Most people have used or experienced Voice-over-Internet Protocol (VoIP) Phone Systems. The latest VoIP technology is leaps and bounds ahead of analog telephones and older PBX’s. But even if you know the basics of VoIP technology, there are some incredible features that you might not know about yet. In today’s blog post, we’ll go over 10 things you should know about Voice-over-Internet Protocol Phone Systems.
1. How VoIP Phone Systems Began
The birthplace of VoIP was in 1974 when the first successful real-time conversation was a call between Culler-Harrison Inc. in Goleta, CA and MIT Lincoln Laboratories in Lexington, MA. After that, the technology was improved for the next 20 years. In 1995, VocalTec released Internet Phone commercial Internet Phone Software, and the process of standardizing VoIP communication started to unfold. Shortly after that, the first Session Initialization Protocol was released and Skype was created, which helped to show how viable VoIP is. (Source: Wikipedia)
2. VoIP is Growing Rapidly
The rapid adoption and growth of VoIP Phone Systems is due to a number of factors. The first factor is that internet and network infrastructure are now able to support the data reliably and without issues. When you factor that with the aging infrastructure surrounding analog communications, it’s just a matter of time before all communication is digital. It just makes sense. In addition to the supporting environment, it’s often much more cost-effective for businesses of all sizes to switch to VoIP.
3. Better Data Collection
What makes a VoIP system more valuable to your business? VoIP is entirely web-based. As a result, real-time information about the caller is available. This data is also available on the employee side. As a result, you can analyze successful and failing calls to see if there’s something that you could have done better in the sales or customer service process.
4. More features
Traditional Phone System can’t match the features of VoIP phone systems. Here are some of the features where traditional phones fall short:
- Flexible Time-Based Call Routing
- Fax to Email
- Hunt/Ring Groups
- Support for Video Calling
- Interactive Voice Response
- Voicemail to Email
- And Many More!
For our full list of features, check out this PDF file detailing our VoIP System.
5. More Flexibility
One of the biggest lessons learned from COVID is that you need to be flexible as a business. Luckily, VoIP makes that incredibly simple. Do you need to work from home? No problem, you can install a software phone and use your computer headset. Traveling a lot lately? Your VoIP phone system can go with you anywhere that there is a stable internet connection.
6. Better Audio Quality
VoIP allows for a higher quality connection than an analog line. As long as the bandwidth allows, the high definition audio and high bitrate of a VoIP rivals the clarity of even the highest quality conventional phones.
7. You Don’t Actually Need a Phone
Don’t have a Phone? No Problem. You can route calls to a software phone which can be easily installed on your computer or cellphone. This will allow you to make and receive calls using the computer’s audio. This can save you money and hassle, especially if you travel often. It can be one less thing to worry about!
8. You Can Save Money with VoIP
Older, legacy analog systems require a lot of hardware on-site to function. This means a lot of upfront investment. Typically, every feature is “sold separately” and it adds up. A Managed and Hosted VoIP phone system, like the ones provided by SandStorm IT, runs in the cloud and can work with existing hardware. It’s very straightforward to add or remove features, without expensive hardware upgrades. In addition to saving money on hardware, the monthly fees are cheaper. Long-distance call charges are eliminated with VoIP. You also benefit from clear, simple pricing.
9. Access to Reporting
Curious about how your business is interacting with your customers? Easily access reporting that shows metrics such as incoming and outgoing calls, average call length, missed calls, and more. All of the information is available at your fingertips!
10. Easier Administration
One of the coolest things about a VoIP phone system is how much easier administrative tasks become. Do you quickly need to move a user to another office? They can just plug their phone in to an appropriate network jack and begin working. There’s no need to make any changes to the phones or lines. Everything just works as expected with no configuration changes.
Speaking of easier administration, you’re no longer bound to a telecommunications company to support your system. With a VoIP solution, you can get support from your existing IT provider, in most cases.
Ready to make the jump to VoIP?
Seen enough proof that VoIP is the way to go for your business? Give SandStorm IT a call today! We’ve engineered solutions for any business, from small to large. We love partnering with businesses in the Greater Memphis area on their IT. Schedule a call to discuss how we help you with all of your IT needs. We offer a free email scan to see if your information is already out there and available to attackers.