Call detail records for VoIP a necessity

Market research firm TheYankee Group predicts that that the number of VoIP users will jump to 10 million by the end of 2007. Maintaining and monitoring the service presents quite a challenge. The problem comes from the back-end infrastructure, network connection points and billing systems.

Telephone exchanges generate call detail records (CDRs) which are used for billing purposes. CDRs contain detailed information about calls originating from, terminating at or passing through the exchange.

Voice over IP (VoIP) technology provides major benefits in both cost reduction and flexibility for mobile employees. As is the case with any technology, different rules apply to how VoIP telephony is used and managed. If your company is using VoIP, it's vital to have the ability to collect call detail for corporate chargeback on calls made across IP telephones.

Collecting VoIP call tracking can be a challenge, because the data differs from that generated by standard PBX calls. However, most companies want the ability to search call detail regardless of the technology that is used.

A call detail record (CDR) in voice over IP is a file containing information about recent system usage such as the identities of sources (points of origin), the identities of destinations (endpoints), the duration of each call, the amount billed for each call, the total usage time in the billing period, the total free time remaining in the billing period, and the running total charged during the billing period. The format of the CDR varies among VoIP providers or programs.

Look for a VoIP call tracking and billing system that is designed for versatility. Whether your business is already on a VoIP system or is planning to move to one in the future but is currently using a PBX system, there is no reason to wait for the upgrade to take advantage of the savings a call tracking system can provide. Most call tracking systems will work with your current legacy PBX equipment, and will easily migrate to the new VoIP system when the time comes.
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Author, Karen Ritz, VP Business Development for TelSoft Solutions, writes on the business benefits of call accounting and call detail record technology. More information can be found at http://www.telsoft-solutions.com.