VoIP, which is the acronym for Voice over Internet Protocol, is an application. In more detail, VoIP is a set of software and hardware which enables people, especially businesses, to use the internet as a medium of transmission for telephone calls through their IP by sending voice data instead of using a traditional circuit transmission. VoIP solutions are interchangeably used with IP telephony most times, and in this article, we will be looking at its utilization through service providers.
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What are VoIP Solutions?
Business VoIP solutions have come a long way in the past decade with advancements in technology, hardware, software, and user experience.
A Voice over Internet Protocol service provider offers VoIP solutions to both residential and commercial customers. This application is also known as an Internet phone service provider. In general terms, a VoIP service provider provides the VoIP hardware and services to subscribers for a monthly fee. As with all VoIP solutions, VoIP service providers utilize packet-switched telephony to transmit calls over the internet in contrast to the circuit-switched telephony used by the traditional Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) or a more Private Branch Exchange (PBX). Although, that does not mean VoIP calls are not like regular phone calls. Unlike regular phone calls, VoIP calls are made over a broadband high-speed Internet connection rather than over an ordinary telephone line.
With the advance in technology, more and more businesses have begun implementing VoIP solutions because of their different features of beneficial consequences. With the new and significant development in this particular technology, the scope of its application is broadening. Please allow me to say it is becoming, or should I say it has become more than a mere voice communication technology. And this is why I recommend that you utilize VoIP on various business platforms through a managed service provider.
Looking briefly at Business VoIP services, it is a commercial-class version of residential VoIP services. VoIP services focus on the primary provider of small and medium-sized businesses with advanced features. It has advantages such as private branch exchange (PBX) capabilities, conference calling, desk-to-desk calling, on-hold music, and automated attendants to enhance the business’s efficiency.
Compared to residential VoIP plans, business VoIP and enterprise VoIP providers usually offer more tiered usage plans and support multiple simultaneous calls. Whereas the residential VoIP plan typically features a flat-rate pricing structure and allows for only one request at a time. As earlier stated, with all VoIP (or Internet telephony) services, business VoIP uses packet-switched telephony to transmit calls over the internet instead of the circuit-switched phone used by the traditional Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN).
Briefly and concisely, here is a highlight of some of the benefits of VoIP solutions utilization.
VoIP Solutions are Flexible and Versatile
Telemedicine has taken a huge leap forward with the advancement of VoIP services allowing doctors to treat more patients safely.
Several VoIP service companies have been working relentlessly and significantly to improve the use of this technology. They have been coupling together other communication applications into a single and unified communication platform to enhance the technology’s productivity and efficiency. That is to say, all modes of communication, be it voice fax, video, web conferencing, and emails can work via a single software application, “the wonder of technology.”
And to think that this software’s ability to change voice into an email or fax into an email can bring a tremendous level of high speed and efficiency to business operations. Imagine that you can receive an incoming call on a mobile and regular phone simultaneously without signing up for a separate service; that means a reduction in the number of missed calls. Imagine also having to send an email without the stress of typing and the joy of carrying out the different tasks with just one software. Well, the list goes on.
Reduced Cost
The bottom line is that VoIP solutions are significantly less expensive than traditional PBX services, and you get a whole lot more bang for your buck with VoIP.
“There are a lot of expenses incurred with the communication,”; I would say. Did you know that VoIP solutions can lower these costs, thus enhancing revenue significantly in many ways? Here are some of the financial benefits associated with VoIP implementation.
Cost Per Phone Call
If you haven’t noticed, making long-distance/ international calls can be very expensive whether using a mobile phone or landline. The high price is also applicable to calls with long duration as charges incurred at a per-minute rate can add up quickly. In business, where you make lots of requests to clients, the expense accumulates with each request.
Still, with VoIP, when you conduct business from multiple locations, the VoIP application allows you to make free calls from PC to PC, permitted they are within the same network. That is, there would be significant elimination of long-distance charges. With this application, you can pay a low flat monthly fee and make unlimited calls, including international calls.
Operational Costs
One of the major differences between VoIP solutions and a traditional PBX is cost. Not only monthly service fees but also equipment and software fees.
Did you know that with VoIP solutions utilization, you don’t need separate networks for data and voice communications as everything can be done using the same data network specially designed phones with VoIP technology, which can be managed right from your desktop? Well, there are a few things at work here; First of all, you have the leverage to be eliminating traditional phone lines, usually a high monthly fixed cost, in addition to the per-minute usage costs.
That’s not all. Another operational cost that VoIP help takes away is the labor costs involved in mobilizing employees from office to office. Note that reconfiguring numbers and phones can still require physical changes and charges. Even if they are only software changes, you still have a cost to pay the technician who handles these reconfigurations.
Infrastructure Cost
With this amazing technology, your infrastructure cost is automatically reduced significantly. Taking, for example, if you have to pay more for telephone extensions using traditional PBX and critical systems, with the use of VoIP solutions, you are allowed to run those extensions right from your computers. Isn’t that great? You can also use your dual-mode phones with this technology- all you need is to make minor configuration changes that will enable the user to switch the use of a dual phone from a cellular to a local Wi-Fi environment.
This method eliminates the need to carry a regular phone and a cell phone. That means fewer devices to manage. In essence, what I am trying to say is that with the use of VoIP, especially in business is that the telephone calls over the internet do not incur a surcharge above what the user is actually paying for the Internet access, much in the same way that means the user doesn’t pay for sending individual emails over the internet.
VoIP Solutions Wrap Up
In summary, we cannot overstate the significance of VoIP solutions utilization through a managed service provider. Every business out there strives for better revenue. This new technology offers many ways to cut expenses and still portray efficiency by unifying all communication modes into one single platform. And this is perfect because efficiency and lower costs are always in line with higher revenue.
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