Voice over IP Telephony is all about making and receiving phone calls using an internet connection rather than the traditional method of using ‘Fixed’ phone lines such as analogue, ISDN2 or ISDN30 to make a phone call. VoIP telephony has an advantage over traditional telephony in that it usually costs far less than traditional methods of voice communications and so reduces the need for major capital expenditure.
Some of the benefits that VoIP can bring:
Lower call charges: By implementing a VoIP telephone solution into a business it can begin to save on call charges straight away. Savings can range from 30% to 60% by switching away from traditional telephone services.
Save on hardware: The move to VoIP is one of the easiest transitions that any company can make. There is no requirement to purchase expensive phone system (PBX) equipment. At its simplest, VoIP telephony can be used by any business with computers that have a sound card, speakers, a microphone and a suitable Internet connection. On top of this all that is required is a softphone client to make and receive calls. Softphones can either be free or paid for.
There are many types of IP enabled desktop phones that can be used with a VoIP service and often the type of phone chosen is a personal preference. However always ensure that phones are compatible with the service that you are going to use before purchasing them.
Flexibility: VoIP telephony allows you to use the phone in the same way that you always have with a fixed line service. When making the switch, you can even keep your existing phone number(s) so avoiding the need to go through expensive re-branding exercises. A VoIP solution allows you to tailor a system to suit your circumstances. Add extensions when you need then and remove them if you don’t
VoIP telephony offers a business many advantages over traditional systems. The cost for a basic VoIP telephone system extension starts around £8.50 per month and includes extras such as voicemail, music on hold, Outlook integration etc. Other options such as IVR’s , call queues, call recording are modular and can be bolted on as required. The use of existing phone numbers, the choice of other geographic and non geographic numbers, the ability to have remote workers connected without additional charges and from anywhere in the country give improved flexibility to any business looking to enhance their presence and maximise productivity.
Other benefits:
Scalability: Adapt to changes in the business without the need for major additional capital expenditure.
Business Continuity: VoIP offers enhanced business continuity and disaster recovery options over and above traditional fixed line services. Rapid switching to alternative numbers / mobiles ensures that downtime is kept to a minimum. Organisations looking to have a telephony business continuity solution in place in the event of premises loss can have a system sat in the background ready to activate at a moments notice.
