What is an IP Phone?

An IP Phone is one which uses the internet, as opposed to a traditional telephone carrier, to make calls and receive calls. The calls are made over an IP network like Internet or can be made via a companies private IP network.  IP Phones uses protocols allowing callers to view the individual on the other line, and can be viewed by those they are calling.

How does an IP Phone work?

There are certain elements which a IP Phone requires in order to properly function including:

• phyical hardware (earpiece, keypad, display screen, etc); 
• DNS client, STUN client, DHCP client; 
• video & audio capabilities; and,
• a friendly user interface. 

These elements make up the internal system of an IP Phone. 

What features does an IP Phone have? 

There are also several great features you will get with an IP Phone including:

• caller id; 
• encrypted communications; 
• conference calls; 
• call transfers; 
• directories; and, 
• other features (depending on the IP provider, and depending on whether it is the internet, or a private network provider)

An IP Phone also has several features which a traditional phone does not have. Some of these features includes:

• email contacts (making it easier to remember the contacts or phone number); 
• easy sharing contact lists (multiple accounts); and, 
• other features similar to PC based phone services.

The IP Phone is great for businesses that do conference calls, and want to que in everyone who should be involved in the meeting. With the audio and visual, you can easily interact, and can include a larger group of people in to a call, than other phones allow you to do.

How to Call Mexico from the United States

No pierda el contacto con sus amigos y familia! (Don't lose contact with your friends and family!) Let Datavo break calling Mexico from the United States down for you.

We know that making international calls can be tough. So we developed a simple way to help you make the process easier.

Take a look at our calling guide:

Landline: 

·         Start by dialing 011, the US international prefix (or access code)

·         Second dial 52, Mexico's country code.

·         Lastly dial the 2-3 digit area code and 7-digit phone number.

   Example: 011 + 52 + XXX + XXXXXXX

Major Cities and Area Codes:

City	Area Code
Mexico City	55
Mexicali	686
Guadalajara	33
Puebla	222
León	477
Ciudad Juárez	656
Tijuana	664
Chihuahua	614
Monterrey	81
Acapulco	744

Mobile Phone:

·            Start by dialing 011, the US international prefix (or access code)

·        Second dial 52, Mexico's country code.        

·        Lastly dial the 10 digit phone number.

   Example: 011 + 52 + XXXXXXXXXX

Click HERE for Mexico's telephone directory.

Do you call Mexico often?? Datavo has excellent international rates. Click HERE for more information on our Mexico calling rates. 

Understanding Why You Need a Phone System for Your Office

Communication is an essential key to the functioning of your business. If you want to add in the right alternatives to keep everyone in touch, then you can begin by adding in the right phone system. This makes a difference in your effectiveness of communication while providing you with different alternatives for the communication that is available. Today, technology has combined with communication to make sure you are able to easily keep in touch with others in the office as well as with customers that are calling about your products or services.

The phone system that is available for companies allows you to have a variety of lines that are interconnected into a central area. There will be one system placed for the corporation. This combines with several extensions that are placed through the branches and offices while allowing each employee to connect to the central system. This gives every individual in the office a private line from a central system. The stations that are created allow private exchanges to take place between those working in the company and provide different numbers to those that are working within a company.

Not only are numbers and private stations assigned to a central phone system. There are also programs that are added in for easier communication and to track the options that are used. For instance, you will be able to program in an option to control the calls that are coming in through the use of lighted line buttons or specialized rings. This will let you know where a call is coming from while connecting lines in alternative ways. The programming can interchange with simple connections to complex techniques that are used for different approaches to getting connected across branches, offices or between employees.

The integrated options with a phone system also incorporate other features to assist all employees to stay in touch and to connect to others. There are additional voice mail and answering machine systems available for needed responses. It is also possible to set up caller ID, speed dialing and automatic call accounting. This will help to track and connect employees and customers easier while offering convenience with communication. If a more complex system is used, then there is also the possibility of adding in features such as remote supervision of the system. This can help to track communication while ensuring that the correct links are made with each station created.

Tying into communication at different levels with any business ensures a better working environment while meeting the needs of employees. If you want to integrate a simple and effective way of keeping in touch, then you can look at a phone system. Giving each employee a station and monitoring this through a central area with different ways to keep in touch instantly tightens the communication between individuals, offices and branches. The incorporation of specific features with this system ensures that you are able to find different ways to keep connected while allowing each individual to remain connected with simple and effective tools.


Let Datavo help you find the right option for your business.

How to Make a Call to Bangladesh from the United States

When you think of calling Bangladesh from the US, do you find yourself saying, aami bujhi naa? (that's 'I don't understand' in Bengali) Well fret no more, Datavo has you covered.

We know that making international calls can be difficult. So we have provided a simple step-by-step guide for you!

Basic steps to call Bangladesh are:

Landline:

·         Start by dialing 011, the US international prefix.

·         Second dial 880, Bangladesh's Country Code.

·         Lastly dial the 1- 4 digit area code and 3-7 digit local phone     number.

   Example: 011 + 880 + XXX + XXXXXXX

Major Cities and Area Codes:

City	Area Code
Dhaka	2
Chittagong	31
Khulna	41
Rajshahi	721
Sylhet	821
Barisal	431
Rangpur	521

Mobile Phone:

·         Start by dialing 011, the US international prefix.

·         Second dial 880, Bangladesh's Country Code.

