|
|
|
5 Reasons Your Business Should Switch to VoIP
Today, many businesses are choosing to unplug and go with VoIP
technology. There are many advantages for using VoIP including
cost effectiveness, greater productivity, and the incorporation
of data, audio, and video all intertwined in one...
Enterprise VoIP
Enterprise VoIP is making inroads among enterprises that cling
to their circuit switched voice networks. The lure of Enterprise
IP voice is having a single network to serve all modes of
communication. Enterprise VoIP introduces efficiencies into...
VoIP Communications Set Up Demo With Circuit City's
 1-866-904-VoIP 893 Highway 138 W Suites 10 Stockbridge, GA 30281 December 9, 2004 Circuit City Store ATTN: General Manager/Mr. Will Hughes 1906 Mt Zion Road Morrow, GA 30360 Dear Mr. Will Hughes: Per request by Mrs. Sara, at the Circuit...
VOIP QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Voice over Internet Protocol, or VoIP, has grown in popularity recently and with that rise in popularity has come a number of common misconceptions and confusion. Global Value Conncet ( http://globalvalueconnect.com ) has complied this simple...
Voip - Voice Over IP and Business: Is It For You?
VoIP allows users to make phone calls using their high-speed Internet connection. This translates into free, or very low cost long-distance calling. Because VoIP uses the power of the Internet, traditional phone companies are left completely out of...
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Introduction to VoIP
What is VoIP?
First things first, VoIP stands for Voice over Internet Protocol. At a base level that means phone calls over your broadband connection. You really do need a high-speed connection to take advantage of VoIP to get phone calls comparable to a normal landline phone. Traditional "dial-up" connections are not really sufficient.
VoIP works in a different way to your home phone. Your home phone is based on an analogue network, whereas VoIP is based on a digital one. Essentially when you speak into a VoIP enabled phone or headset your voice is converted into digital packets; it is then compressed to help your Internet connection run more efficiently and then it is transferred down the connection much like an email. Once it reaches its destination the process is reversed.
Why might I want to switch to VoIP?
It's a good question. We all have a working phone in our homes or business, why should we change? Lets look at the advantages and disadvantages of VoIP
Advantages
Well to put it simply - cost. VoIP makes calls significantly cheaper. And (Depending on your package) for a low cost monthly subscription local and national calls can be made for free, and international calls made at a significantly lower rate.
When you subscribe to a VoIP service it is possible to get a phone number for life. You will be able to take your number with you whenever you move (or even travel) with obvious benefits.
The contract packages that companies who are offering the service contain for the most part all the features and
more that your current phone service supplier offers. You are likely to find most VoIP companies offering free voicemail, call forwarding, caller ID, call waiting, call waiting ID, 3 way calling, speed dialling and much more.
VoIP is very much in it's infancy; the technology is progressing all the time. Future benefits that we may not be able to envisage yet are certain to appear, you current analogue phone system will not be able to compete.
Disadvantages
Your VoIP phones system will be exclusively based on your broadband connection, if you ISP has a period of service downtime then you will not be able to make calls. Additionally if your electricity supply has a power out then you will not be able to make any calls, this includes calls to the emergency services. Some providers have already got a work around with the emergency calls, so make sure when you decide on a supplier they provide this.
A further disadvantage currently is the set up of the VoIP is not the simplest procedure to undertake, though many suppliers will assist with installation.
The quality of the call via VoIP can be slightly less than your current analogue phone, but the technology is steadily improving, and before long you will not be able to tell the difference in call quality between the two mediums.
© Mike Bromley 2005
About the Author
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt">The author runs asite about VoIP Service Providers
at www.speakonline.co.uk</span>
|
|
|
|
|
|