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TEM for Any Phone System

By Spencer D. Chin TMCnet Web Editor

Telecom Expense Management (TEM) has long been a tool to help management track expenses and budget monies for traditional landline office phone systems. But TEM is now expanding its role to include other phone systems as well.

Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) is viewed as a low-cost alternative to landline phone systems, particularly when making long-distance calls overseas. But TEM is still needed to not only keep track of the actual expenses, but also analyze the savings - both actual and potential - to help enterprises phase the technology into their communications infrastructure.

A TEM program can help management figure out future payback by going to VoIP, by collecting and analyzing data on factors such as infrastructure costs, toll charges, etc., giving a business enterprise greater confidence in making the decision to go to VoIP.

Wireless phone systems and portable electronic devices have also become an important element in the communications infrastructure of enterprises, as workers place a greater importance on being connected. Keeping tabs on the expenses these devices incurred is even more challenging than a landline phone, because of varying rates in different geographic regions, the variety of mobile phones and electronic devices used, and variations in wireless service contracts among wireless service providers.

Here, a TEM system can not only track all the charges incurred through a company's mobile phone or PDA device such as Blackberry, but also report if costs are spiraling out of control because of access charges and roaming charges. A TEM system can analyze whether that two-year mobile contract that seems like such a bargain actually is one or will hamper the company because the employee will be stuck with outdated technology for a longer time.

As communications technology advances, services such as mobile VoIP, which would enable the mobile phone user to call others by connecting to a VoIP network, are gaining interest and usage. The business enterprise can use TEM to evaluate the potential benefits of using a mobile VoIP service, to ensure a return on investment.

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Spencer Chin is a contributing editor for TMCnet. To see more of his articles, please visit his columnist page.