·         Lastly dial the 10 digit phone number with starting digit 1

   Example: 011 + 880 + 1XXXXXXXXX

Click HERE to go to Bangladesh's White Pages. 

Do you call Bangladesh regularly?? Well Datavo has a deal for you. Click HERE for more information on our Bangladesh calling rates.

What You Should Know About VoIP and 911 Functionality

In recent times, the introduction of VoIP providers for telecommunications has changed the whole concept of the telephone, but one important issue you need to be aware of is  VoIP and 911 functionality.

Using a VoIP provider for your phone calls means cheaper calling, with no phone lines and just the use of an Internet signal. In fact, VoIP has taken the business world by storm as well as being popular with individuals for totally free video calling. But what needs to be recognized here is the need to make emergency calls too in this way. The trouble that arises when trying to use a VoIP provider for traditional and emergency type calling is that the portable provider will not always recognize where the call is being generated from. In fact, this is something that many people like about VoIP service providers such as Datavo; they can call from wherever they want and stay anonymous. However, when calling 911, a vital component of the call is that the operator can identify your position immediately without you having to tell them; and here lies the dilemma of VoIP and 911functionality. 

It cannot be denied that the ability to dial 911 in case of an emergency can never be compromised, and for this reason alone many people are nervous to completely give up their traditional phones altogether. 911, is a number that should be available to the entire population, free of charge, twenty four hours a day, and the technology used to make the call should not matter. A 911 call automatically diverts to the Public Switch Telephone Network, and the Federal Communications Commission has taken steps to provide this same service with VoIP as from a standard landline, mobile or cell phone.

Improvements have been made to step up the safety of relying on VoIP for emergency calling, and now all 911 calls will reach the correct public safety authority. What cannot however be done is to ensure that the Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) staff answering the call can call you back if necessary as the origin of your call is not clear for them to see. In fact, although precautions are in place and improvements are being sought, at this present moment it cannot be guaranteed that one hundred percent of VoIP calls will be directed correctly, some being directed wrongly to unmanned lines of the PSAP. You can however set a location on your VoIP phone, but this will only work if you remember to change it as you move around. Also, as VoIP relies on an Internet signal, you need to be prepared for times when you simply cannot get enough signal to call in bad weather, or when your Internet goes down and you cannot call at all. Datavo makes sure in  providing their customers with up to the minute information on the limitations of VoIP and 911 functionality, the message for now being that if you are with children, the elderly or in a place where you may be at risk and need to call the emergency services, always have a traditional or cellular device on hand.

How Datavo Gives Back

At Datavo, our mission is to be cooperative, responsive and committed. We strive to meet these values in everything we do. That is why we support the KidsCourage Foundation.

Founded in 2006, the mission of Kids Courage Foundation is to provide financial assistance to the families of children (newborns up to the age of eighteen) suffering from serious, catastrophic and life-threatening illnesses or injuries. Their purpose is to financially assist families that are not covered by private medical insurance and/or government medical assistance programs. Costs covered by Kids Courage Foundation include medical equipment, medications, transportation to and from the hospital and housing costs when medical treatment is at a facility far from home as well as covering costs such as daycare for the ill/injured child’s siblings.

Kids Courage Foundation values to achieve their mission are:

• A commitment to provide children and their families with the financial assistance necessary to purchase the equipment, medication and services needed to continue pediatric care of a seriously and/or life-threateningly ill or injured child.
• A commitment to respect the ethnic, religious and lifestyle differences of children, their families, our colleagues, and our donors.
• A commitment to our donors that every dollar donated will be wisely spent toward achieving our Mission of alleviating the financial burdens associated with caring for a child with catastrophic illnesses and injuries.
• A sense of urgency to make an impactful and immediate difference.
• A commitment to excellence, innovation and outreach in all that we do.
• A commitment to honesty, integrity, and accountability in our actions and decisions.
• A commitment to social and civic responsibility on a local, state, and national level.

Funding is available to children who are served by hospitals, clinics, schools, support groups, religious organizations, healthcare centers that are affiliated with the Kid’s Courage Foundation.

What is an ATA?

An ATA, or Analog Telephone Adapter is a communication device that connects one or multiple analog telephones to a computer or a digitalized telephone network using VoIP so that users can make fast and efficient phone calls over the internet. ATA's are largely cheaper compared to both normal analog telephone system as well as specialized VoIP phones that are directly connected to the USB port of a computer.

How do ATA's work?

Most ATA's are a small box with an Ethernet port, a power adapter, one or many FXS telephone ports and at times may include a FXO link as well. Users have the provision of plugging in one or more traditional analog telephone equipment into the ATA and all connected analog devices operates independently over a VoIP network. ATA' s generally communicates with VoIP servers using a set of protocols like IAX, SCCP, MGCP, SIP and encodes or decodes voice signal using voice codecs like iLBC, GSM, G.729, G.711 etc. Depending on the brand and model, it consumes around 3-5 Watts of electricity.

Types of ATA's:

Next, there are numerous types of ATA's that create a physical connection between a computer device or a computer and a phone. Some other types of adapters also performs functions like analog to digital conversion by connecting directly to the VoIP server.When used in a commercial setting, in most cases an ATA comprise of a few telephone jacks and an RJ-45 cable connected to a standard 10/100 Base T Ethernet switch or hub which in turn is connected to a LAN.