What Is VoIP and Why Should My Business Use It?

In a digital age where many people are working from home, telecom services are vital to your organization’s success as they connect your employees and customers no matter the distance and they give your employees the tools to be productive and effective from anywhere. With telecom services such as VoIP, your organization can adapt and grow in any type of work environment.

What Is VoIP?

When you think of popular communications tools, such as Skype, Zoom, and Microsoft Teams, you are thinking of software applications supported by VoIP technology.

Named as one of the most successful technologies of the last decade, VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) is a telephony technology that allows your phone service to be delivered over a network. Rather than using an analog signal, VoIP converts sound using digital signals to give you the freedom to make phone calls over the Internet with a computer, a VoIP phone, or other network devices.

How Does VoIP Work?

VoIP technology operates over computer networks using packet-switched protocols. Packet-switching compresses data into small units called packets, which are like electronic envelopes. Using network switches and routers, the packets are transmitted to the destination and uncompressed into the sound that can be heard through your device.

If you already have a reliable network connection, you do not need any additional copper wiring to set up VoIP in your home or office. You can make VoIP phone calls over a computer, a smart device, or a VoIP phone. You can also use a traditional phone if you have an analog telephone adapter (ATA).

How Has VoIP Technology Evolved?

When the first internet phone software, known as the Internet Phone (IP), hit the market in the 1990s, the technology was developed to save money on long-distant calling. In its early days, many users complained of poor audio quality and poor connection. However, as broadband technology and services have improved and expanded, VoIP has become a reliable and affordable phone service for individuals and for organizations.

The first IP allowed one Internet user to call another internet user using the microphones and speakers on their computers. There were no video capabilities at the time, and the phone software was limited. But it would not take long before other telecommunications companies began creating new and improved IP software and hardware that would take VoIP from 150,000 subscribers in 2003 to 1.2 million subscribers in 2004.

Today’s technology allows VoIP services to improve your communication experiences using computers and phones. Services can work to communicate via computer-to-computer, computer-to-phone, and phone-to-phone.

Why Use VoIP?

Using VoIP to integrate your network and phone services can benefit your organization in many ways. Here are a few reasons why individuals and organizations use VoIP.

Affordable

To use VoIP, all you need is a network connection and a computer or a smart device. You can even use a VoIP telephone adapter, also known as an analog telephone adapter (ATA), to use traditional telephones you already have connected.

When making computer-to-computer calls over your network connection, your calls are free. Even when you are using a VoIP phone, long distance phone calls are cheaper with a VoIP service provider.

Accessible

VoIP allows you and your employees to make phone calls from anywhere, anytime. Whether working in the office or at home, VoIP connects your organization to your customers. Even if you are away from the office, you can still attend important meetings to connect and collaborate with your team.

Adaptable

VoIP technology used to be limited to phone calls, but with today’s technology, VoIP can be used for other types of communication such as sending and receiving faxes and hosting and attending web conferences.

Also, VoIP phone systems are flexible and can be moved easily to meet the growing needs of your organization. If you are moving to a new location, you just have to follow a few simple steps to move your VoIP equipment and connect it to your network.

Ready to integrate your network and phone services?

Connect with us today to see if VoIP is right for your organization!