What is VoIP?
What is VoIP and how can it help your organization? Every organization needs a way to communicate, and while other channels like messaging and video conferencing are growing in popularity, voice is still the dominant communication channel. In fact, a Gartner survey revealed that 44% of people prefer a phone call over other forms of communication.
Traditional landline telephone systems are based on an analog technology that uses signals and physical switchboxes to connect calls between phones. This type of phone system severely limits your feature sets, reliability, and mobility. A VoIP phone system, on the other hand, provides access to highly necessary features, unmatched reliability, and the tools to take your phone system with you anywhere.
What is VoIP? VoIP, or Voice over Internet Protocol, is a communication technology that enables you to make voice calls over a broadband internet connection, instead of the traditional copper phone lines. With VoIP, your organization can make calls from anywhere, using your desk phone, computer or laptop, and your mobile devices like cell phones and tablets.
How does it work?
Simply put, it works by converting your voice into digital signals over your broadband connection. VoIP works by converting your conversation into small data packets. After you dial, the small data packets are delivered to the receiving party quickly over the internet. Instead of traditional on-premise PBX (Private Branch Exchange) closets, all you need are configured VoIP desk phones and a provider. Also referred to as IP telephony, internet telephony, broadband telephony, or broadband phone service.
VoIP Phone System Requirements
In order to start using VoIP for your organization, you essentially need two things: an internet connection and a device or devices. Your organization needs a reliable internet connection from an ISP (Internet Service Provider). The standard bandwidth required is 100 Kbps per device. In addition, you need to have a VoIP phone, softphone, or an ATA (Analog Telephone Adapter) to make calls.
What is a VoIP phone?
All VoIP phones are SIP phones. SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) is a communication protocol that manages multimedia communication such as video and voice calls. These phones establish calls using a VoIP service provider.
You can also use a softphone or an ATA. A softphone enables you to make calls using any device that allows for the application, such as desktops and mobile devices, removing the need for a physical SIP phone. An ATA (Analog Telephone Adapter) retrofits older gen phones so that they can function using VoIP.
Benefits To Your Organization
VoIP solutions have evolved into Unified Communications that handle all communications – like voice calls, conferences, faxes, voicemail, and more – within a unified platform. Having these communications housed under a unified platform greatly benefits your organization.
For starters, these solutions reduce operational costs while granting organizations more capabilities and features. They also significantly reduce equipment and maintenance costs by eliminating on-premise equipment and placing maintenance responsibility on the provider.
Along with the time and money it can save, your organization has the opportunity to increase effectiveness and productivity. Administrators are easily able to manage their phone system through an online portal. Giving you the flexibility to scale as needed, update information, and more through the user-friendly interface.
HighComm Delivers Communication Solutions
If you’re looking for a solution for your business that unleashes flexibility and capability like no other, then look no further than VoIP. With the rich features and capabilities it provides, you’ll wonder how you ever got any business done without it. It’s the perfect solution for increasing your productivity and enabling your business to grow in the future.
HighComm’s business phone solution offers features like CRM integration, mobile application, virtual fax and more! If you’re ready to communicate better across a multitude of devices and channels, then give us a call today at 1(833) 444-4266. Your new VoIP system is just a phone call away!