VoIP is a technology that has changed the way in which people and businesses communicate. Scroll down to learn about VoIP and how it can work for your needs.
Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology has been embraced by businesses of all sizes. When you use VoIP, you are able to send your calls and other types of communication over the Internet by using your broadband connection. With VoIP, your voice data is converted so that it can be transmitted digitally instead of using an analog or conventional phone system.
If you are thinking about replacing your traditional phone system, there are several reasons why you should consider making the transition to VoIP technology instead of purchasing a new traditional phone system.
Reason 1: Save Money
A primary advantage of choosing VoIP instead of a traditional landline phone is the savings that you will enjoy when you make long-distance phone calls. When you use VoIP to place calls, your voice is converted to data and sent via the Internet. Sending voice data over the Internet using your local area network and your broadband connection costs significantly less than it does to send the information over the copper lines of legacy systems. If your company has multiple locations that are all equipped with VoIP phones, you can avoid the long-distance costs that come with having traditional phones.
If you regularly have to make international phone calls, VoIP will save you even more. The costs of making international calls are very high when you use traditional phone lines. Even with international call plans on traditional phones, the connection costs and the per-minute charges are very high. Since VoIP allows you to send your voice over the Internet, international calling is much cheaper. Some VoIP providers also offer plans with unlimited international calls for a low monthly price.
If you intend to use VoIP to send calls using your computer, you will only need to add a microphone, speakers, and a good soundcard. All this hardware is quite inexpensive. There are also VoIP handsets that can be purchased for an affordable price.
Reason 2: More Than Two Persons
Traditional phone lines only allow one call to be made at the same time. VoIP phones have lines that are assigned by username, and most of these phones allow you to make up to eight calls per username simultaneously. You may also place limits on a username so that there are fewer simultaneous calls if you wish.
This means that if you have a single VoIP line activated on your phone, the phone can receive as many as eight calls simultaneously before the callers will get a busy signal. If you are on a call when a new one comes in, you will be able to see the incoming call and choose to place your current call on hold to answer it, ignore it, or reject it and send it to the busy signal. As the state of the incoming call changes, your phone’s interface will also change.
You are also able to have multiple usernames on a VoIP phone system. This can allow you to have a general line for incoming calls while also having simultaneous personal lines so that callers can contact the individual users directly. This feature can allow you to route general and direct calls differently.
Reason 3: More Than Voice
With a legacy phone system, you can perform basic calling functions to communicate by voice. VoIP offers much more than traditional landline phones, however. With VoIP, you can also enjoy the ability to communicate via video from wherever you are. Since VoIP is portable, you can participate in a video conference from wherever you might be. This feature also allows you to hold video conferences with participants who are in multiple locations at once.
VoIP web conferencing allows you to hold face-to-face meetings and to save money on travel costs for staff members who work in other locations. Businesses of all sizes are using VoIP web conferencing to hold meetings with partners and clients, as well as to keep in contact with their employees. Web conferencing with VoIP is also an effective way to hold training sessions, so that your employees may participate without having to travel. If you are overseas or somewhere else, you can also attend meetings in your home office by video conferencing without having to worry about being physically present in the building.
The many benefits that are offered by VoIP technology have led to its widespread adoption by companies of all sizes. You can save money while benefitting from the numerous features that VoIP offers, allowing your business to operate more efficiently.