow spill over so that nobody ever | | | | out as much benefits as possible from the service |
| waits for a free line. | | | | provider! |