Understanding What VoIP’s All About

Perhaps you’ve heard of VoIP services, but are unsure of what that means – or what it can provide for you and your business. To start, VoIP stands for Voice over Internet Protocol. It is a technology that enables users to make phone calls through the Internet instead of through analog phone systems. When a person makes a VoIP phone call, his or her voice is converted into a digital sound and then transferred through the Internet. There are many business benefits associated with VoIP technology, which are not only reliable, but also provide the following: 

VoIP Can Save You Money

Businesses are able to save considerable amounts of money when using VoIP to make phone calls. In fact, local phone expenses can be completely eliminated, and in some instances, so can long distance charges.

VoIP Systems Are Completely Portable

Another reason a VoIP phone system is reliable is because it is completely portable. Through any broadband Internet connection, VoIP technologies can be used. This means that regardless of where a person is located, with an Internet connection, he or she can log into a VoIP account and make calls.

VoIP Provides Flexibility

When using a VoIP phone system from a provider like Broadview Networks, users  are no longer tied down to their desk phone.  The most advanced VoIP phone systems can be extended to any device, including laptops, tablets and smartphones. Most VoIP converters, or softphone applications, resemble a USB memory stick, and they easily plug into computers. It is important to note that the converter does not connect to an actual phone. Instead, it connects to a computer.  The computer literally becomes a phone that can be used anywhere there is an Internet connection—all you need are headphones and a speaker.

VoIP Has Built-In Business Continuity

Businesses will also find a VoIP phone system to be reliable because it can be used to avoid disasters and business interruptions. Most businesses have had to deal with the costly impact of not being able to operate, whether due to a natural disaster like Hurricane Sandy or a more common occurrence such as an equipment failure. The benefit to using VoIP technology is having the ability to stay connected and operational no matter what happens. VoIP phone systems give businesses the ability to work from anywhere and forward incoming calls to other locations, such as to unaffected offices and even home and cell phones. This way they do not miss any opportunity to connect with clients, prospects, employees and stakeholders.

Credits: Molly Malone