Voice over IP, also known as Voice over Internet Protocol or VoIP for short, allows users to facilitate voice-based phone calls using an internet connection. Users can make calls from anywhere, without the tangled wires or expensive setup that traditional phone systems require.
The process is simple. VoIP converts voice into digital signal, compresses it, and sends the signal over the internet. Once the digital data is received, it is uncompressed into sound. With the help of a VoIP service provider, you can easily set up calls between participants.
Companies that have historically resorted to landline phone systems wonder if the switch to VoIP will be worth it in the long run. Voice over IP provides many benefits to its users that companies can leverage as they look for new ways to speed up processes. The cost savings alone put VoIP at the forefront of calling innovation. The service's extensive features are an added bonus.
Learn more about Voice Over IP to determine if it might be the right fit for you.
Pros of Voice Over IP
As a company, you’re looking for new ways to streamline communications between employees and with clients. VoIP gives you the flexibility to make calls on the go or from a remote location without compromising functionality.
1. Easy Setup
The only prerequisite for Voice over IP is a strong internet connection. Redundancy is built into the network, which eliminates the need for traditional phone lines. This means no extra wiring and none of the associated maintenance costs. More people are working remotely than ever before in a post-lockdown world. Voice over IP offers an easy and reliable telecommunication system for all employees, no matter their location. For international teams, this eases internal communication as much as it does external communication.
2. Affordability
Companies need to invest in long-term solutions that save them money over time. Voice over IP is just one way of mitigating overhead costs so that companies aren’t throwing away money on frivolous office and communications equipment that aren’t even necessarily the most efficient system with the best features.
Landlines can be terribly costly for companies, even if it’s not something they consider regularly. The average landline phone system costs businesses $42 per line each month. And this rate is usually only representative of domestic calls. VoIP plans, on the other hand, can be significantly less expensive and also offer the added functionality of servicing both domestic and international calls.
3. Advanced Features
Implementation of any new communication process takes time. In addition to increased savings, companies also want to ensure the added features of a VoIP makes the upfront integration costs worth it.
For one, VoIP offers clearer voice quality—although this was not always the case. In the early days of VoIP, voice quality was lacking and calls dropped easily. Now, Voice over IP ensures high-quality calls with a clear connection, as long as the internet service is stable. Noise-canceling microphone and headphones can improve the quality further, especially for those in a crowded workspace.
Features such as auto attendant and call transferring can earn small businesses of even one or two people the respect of a larger organization, while large businesses can use the same features to ensure a quality, yet personable experience for their customers.
Internally, Voice over IP facilitates the multi-party calls that traditional phone systems cannot. As a result, companies are able to save money on the piecemeal conference call phone system that’s most often used in tandem with traditional phone systems.
Challenges to Consider
VoIP innovates the way you communicate as a team, but you must have a strong, reliable internet connection. If your bandwidth is low, your service will decrease in quality, and you run the risk of dropping calls. The Federal Communication Commission recommends a minimum download speed of less than 0.5Mbps for VoIP calls.
Similarly, a faulty router or defunct ethernet cables could cause you to drop calls. Latency and jitter occur when data cannot be properly transmitted and delivered to the recipient. This is true for email, videos, and audio. When the internet connection is poor or when the associated hardware is not functioning as it should, your system becomes susceptible to latency and jitter.
Companies that understand the benefits of VoIP may struggle to know where to start. CPI Technologies offers phone systems including managed voice services, call routing, domestic and international calling capabilities, and cloud-based PBX solutions without the hardware.
Learn more about CPI and request a quote or consultation today.
