Exploring VOIP Phone Systems

Posted by Nabin Shaw on September 26th, 2019

Phone systems have long been depended upon by many businesses around the world and throughout the years phone systems have changed vastly. The essence of what makes a branch exchange is still there of course, the notion that a business can manage internal and external calls using a single phone line, with multiple connections in-house. These days however, there are many telecoms providers who offer web-based solutions to a company’s phone service needs. Voice Over Internet Protocol, VOIP for short, is quickly becoming one of the most commonly used phone services for businesses, and here is why.

How VOIP Works

Essentially this is a method where analog audio signals are taken and turned into digital data, which is transmitted across the internet. This is achieved in several different ways, the most common of which being ATA, which allows a traditional analog phone to be connected to a computer or internet connection with VOIP. Other options include internet phones which have ethernet connectors and even computer-to-computer systems, which include the installation of software which provides VOIP phones systems.

Increased Popularity

The reason why more businesses are moving to VOIP is that it offers a wide variety of benefits which businesses can count on, which we will discuss later. There is also the nature of trends and as VOIP has become more widely used, there are more businesses who have looked to convert their phone systems to this system to keep up with partners and competitors who are already using VOIP.

Benefits

The main benefit which is enjoyed by businesses who use VOIP is the cost, or lack of it. VOIP is an incredibly low-cost approach because instead of using costly telephone lines, communication data is sent over an IP network. Another key benefit of using VOIP is its portability, with businesses and staff being able to operate from anywhere in the world through remote access. VOIP is not restricted to voice calls only and it can also be used for video calling and conferencing.

Disadvantages

Whilst the internet is a common component of many businesses there are some who run into connection and signal strength difficulties, which renders the VOIP unable to be used. Some businesses have commented on dropped calls and poor call quality, which of course isn’t conducive to running a business effectively. A slightly less frequent, but rather serious disadvantage, is that VOIP doesn’t allow location tracking which can cause an issue for emergency calling.

Setting Up

To  set up VOIP in your business, a professional from your chosen telecom provider will need to come out to the business and install the system. The key ingredient to setting up a VOIP is a SIP trunk, which allows calls to be sent and received over the internet. This trunk is what connects the router and the devices in the business to the server of the telecoms company, thus enabling calls to be made across the internet.

With many businesses moving to VOIP, and the increasing improvement in internet capabilities, it is more than likely that this form of phone systems will only continue to grow in popularity. Don’t risk falling behind, look into a VOIP phone system for your business today.