Known in the industry as Voice-over IP (VOIP), Internet Protocol (IP) telephony is the transmission of telephone calls over a data network like one of the many networks that make up the Internet. Greater Illinois Title Company (GIT) is migrating to this new technology with the plan to expand it to all GIT offices within a year. VOIP technology uses a packet switching method that will allow several telephone calls to occupy the amount of space occupied by only one traditional phone network. By moving to this technology, telephone networks immediately gain the ability to communicate the way computers do and allow the computer and telephone to communicate with each other. By utilizing GIT’s current computer data network for its phone system, tremendous cost savings and flexibility will be realized. The benefits of a VOIP system are many including:

• Centralized Call Processing – a central facility will make administration easier as well as reduce capital and maintenance costs.
• Improved and Centralized Voice Mail – one main voice mail system for the entire company will simplify administration and maintenance costs
• Improved Customer Service – will provide direct and responsive assistance to GIT’s customers with its many new functions and ease of use.
• Rapid Deployment of Branches – will make it possible for GIT to convert any branch office to the new system in rapid fashion with just the addition of gateway/handset hardware.
• Reduced Capital Costs – there is no need for purchasing separate PBX and voice mail systems at all locations.
• Reduced Operating Costs – the common infrastructure will allow for capabilities such as toll bypass and least cost routing.
• Reduced Long Distance Costs - long distance charges can be reduced by routing calls over the WAN to the area of our private network that can place the call for the least cost and in some cases for no cost.
• Reduced Support Costs – any authorized member of staff can move or add a phone to the system.
• Scalability - GIT is building a highly scalable network that can be utilized well into the future.
• Computer to Computer or computer to telephone calling – this will allow a user to call anyone who has a phone from their computer and, with proper software, provide for computer to computer calling.
• Remote Access – with the proper connectivity, at-home users or traveling users can access the system to make calls, receive calls, and check voice mail.
• Disaster Survivability – the system can be designed to protect against equipment failure, a Telephone Company line problem, loss of power, or local disaster.
• Security – phone system access can be restricted per user, by default settings or by requiring an access code.
• Corporate Directories – directories of all corporate extensions are always at a user’s fingertips and are more accurate and up-to-date because they are based on the system’s user database.
• Extension Mobility – if a user is not in his or her regular office, but is at one of GIT’s other office locations, they can simply enter their user ID and access code into a phone at that location which will then take on all characteristics of their own extension. This includes personal phone settings such as speed dial buttons, personal address book, and ring tones.
• Improved Operator Interface – the interface allows the operator to see the status of any phone extension in the company and can use common Windows® functions like drag-and-drop, and point and click to process a call.
• Call Detail Reporting – the system provides built-in reporting to monitor call volumes, user-level utilization, and provide charge back information by site or department.
• System Monitoring – the system keeps a web-based report on the system health and voice quality for easy access and management analysis.

According to many experts, Voice over IP telephony will be replacing all current “switch-based” phone networks, though it will take some time. The technology will continue to grow and will eventually make it into our homes, as well. In terms of both economics and infrastructure costs, the benefits of consolidating voice and data networks into one robust IP network are numerous and will continue to enhance communication capabilities. It is a proven telephony solution that provides state-of-the-art functionality for users in a very efficient, cost effective manner, which makes sense for today’s businesses.

By: Gregory M. Kosin, President.

About Greater Illinois Title
Greater Illinois Title, celebrating its 25th Anniversary in 2010, is Chicago Title's largest title agent in Illinois and one of its largest title agents in the country. The company provides title insurance, construction and commercial escrow services, sale and refinance closing services, 1031 tax deferred exchanges, land surveys and real estate information in the Chicago metro region. It currently operates through a network of fourteen offices located in Arlington Heights, Crystal Lake, Downers Grove, Geneva, Homewood, Lindenhurst, Oak Lawn, Shorewood, Tinley Park, Westchester, Wheaton, Yorkville, in Chicago on North Milwaukee Avenue and in the Loop at 120 N. La Salle Street. Greater Illinois Title is authorized to write Title Insurance and issue policies in the Counties of Cook, DeKalb, Du Page, Grundy, Lake, Kane, Kankakee, Kendall, Lake, LaSalle, McHenry and Will. The company coordinates title insurance and escrows in all Illinois Counties and across the United States.