A pair of new voice services from broadband provider Request promise to cut communications costs for SMEs.

The Voice over VPN (VoVPN) service interconnects a customer's various premises using VoIP over Request's private network. -Whilst using the same underlying IP technology [as services that use the Internet for carriage], our solutions are provided over Request's secure, business grade IP network," said chief executive officer Phil Sykes. -This enables us to control quality and classes of service to ensure business expectations of voice quality are being met."

VoVPN will be of interest to -any business who has multiple sites," he said. For example, a large part of a retailer's phone bill comprises calls between stores, or between head office and stores. A single Request DSL connection to each location could carry full-quality voice, plus EFTPOS and POS traffic, eliminating many call costs.

Businesses would need to install a VoIP call manager at a central location, along with IP handsets. This hardware is available from various suppliers including Cisco and Samsung. Softphones running on PCs or handheld devices could also be used where appropriate. Samsung Communications has been using Request's VoVPN system for some months. -The savings to our voice communications costs became obvious within a week," said Ray Smith, director products and services.

Request also eats its own dog food, using the system for voice calls between its Melbourne and Sydney offices.

Voice over DSL (VoDSL) connects the customer's existing phone equipment including PABXs and handsets to Request's DSL network. -We recognise that most businesses have made a significant investment in their phone systems and cannot see any justification for a costly upgrade," said Sykes.

A single DSL line can support up to 30 voice connections. Existing phone numbers can be retained, along with services such as call forwarding and line hunt groups. The integrated access device that connects phone equipment to the DSL line costs well under AU$2000, Sykes said, adding that Request is investigating possible financing arrangements.

VoDSL is -more cost effective" than normal phone services for businesses with as few as four voice lines plus a data service, he said. Customers will also benefit from having one wire, one bill, one supplier and one person taking accountability.

Request's national VPN has been established for 15 months. The 12,000th site is expected to be connected in the next few days.

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