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With VoIP growing in the business world world-wide, most know the advantages and disadvantages that this type of system will bring. There are plenty of upsides for large and small businesses to make the switch to this type of network, but there are also a few things to keep in mind.

VoIP Systems Comparation

VoIP, or Voice over Internet Protocol systems allows users to make phone calls over the internet, instead of traditional landlines like previously. This form of modern technology is capable of converting voice signals into digital packages, allowing them to be sent through the internet from one end to another. As long as there’s a stable internet connection, VoIP systems are beneficial and able to be used by all types of businesses and even individuals households.

The Advantages of VoIP Systems

  1. Cost- The biggest benefit of switching to a VoIP system is the lowered costs. The initial set up and ongoing costs many times are less than that of a traditional phone line. Because VoIp systems work off an internet connection, there’s no longer a need for the old and outdated phone lines. In turn, this means you are only dealing with one account, for both the internet and phone. Calls from laptops and mobile phones are free, and calls from these devices to a landline are offered at extremely cheap rates.
  2. Accessibility- A VoIP phone system is a bit different from that of a traditional phone system. Distance or location does not make a difference to these VoIP systems, mostly because everything is done through the internet. Whether you are calling a head office on the other side of the world or making a call to a different state, the quality will be the same due to a stable internet connection. This makes all ways of communication possible for businesses. If you find your employees traveling a lot of working remotely, VoIP systems can adapt as long as data or internet is available.
  3. Flexibility- Unlike the common PBX systems, VoIP networks offer much flexibility. With private networks, you are limited to as many phones as your business would like, making it perfect for larger businesses. Just as with all other features of this type of system, as long as the internet is stable, you can utilize this network’s features, calling capabilities and communication modes easily. A VoIP system also allows growth and improvement within your business, making it easy to be configured.
  4. Voice Quality- This is something that most users like the most about this type of system, is the outstanding call quality. Call quality is also improved the better the internet connection. Sometimes, the quality of calls will even be more clear and crisp than that of a traditional phone line.
  5. Less Expensive Advanced Features- VoIP phone systems offer countless advanced features for all your business needs. In other phone systems you will be asked to pay much more money for these to be added to your plans, but with VoIP systems, adding these features is sometimes free. Features such as call forwarding, call waiting, voicemail, caller ID, three-way calling and more are offered for users. Your business can also send documents and pictures while speaking on calls or video conferences.
  6. Improved Productivity- Staff is able to use VoIP features to communicate remotely and flexibility in order to access data and the VoIP network whenever they please. With the ability to work from anywhere easily, business functions will greatly improve.

Disadvantages of VoIP Systems

  1. A Strong Internet Connection- Just as you have already guessed, if you or your business doesn’t have a quality internet connection, a VoIP system won’t function at all. This might be an issue for some businesses that are just starting out with no established office, but can all be solved with an internet connection.
  2. Power Outages- Sure, this issue won’t happen often, but if your power goes out, you will no longer have an internet connection, resulting in no VoIP functions. A quick power outage may be a bit of a headache for businesses to endure, but a large power outage that takes time to recover from will be detrimental for your business. In the worst-case scenario, if power goes out and your business is hit with an emergency, then emergency services won’t be able to locate you if you call. Of course this won’t happen often, but it is important to understand the risks involved.
  3. Latency- Due to bandwidth requirements, some calls might lag, delay, or disappear altogether. This doesn’t happen often, but sometimes the data packets do not reassemble correctly for an effective call to be made. As new updates come out and technology is continued to be improved, this is becoming less of a problem, but still one worth noting.
  4. Security- As with anything else that functions over the internet, security is a major concern for some. Some threats that could occur to your business using VoIp systems are identity theft, phishing, viruses, and malware, which are not large issues, but issues that large businesses don’t want to deal with nonetheless.

The Bottom Line of VoIP Services

Most business owners have agreed that the advantages outweigh the negatives immensely. Most service providers are working around the clock to work out and fine-tune any issues that may arise for businesses. All VoIP providers will tailor VoIP systems to work for each business’s specific needs, making this the perfect option for all businesses.