Five Points that Every Business Owner Should Understand about VoIP
When innovative technologies such as VoIP emerge not everyone finds the
time or need to learn about it. However, after time, most business owners
begin to recognize the importance and potential benefits associated with
an improved way to handle communications. VoIP has been around for quite
some time, however, not everyone has recognized the need to discover how the
technology can be critically important for some businesses. Fundamentally, VoIP
represents a rather straightforward technology to grasp and once
understood becomes a less complicated system to set up.
Recognizing a few
elementary concepts contributes considerably to familiarity with VoIP phone
systems and how enormously beneficial they could be to most businesses.
If you are considering a possible change to
a VoIP phone service then these five
questions and answers will assist to a better overall understanding of
what it can achieve.
Here are five questions Answered That Explains VoIP to every business owner.
- How is VoIP different? VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) sends voice or phone calls over the Internet rather than using traditional landline circuits of conventional phone companies. With VoIP you can call landline phones and cell phones anywhere, as well as make calls from your computer to another computer. VoIP takes traditional voice calls and transforms them into data packets so they can be sent anywhere, somewhat like email.
- What are the benefits of using VoIP? Switching to VoIP results in less expensive calls and an overall reduction in total phone costs. There are many other benefits as well, like, multiple advanced features without excess charges and easy integration with business apps. VoIP offers the ability to place and receive calls from anywhere and launch conference sessions. Workers can stay connected from home or when traveling rather, then just at the office. VoIP enables the use of different communication methods, like Text and Chat.
- What are the differences between hosted VoIP and a VoIP PBX? Hosted VoIP is a phone service where the provider houses all the equipment. You open an account that allows you to make and receive calls and utilize the features, usually for one monthly fee. A VoIP PBX is a phone system where the equipment is purchased and installed inside the office. The PBX or phone system then connects up to a provider to send and receive calls.
- Can you transfer calls between multiple locations using VoIP? Absolutely, for instance, you can have a phone at home which operates exactly like in the office. Multiple offices can all be tied together, transferring calls between them. Physical distances aren't important as long as each location utilizes the Internet.
- Are there any caveats when deciding to move to VoIP? Definitely, there are several factors to consider when moving to VoIP. To begin with your existing phone equipment may not be capable of using VoIP. Getting a new VoIP phone system or moving to a hosted VoIP service requires adequate planning. For instance, each phone location requires an Ethernet cable much like a computer. Traditional phone wires aren't capable of carrying VoIP calls.
Understanding VoIP and how it will Benefit Your Business
Conclusion
Gaining an initial rudimentary understanding of VoIP and how it can improve business communications tends to lead to more investigation. Specifically, how it might advance your distinct business model.
Organizations with staff linked by VoIP generate productivity increases of nearly 25%.
Currently, business managers have been coping with social distancing requirements and have recognized the need to allow employees that can do so, to work from home. Surveys show not only do workers prefer working from home, but they are much more productive. However, they require adequate systems in place to allow access to needed resources. These current requirements have led to a realization that obsolete technology can bear unexpected costs and lead to a large loss of revenue. Without a VoIP capable system managers have had to improvise just to maintain a minimal level of business.
Companies that move to a VoIP capable PBX or a hosted VoIP service will gain long-standing benefits for increased business productivity and improved customer services. Work environments, as well as customer expectations have changed, and businesses are now more than ever recognizing the need to modernize their business systems. Advancing company systems means moving to IP where resources can be accessed from other locations. Upon realizing how VoIP phone systems work, it becomes apparent that right now is the time to begin the transition.
Virtual Phone System Providers
Virtual phone providers offer small businesses unified communication solutions with exceptional capabilities at remarkably affordable prices. These are our picks for some of the most capable platforms available.
| RECOMMENDED PROVIDERS | HIGHLIGHTED FEATURES | RECOMMENDED FOR | STARTING PRICE | DETAILS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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$31.00/mo. | Details |
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$9.99/mo. | Details |
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$13.00/mo./user paid annually |
Details |
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$20.00/mo./user | Details |
Entrepreneurs
utilizing their cell phones, sole proprietors, 1-3 employee companies,
Real-estate agents.
Next: Comparing an on Premise VoIP PBX with Hosted VoIP.
Distinctive companies retain their own unique sets of requirements that often point to distinct solutions. Identify how an on premise IP-PBX differs from a cloud based VoIP service. Each type of VoIP phone system provides their own unique advantages. Premise PBX vs. a Cloud based PBX