Want to know what sucks?
Working remotely and forgetting your proxy. 🤦♂️
I personally can’t relate to that feeling because I use Bicom Systems PBXware. However, some providers don’t work with NAT (Network Address Translation).
What does that mean?
Well, when you use SIP, you need to have specific ports on your firewall open. Some providers lack the ability to handle anything outside of their network.
In your office, you can connect your VoIP phone to the network, and it will work great! However, the minute you take your call outside of the office (aka outside of the firewall) it will drop. This will require the user to carry an SBC (Session Border Controller) or a Proxy.
The SBC or Proxy will act like a tunnel and it will bridge the remote call back into the firewall. But you can’t physically carry an SBC, so what you need is a Raspberry Pi.
No, I am not talking about dessert.
A Raspberry Pi is essentially a mini-computer (the size of a credit card) onto which the SBC is loaded. When the user wants to work remotely, they will need to carry this with them.
Thankfully, Bicom System PBXware supports NAT. PBXware users can work from anywhere with an internet connection and they don’t require any extra equipment.
A new partner of Bicom Systems, Jim Strong, recently expressed his relief at not having to use a proxy anymore. In his case study, he explained how much of an inconvenience a proxy is, especially if there was a power outage. Learn how Jim is happy to NOT need a proxy after switching to Bicom Systems here.
Not only are proxies annoying and inconvenient, they are also expensive. A company must supply every employee with a Raspberry Pi and take the time to set it up. This process can be a nightmare for the IT team.
Going forward, when a provider advertises that you can work from anywhere with their solutions, make sure it means without the extra hardware!
Learn more about Bicom Systems proxy-free products by visiting our website or asking our sales team at sales@bicomsystems.com.