May 12, 2009 on 4:25 pm | In Voice Over IP |
VoIP (Voice over IP) use is growing. It’s now a popular alternative to the big telecom companies.
It sounds too good to be true, right? There are a few things you need to know about VoIP. Like everything, there are positives and negative things to consider.
The positive things to consider are:
- VoIP Simplifies Your Infrastructure – One bill for both Voice and Data services. No more long-distance or the need for an 800 number.
- Businesses Are Able To Customize VoIP to Their Preference – VoIP PBX Systems allow you to customize where you want calls to go, if they’d like to receive voicemails as emails, automatically transfer calls to mobile phones, between departments or even offices!, and more at one low cost for the system. You choose the features you want.
- VoIP Saves You Money – Switching from normal telecom service to Voice over IP brings a significant cost savings. You’re only paying for one infrastructure (your network) not two. (Note: that we don’t say VoIP will save you money. In some cases your bills may stay the same. But in most cases you will see a savings. Call us for a free rate comparison.)
- Porting Your Phone Number – With most VoIP providers you’re able to keep your existing phone number. Port over process normally takes 30 days. (during this time period we normally forward the phone number to a new temporary phone number chosen by the client)
- Open Source PBX Systems Available - Most VoIP PBX systems are open source. This means new applications are easily developed and integrated with most other open source solutions. VoIP systems and easily integrated with other open source solutions.
The negative things to consider are:
- If Your Network Goes Down, So Does VoIP – Since it’s dependent on your network connections, you can lose your phones if there’s a big crash. This is VoIP’s biggest vulnerability. (Most VoIP carries have remedied with by adding a feature to forward the phone number to a cell phone if for some reason you’re network goes down.)
- E911 – You’re responsible for updating your address and filling it with the city your business is located in. If not, when you call 911, they will not know where you are. We feel this is very important to communicate to our customers. (Form is easy to fill out, customers must manage this registration)
- Open Source PBX Systems Available – Support for open source solutions are none existent or usually at a higher rate.
In the last few years, Voice over IP has evolved fast enough to compete with the telecom companies. Work is being done on a daily bases by the developers to improve the services. More providers are opening their doors for business.