PRI Voice Lines – Determining If They Are Right For Your Business

Technology is constantly changing, and with it, the need for faster, more reliable voice and data services has increased. If you run a company, you are undoubtedly familiar with the many choices you must make on a daily basis concerning the vast services you use and what is needed to make them all run smoothly. PRI Voice is one way of transferring both voice and data information between two physical locations. PRI, which stands for primary rate interface, is a telecommunications standard for carrying this multitude of information through multiple means. All voice and data channels are ISDN and operate at 64 kbits. Some channels carry voice, data and other services while other channels carry control and signaling information. The PRI consists of 23 channels that carry voice and data, and one that carries the control and signaling information. This is what makes it possible for users to transmit a wide range of voice and data communication through multiple lines simultaneously.

Put simply, PRI is a high capacity communications line designed to provide businesses a wider variety of features at a more competitive price. The service is also quite flexible and is carried via a t-1 line and, thus allowing users to activate 23 simultaneous calls for each t-1 PRI line. That is the main reason why this service has become so important to many companies with 20 or more employees. This does, of course, depend on call volume, so the need for these lines may vary accordingly.

There are, however, costs associated with a PRI, but the end result is a stable service with optimized pricing when you stop to consider the costs of all necessary services when purchased separately. Before your phone system will be able to interface with the PRI circuit through the t-1 carrier, a digital PRI card must be installed. Not all systems are equipped with the ability to handle such a card, but many do. There is, of course, a cost for the card and its installation, but again, this may be a worthwhile investment for your business, especially if you handle large amounts of both voice and data transfer on a regular basis.

So are PRI lines right for your business? The answer will depend on the nature of your company and your need for a telecommunications service to help you manage a wide range of voice and data capabilities. If your need to transmit a high volume of data is great, this may be a service you will want to purchase. It just may make the work load a bit lighter.