Understand VoIP

What is VoIP?

VoIP means Voice over Internet Protocol.

It works by allowing people to use the internet to communicate rather than ordinary telephones.  VoIP is also referred to as IP Telephony (Internet Protocol Telephony).

Some manufacturers refer to VoIP technology as Convergence. Convergence is the way of describing the integration and development of VoIP together with ordinary telephone lines and therefore potentially getting the ‘best of both worlds’, i.e. when two different types of technology merge. Currently, the vast majority of VoIP installations use a mixture of the internet and analogue telephone lines. Over a period of time, this looks likely to change to VoIP only.

Undoubtedly, the most well known form of VoIP is Skype which allows subscribers to call each other free of charge over the internet. The downside with Skype is that it cannot be used with other VoIP systems.

VoIP is best known or thought of as Skype and has many competitor vendors. The big guns include: Cisco, Mitel, ShoreTel, Toshiba Business Communications, Aastra, BT, Avaya, Siemens, Gradwell and LG-Ericsson who provide a strong SMB VoIP telephony portfolio. Plantronics supplies innovative and superb headset technology whilst an alternative to VoIP is Hosted VoIP and for SMEs these vendors represent good value for money and lower cost of entry. Hosted VoIP vendors include: InClarity, Frontier Voice & Data, Voicenet Solutions, Telappliant and iHub who offer hosted IP Telephony and Unified Communications. Traditional mobile network operators such as O2 have fantastic business VoIP services as the market joins up its communications.

The Future of VoIP

Many companies use VoIP to reduce their phone and network costs whilst increasing efficiency, competitiveness and productivity. This is achieved through reduced call and maintenance costs, but also because when individuals are using their PC to make calls, other people can see whether they are available. This is unlike traditional phones where it is impossible to know if someone is available to speak or not.

As access to the internet becomes more widespread and prices are reduced for broadband access and internet call technology; VoIP will increasingly become a viable option. According to Ovum, a technology analysis organisation, some 20% of companies in the UK have already adopted VoIP.

Another area of growth is the onset of mobile VoIP. With mobile VoIP you can take your handset anywhere in the world and enjoy the same benefits as using VoIP from your office.

There are a number of mobile phone handsets and Personal Digital Assistants (PDA’s) that allow you to use either your usual mobile operator or connect to a wireless network and communicate via VoIP.

VoIP is without doubt, here to stay!

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