The more expensive models offer an array of network routing and management capabilities. Voice FRADs create packetized frames of voice data for transmission over frame relay and other lines. Like the packet assemblers and dissasemblers used to package and interpret data frames, voice FRADs are required at each end of the frame relay link. There are currently no dedicated VOFR service offerings from carriers, although there are rumblings about possible market entries that would offer high priority and low latency for VOFR traffic. VOFR users in the U.S. are usually charged one flat rate, nationwide.
International rates vary.
Frame relay services typically feature transmission speeds from 56 Kbps to 1.54 Mbps, and prices vary accordingly. Users must also pay access charges. At a time when many users are seeking to consolidate their networking solutions, the elimination of extraneous services and equipment has great appeal. For example, a branch bank, by implementing VOFR, could eliminate SDLC lines, binary synchronous communications lines, asynchronous communications lines, and LAN lines. Add in the accompanying cost savings, and VOFR looks very attractive.