REVOLUTIONISING LINES OF COMMUNICATION

For many Voice-over Internet Protocol (VoIP) either causes confusion or sparks a vague recollection of cheaper calls and the Internet. But according to Paul Graham Voip is transforming how businesses communicate

A lot of businesses have come across VoIP in some shape or form without realising it. Many are embracing the technology with open arms, since it became commercially available, but a significant number aren’t and are suffering as a result. A VoIP system converts the voice signal from your telephone’s receiver into a digital signal which travels over the internet to a pre-determined destination. From there this signal is converted back into your recognisable voice pattern just like a regular phone call.

Unlike a normal phone call however VoIP can be used to dramatically lower your business telecommunication costs, increase productivity and offer a wide-range of useful features that conventional phones just can’t.

TECHNOLOGY REVOLUTION

The technology has come a long way since its creation and today is highly evolved. Sound is incredibly sharp, new and innovative features are being continually developed and increasing numbers of businesses are making it a core part of their communications infrastructure.

The success of Voice-over Internet Protocol has even prompted some business analysts to comment that VoIP will herald the death of traditional telephones.

The Economist in an article called, ‘How the internet killed the phone business’ states that it is ‘no longer a question of whether VoIP will wipe out traditional telephony, but a question of how quickly it will do so.’

IMPLEMENT WITH EASE

Some businesses however still have reservations about the technology and are concerned that it is both costly to install and difficult to operate. This couldn’t be further from the truth as VoIP is extremely affordable and easy-to-use, requiring marginal set-up time and low maintenance.

One of the many advantages of VoIP is that all types of businesses, no matter what their size, can use it. Until recently converting from a traditional telephone system to a network-based system required a significant upfront investment to replace the company’s hardware.

However, today there are a wide-range of easily affordable technological advancements available that allow small to medium sized businesses to implement VoIP and IP PBX systems that are 100% compatible with their existing hardware. Whilst many companies are still clinging on to their old circuit-based switched networks to handle their calls, this hold is weakening. More and more businesses are waking up to the fact VoIP is a safe, affordable and mature technology that can provide many different benefits, far and above what a traditional telephone network can offer.

A HOST OF BENEFITS

Although significantly reduced phone calls is the most often hyped benefit of VoIP, the technology opens up the door to a multitude of new features not available elsewhere. These include the ability to forward voice messages to e-mail accounts and have them played back through your PC; access to voicemail via the internet; more complex address books and contacts lists; conversion of a mobile phone to an extension of your offices phone system; and call diversion or forwarding to a range of other numbers simultaneously.

Author: Paul Graham, Managing Director of Clarity Telecom www.claritytele.com