The ESI Blog

The imminent demise of the desk phone is a frequently debated topic, and one that impacts a large percentage of the working population. However, rumors of its death have been greatly exaggerated. With benefits such as ease of use, reliability and cost-effectiveness, the desk phone is alive and well. However, with mobile phones becoming ever more important (and truly the lifeblood of millennials), it only makes sense that the desk phone would evolve or risk extinction.  

It has been fifteen years since the first time that I advised a telephone technician about the importance of learning basic network principles. Around that time, traditional phone sets had started being managed by network administrators, many of whom were also in the dark regarding the dial-tone functions that they were now supporting.

In today’s world, the same can be said about VoIP and Cloud Services. Professionals that were previously considered the “go-to guys” about all things telecom-related may now find themselves behind the curve if they haven’t grasped the core fundamentals of deploying and supporting these newer technologies. To stay relevant in this dynamic communications landscape, the need for improving and expanding technical expertise is something that must be addressed sooner rather than later.

Luckily, you don’t have to be a CCNA (Cisco Certified Network Associate) or hold an advanced degree to handle basic network troubleshooting. The building blocks of understanding the fundamentals will greatly help technicians to identify, isolate and even correct many of the common issues associated with VoIP and cloud deployments.