Are you worried about moving to VoIP?

Two years ago I had never heard of the term VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol), even though I had actually been using it through the likes of MSN Messenger and Xbox Live.

Then I started a new job at a business VoIP provider and was overwhelmed with industry terms such as VoIP, PBX and SIP. This was a little frightening and I can understand why people are put off by such terms. However, you don’t need to learn all the industry terms to purchase and use an internet phone service, in fact you don’t really need much technical knowledge at all.

In the early days, VoIP picked up a bad reputation for poor voice quality and a lack of reliability. However in recent years uptake has increased dramatically, largely due to improvements in broadband speeds, quality and availability.

By switching from traditional methods of communication to VoIP your business can start to take advantage of the many benefits including:

• Lower Overheads – VoIP runs over your broadband line, so line rental is reduced and call costs may also be significantly lower.
• Increased Flexibility – With many powerful features available your phone system can start to work for you and your calls can be delivered anywhere.
• Greater Freedom – With a VoIP based system, your telephone number is no longer fixed to a specific location. So, if disaster strikes or you move to a new location, you may continue using your existing number, anywhere in the world.

The VoIP industry in the UK is currently seeing rapid growth as more and more companies realise the many advantages of switching to an internet based phone service. The quality issues are long gone and VoIP is now becoming a very real alternative to traditional telecoms.