Voice over Internet Protocol is a phone system that allows businesses to communicate via the Internet. Discover how VoIP can work for your company.
What Is VoIP: Voice Over Internet Protocol
September 18, 2023
Are you looking for ways to make your business communications and transactions faster and more fluid? A Voice over Internet Protocol phone service has your solution.
VoIP technology continues to grow in worldwide adoption due to its numerous benefits. Over 3 billion people use VoIP calling around the world, including nearly a third of United States businesses.
Take a closer look to answer for yourself just what VoIP is and discover how to maximize its potential for your business.
Key Takeaways:
VoIP is a communications technology that serves as an alternative to traditional landline phones. VoIP systems are quickly becoming the standard for businesses that desire advanced unified communications . What does VoIP stand for?
The acronym stands for “Voice over Internet Protocol.” As the name indicates, the system transmits voices over the internet for phone calls. However, the service has grown to be much more.
Video calls, text messages, chat, and online faxing are now possible in conjunction with VoIP services. When you install a VoIP system, you open the door to a vast array of cloud communications.
People use various names to refer to VoIP services and equipment. You may hear the terms online phones, voice over internet phone system, cloud-based phones, IP telephony, and virtual phones. In all of these cases, the underlying technology is Voice over IP.
In many ways, VoIP and landline phones are very similar and might even look virtually identical. However, VoIP phones outshine the traditional option in every important category.
Landline services use physical copper lines to create a connection, and analog phones have to physically connect to the network. While this was once the main option for commercial communication, the primary benefit of these lines nowadays is they are separate from the electrical grid and can still function during a power outage.
The disadvantage of this setup is it restricts a phone number and user to a single location. Call forwarding is possible but usually only to limited numbers or locations. Not to mention, long-distance and international calls are costly.
Another consideration is call clarity. As the audio travels over distances, the sound quality often degrades.
Finally, landline phones usually can only handle the transmission of voice. Connecting video, text, and business software is either impossible or expensive.
What is VoIP phone service able to do that traditional lines can’t? To begin with, the cost of installation is less because you don’t have to install physical lines and equipment for exchanges.
The cloud functionality of a VoIP phone service also means you can scale your service quickly. You won’t have to wait for technicians to set everything up. Further, cloud VoIP phones offer high-definition calls that analog phones can’t match.
In addition, professional VoIP systems are part of a unified communications solution. Video conferencing, email, chat, SMS messaging, web fax, and more channels are available for one low cost from a single provider, saving you time and money.
VoIP technology makes conversations possible by converting and compressing sound and video into easily transmissible data packets for a stable and secure connection. The basic process for a VoIP call involves the following steps:
What does VoIP mean for your call quality and connections? Despite this seemingly complex process, your VoIP transmissions occur instantaneously with little to no lag.
VoIP is the only practical choice for professional communications. Consider the benefits:
What is Voice over IP able to accomplish for small and mid-sized businesses? Yor SMB can obtain all of the same communications features as large enterprises to retain a competitive edge.
Dozens of VoIP features help you get the most out of your communications. Consider a few of the elements that make VoIP phones outstanding.
Training, security, and legal concerns make automatic call recording a must for companies that do business over the phone. Your VoIP provider captures all conversations and creates transcriptions that you can archive and access for quick review.
If your business operates a contact center , VoIP makes routing calls to the appropriate agents simple. Set criteria to send callers to agents in order of call or with more refined strategies.
IVR software provides automated prompts that accept caller dial pad inputs or vocal responses to forward callers to the correct party. Callers can also handle transactions or request information without needing to speak to an agent for greater efficiency.
Your system doesn’t just record and transcribe calls. Powerful artificial intelligence examines the details to provide valuable feedback on the sentiment of the interaction. The software also tracks team performance to help you see how to optimize efficiency and customer engagement.
What is a VoIP service able to do with integrations? You can connect your business productivity apps to your communications system. As a result, you’ll reduce the time your team spends on data entry and correcting errors.
Workers don’t have to be at a specific desk to receive calls. “Find Me/ Follow Me” forwarding rings a user’s different devices so the person doesn’t miss a call and have to play phone tag.
VoIP services are cost-efficient, but your final expense depends on what features you select. You can get started at a base price of less than $30 a month per line.
Other factors that influence the ultimate cost include:
Discuss what components are essential with your fellow stakeholders to determine the right phone system. Speaking with an expert will also help you craft the right plan and get a free quote.
Now, you’re ready to select a VoIP vendor. Look for the following characteristics:
Your provider should have a proven history of helping other organizations with their communications solutions. Read testimonials and case studies that confirm a strong track record.
Your provider must be able to guarantee you less than 30 seconds of downtime each month. No company can afford to go dark, and your provider must be there to support you in staying functional at all times.
Highly regulated industries, such as health care, legal, and financial services, have additional concerns about protecting the sensitive data of clients. Top providers comply with applicable laws for data gathering and protection.
Whether you’re starting fresh with a new VoIP service or transferring from another vendor, the process should go smoothly. Determine that your new provider can help you move your team and data over to your new plan with minimal interruption to your business.
Any service will have its hiccups. As such, rapid notifications and prompt updates are the sign of an attentive provider that does everything for the sake of your success.
You can often start up with VoIP services in no time by using equipment you already have. However, your circumstances might make acquiring additional hardware advisable.
No matter what, you’ll need a good router and a high-speed internet connection to operate your VoIP communications. Other than that, you need internet-enabled devices with a microphone and speaker to make calls over the system.
If you’re connecting an analog system to your VoIP service through SIP trunking , you’ll require the following pieces:
You can typically purchase these items from your VoIP provider.
While you don’t require dedicated hardware for VoIP calling, VoIP phones, headsets, and conference speakers ensure your team members have reliable equipment. In particular, VoIP phones are plug-and-play devices that can be user-friendly for team members who aren’t tech-savvy.
Making calls with a VoIP service is as simple as making calls on your landline or mobile phone. Dial the number of the other party to reach the individual. You can also store a directory on your device and select the contact you want to reach.
Yes, you need a VoIP service provider to set up your system. The provider manages the hardware that operates your system and keeps your communications secure.
Yes! Though the system uses virtual technology, a VoIP number is a real, permanent number that you can list in directories and maintain as a professional line.
Free apps exist that allow individual users to make VoIP calls. However, these apps might not allow calls to landline phones and will not offer the features that make a professional VoIP line so beneficial.
VoIP systems have everything your business needs for communications, so what are you waiting for? Intermedia can help you deploy the best features that VoIP services have to offer. Schedule a call with our team to find out which plan is right for your business.
Mariel Santos is the Director of Marketing Communications at Intermedia
