by Joe Taylor Jr.
As VoIP providers roll out support for "wideband" business phone systems, subscribers with the right equipment enjoy the clearest phone calls ever. A new wave of hardware compatible with the G.722 audio format allows VoIP services to improve the quality of speakerphones and conference call systems. For solo callers, the enhanced audio gives listeners the feeling of greater presence and clarity. Call center agents and other corporate users can use these new tools to increase productivity while building stronger rapport with callers over clear connections.
VoIP Providers Share Technical Innovation for High Quality Speech
The G.722 codec originally emerged as a solution for high-end videoconferencing solutions. Engineers tasked with maximizing bandwidth for video frames developed a technique to transmit a fuller spectrum of live sound using just a 64kbps transfer rate. The original application for G.722 made conferencing more effective by capturing more of the high-end frequencies bouncing around larger spaces. In group settings, where many speakers may not be close to microphones, capturing high frequencies up to 7kHz can enhance the clarity of most participants. Handset or headset audio encoded with G.722 also features richer bass than calls handled by other codecs.
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According to the International Telecommunications Union, G.722 first debuted in 1988, when speeds of 64kbps were out of reach for all but the largest corporate users. VoIP services didn't even exist at the time, so engineers focused on ways to maximize bandwidth on expensive satellite services and ISDN lines. Today, most households with broadband access can easily support 64kbps streams, making the format ideal for both busy corporate networks and basic home office users.
Assuring Codec Compatibility among Multiple VoIP Providers
With broadband Internet bandwidth catching up to the needs of the G.722 codec, another important milestone marked wider adoption of the standard. The algorithm behind audio compression was protected by patent until 2008. Upon its expiration, an explosion of products and VoIP services supporting the format appeared on the market. Because manufacturers and vendors no longer need to make royalty payments to G.722's developers, business phone systems based on the standard can be deployed for about the same budget as PCM-based VoIP systems.
However, to enjoy the maximum value of G.722-based business phone systems, CIOs and other key decision makers must replace their existing systems completely or choose a new system that maintains backwards compatibility with older equipment. Consulting with VoIP providers about their support for the G.722 codec can reveal whether customers can save money by switching their business phone systems to the new platform now or by waiting a few more quarters for even less expensive equipment.
VoIP Systems Still Rely on Traditional Voice Bridges for Outside-Network Calls
Even though G.722-based business phone systems can help improve workplace productivity, the strength of VoIP providers' landline bridge connections still determines the quality of calls placed to outside lines. Just as traditional phone systems strip many of the high and low frequencies before transmitting an analog phone call, calls from wideband VoIP systems must still be converted for basic voice lines. Still, experts note that the quality and clarity of wideband calls entering analog conversion can still improve the voice presence of outbound calls. As a result, customers calling company offices or service centers will still enjoy clearer communication thanks to G.722 systems.
Sources
Chromis
Cisco Systems
International Telecommunications Union
Polycom
VoiceAge
VoIP Supply
ZDNet
Joe Taylor Jr. is an internal business consultant for a Fortune 500 company, who writes about finance, culture, and design. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Communications from Ithaca College.
