Monday, February 27, 2006

Ten Reasons To Go VoIP

Why go with VoIP? Many people today are asking the same question. VoIP is Voice Over Internet Protocol. It is also commonly referred to as VoIP, IP, Digital Phone, Broadband Phone and Internet Telephony. VoIP is basically your voice traveling over the Internet as opposed to PSTN or the Public Switched Telephone Network.

VoIP offers many benefits and advantages over PSTN networks. Here are the top ten reasons why you should go VoIP:

1. VoIP Saves You Money

Overall, VoIP is much more inexpensive then PSTN. You simply pay for your Internet service, and then whichever VoIP provider you choose. For a one time monthly fee, you can have unlimited local and long distance phone calls. You will need to check with the VoIP service provider that you choose for exact details on their rates. Sometimes, your VoIP service provider will allow free calls within the world to another computer, yet there may be a fee for calls worldwide to a landline phone. Always check with your chosen service provider for exact details regarding your chosen plan. But overall, the average cost of VoIP is considerably less when compared to the cost of PSTN.

2. Talk with Multiple People at no Extra Cost.

With VoIP, you can talk with more than one person without paying extra for services such as three way calling. With VoIP you can have more than three people on the phone at once. VoIP is the perfect solution for those who want to explore the features of conference calls.

3. Greater Flexibility with VoIP

By using VoIP, you can take your VoIP equipment with you whenever you travel. Your VoIP service provider will send you a converter that will allow you to use your converter with any standard telephone. The converter comes programmed with your telephone number, allowing you to take your phone and phone number with you worldwide. All you will need is a high speed Internet connection and you can use your VoIP phone service.

4. Save Money for Family and Friends by Choosing Your Own Area Code

Many VoIP service providers will give you the option of selecting your own area code number. This is a tremendous benefit to family and friend members who can call you locally, if you select the same area code number. This is especially beneficial when regularly calling friends or family overseas if you can select a local number in their country.

5. For Businesses VoIP allows Real Time Interaction

If businesses and their customers were both using VoIP technology, troubleshooting customers problems would be much easier. They would be able to communicate on the computer and on phone at the same time.

6. The Integration of Audio and Data

VoIP combines audio and data, allowing users to interact with data while using audio capabilities. This has unlimited potential when it comes to business users. Statistics show that the combination of audio and data is not only popular, but on the rise. For example, many people love the camera/cell phone.

7. VoIP includes many Features At No Cost

Many VoIP services include features that normally cost money with standard PSTN. These features include Voice Mail, Call Forwarding, Call Waiting, Caller ID, Call Blocking, Faxing, and Toll Free Calling. You will need to check with your VoIP service provider for an exact offering of the services that are available for free with your plan.

8. VoIP Saves Companies Money

Many companies have advanced telecommunications needs. Due to the fact that VoIP integrates data and video with voice, many companies are opting to go wireless. This is cost effective and more productive overall. They are able to integrate their systems with the Internet as well, leaving them more room for flexibility with clients and enhancing their customer service centers.

9. Reduce In-house Phone Lines

VoIP does not require additional phone lines for multiple users. This saves money. For basic PSTN networks, additional phone lines can cost $100 or more to install. You can save money by using VoIP services throughout your entire house with an additional costs.

10. VoIP Can Build a Faster Network

For companies that need to build a large network, will VoIP incorporate data, audio, video, and web features, but you can build a faster network over the Internet then you can with PSTN. The key to implementing your fast network is to use accurate assessment tools. By using software tools instead of hardware tools, your network may be assessed at any time, anywhere, and without testing individual equipment but by using a central program.

Sunday, February 12, 2006

VoIP Quality

VoIP was not known for great quality when it first appeared on the market. Thanks to technological advances VoIP has been holding their own against telephone heavyweights for quite some time in the area of voice quality. To get the most out of your VoIP connection you will need to invest in an up-to-date computer. If your computer is running on a slow processor or a very old operating system, your computer may not be equipped to handle VoIP and producing the high quality audio needed to have a great conversation. You should always check with your VoIP provider and see what their computer requirements are before signing up. You should make sure that your computer is fully prepared to adequately handle a VoIP connection. At the least, a high speed internet connection and a computer runnning the latest operating system with adequate memory and hard drive space is recommended.

Another step in producing great audio quality and VoIP is your soundboard. If you have a shabby soundboard and speakers, you will not experience the full range of VoIP. Your computer should be well equipped before considering taking the dive and unplugging your telephone wires.

VoIP operates by transmitting audio as data (in the form of Packets) across the Internet. The Packets can be transmitted to another computer or to a standard PSTN phone. If it is transmitted to a PSTN phone, the packet will be reassembled for the other hearer. All of this takes place in the blink of an eye and produces a conversation comparable to other service providers.

For VoIP to produce great quality audio, you will need to make sure that you have a High Speed Internet connection. This can be either DSL or Cable Modem, but VoIP will have conflicting issues with Dial Up. When you subscribe to your VoIP subscriber, you will be given software to install upon your computer. This will also include audio Codecs. Audio Codecs will enable your VoIP with high quality audio and great sound capabilities. There is no reason to believe that you cannot have excellent sound with VoIP.

VoIP is providing customers with not only great audio, but also with great features that are usually only provided for a fee with standard telephone service providers. Features such as Voicemail, Call waiting, Call forwarding, Caller Id, and Call Transferring are typically included free of charge with your VoIP package.

Many small businesses are opting to use VoIP for their telecommunication business needs due to the fact that VoIP offers great quality for a lower price. Small businesses are recognizing that the ability to handle all of their data, voice, and web applications with one service is of incredible benefit to the productivity of their company. The ability to interact with customers in real time, while utilizing E-mail, audio, and web applications is well worth the switch to VoIP.

Call centers are also taking advantage of VoIP services. In the early years of telemarketing history, call centers were comprised of one central office where hundreds, if not thousands, of employees gathered together to handle customer service calls. Now, by utilizing VoIP, call centers can exist anywhere worldwide. Many business owners are now outsourcing their business overseas, and with VoIP technology, agents can be hired around the globe, and in different time zones, allowing companies to have cost effective labor, that works 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

There are other benefits for small businesses incorporating VoIP service. It is a great way for mobile employees to stay connected to their main offices and they can take advantage of the affordable rates. Mobile employees can also benefit from the fact that VoIP can be used anywhere there is a High Speed Internet connection. That means that if an employee travels a lot, they can receive business calls on their current work number via their laptop. This is an incredible savings not only of dollars, but of valuable business calls that may other wise be lost.

All in all, VoIP has increased to a viable alternative to traditional landline phone service. The quality has developed to the point that VoIP is a viable competitor against major telephone companies. As products and services continue to develop, we can only expect that VoIP will increase in quality, service, and standards. People value the nature of VoIP for its flexibility; cost effectiveness, ability to increase business productivity, and overall simplicity of design.