There’s little question that the Internet is inserting itself more and more into the everyday lives of the average consumer – indeed, recent metrics have even noted that most people do their shopping online, via mobile phones. It’s only a matter of time before the transition becomes complete, and voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) is ushering in this reality with phone calls.
The real area where VoIP shines is for business, more-so than for consumer use. According to Gene Marks, a contributor to Forbes, using VoIP to make phone calls has even helped make some small companies more competitive with the giants of their industries. In the early days of VoIP, it was plagued by poor sound quality and the absurdly-inconvenient requirement of both parties being present simultaneously at their respective computers. Once these kinks got figured out, the real utility was seen and the more tech-savvy businesses hopped on the broadband Internet to make their calls.
1. Improved Quality
Not only has VoIP improved, it has actually surpassed standard phones in many cases. Of course, if the consumer is using a standard phone, then the quality is usually limited to what the cables or broadband Internet can transmit. But in the case of some of the new, feature-rich devices made exclusively for VoIP calling, the clarity is absolutely crystal. Additionally, for business that are large enough, VoIP is often used in-office to save money on “contained” calls as well – that is, calls within the network.
2.VoIP has a Range of Uses
According to Alexis Writing in an article for the Houston Chronicle, this flexibility comes from the nature of the digital data that is central to the functioning of VoIP. As long as the end-user has Internet access via converter or adapter, VoIP can be accessed. It changes any incoming signals to packets of data that then coast along the information highway, where they are converted on the other side to the desired signal. VoIP callers can use regular phones, laptops, tablets, and more. The system can even create virtual telephone numbers and send calls via email by creating a temporary IP address – all that’s needed by the user is a high-speed Internet connection.
3.Cost Savings with VoIP
Obviously, every business looks very closely at cost-saving features. In this vein, VoIP is miles ahead of standard phone companies when it comes to cost savings – especially for long-distance calls. The primary reason is simple: Traditional calling relies on countless miles of wiring and the preexisting, decades-old information architecture, whereas VoIP runs on the same hardware – mostly software, in fact – that the Internet runs on. According to service provider Amivox, VoIP effectively consolidates these resources, while delivering a better product.
4. Dual Abilities
This aspect of VoIP is also tied into the previously mentioned cost-savings. Since it’s all Internet-based, one member of a team can video-conference with a business-partner on one end, while another can make audio calls – all from the same system. VoIP is highly multi-functional.
5. The Productivity Benefits
Because there’s so much more space when going digital, a VoIP system can be configured to send a signal to every mobile device of a particular businessperson. If she isn’t in the office, that means her smartphone will ring, office desk phone will and any other device capable of making calls. If no one picks up, only then will it go to a voice mail that can be accessed from anywhere.