Landline phones have been serving business needs for well over a century. However, today’s globalized and connected environment demands more flexible and scalable solutions that are affordable to implement and maintain.
Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) offers an alternative way to make and receive phone calls. Often, the physical phone is barely even part of the equation, since VoIP lets users switch between numbers on any device equipped with a speaker and microphone.
VoIP is one of the most successful technologies of the last two decades, and it’s already widely used by consumers as a way to keep in touch with friends and family around the world, often for free.
How does VoIP work?
VoIP lets you make phone calls via your internet connection rather than over a regular landline. The system works by converting analog voice signals into digital signals known as packets in real time. These are transmitted between the internet and other telephone networks, such as mobile services and traditional landlines, via a VoIP server.
VoIP services fall into three broad types. The simplest and most common method is to use an analog telephone adaptor (ATA), which connects standard landline phones to the internet. Another popular type is the IP phone, which normally looks like an ordinary phone but connects directly to the router for handling online calls.
Finally, the easiest way to use VoIP is computer-to-computer calls (i.e., making a Skype call from your desktop computer to another person using Skype on their desktop computer), which typically allow for free calls to anywhere around the world.
What are the business benefits of VoIP?
The success of any business hinges on its ability to communicate reliably with its customers, partners, and employees. But handling a large number of concurrent calls is difficult with an ordinary landline. VoIP makes it much easier to add a large number of lines in a short period of time.
The greatly reduced cost is easily the most visible benefit of migrating to a VoIP system. Any call between computers will be free and unmetered, and calls to landlines tend to be cheaper, especially when calling international and/or mobile numbers. Since today’s VoIP services are usually fully managed and software-based for a modest monthly subscription fee, you don’t need to purchase specialized hardware either.
VoIP offers excellent scalability too. Even a slow 10 Mbps internet connection should be able to handle up to 10 simultaneous calls without a noticeable drop in audio quality. And most business VoIP solutions are also priced on a per-user basis, which means you can easily add more users or remove existing ones to scale back and forth with business needs. Also, your employees can use their own devices for making and receiving calls. VoIP is flexible, mobile, and scalable.
Another important benefit of VoIP is that it boosts communication efficiency. Common features, such as auto-attendant and call rerouting ensure callers get to speak to the right person in less time, even if they’re not in the office. Most business-grade VoIP services also integrate with your existing systems to further enhance communication and collaboration.
What do you need to get started?
You can retrofit almost any existing phone to handle VoIP calls by connecting it to an analog telephone adapter. However, the easiest and most efficient approach is to choose an entirely software-based system, since it provides by far the greatest flexibility. With a software-based VoIP solution, all you need is a broadband internet connection and a device equipped with a speaker and microphone or headset port.
NetQuest redefines small business communications with dependable VoIP services that are reliable, scalable, and affordable. Call us today to claim your advantage.
