Traditional, analog phone systems have a number of distinct drawbacks and limitations, most notably that they only have one line and can only handle one telephone conversation at a time. Thankfully though, with the ever advancing developments in technology surrounding business internet in Doncaster, communicating has truly evolved, and has never been as easy or affective, as it is today.

With this in mind, it’s prudent that we look in a little more detail at VoIP phones, which are a modern trend in communication taken up by businesses all over the world, large and small.

What is a VoIP phone?

Enabling you to make phone calls with your current internet connection, that are entirely free of cost, switching to VoIP, or Voice over Internet Protocol, software could be a smart move for your business. With computers or programs for mobile devices able to function as VoIP phones, they use the latest internet technology to transmit voice calls, rather than using the traditional cables. With the freedom to interoperate and connect at will, unlike with traditional phone systems that use a landline, VoIP phone systems come in two different formats:

• Hard phones – these are found on desks or in conference rooms, and are the same as traditional telephones.
• Softphones – while able to be used in the same way as a hard phone, softphones are digital applications found on a smartphone.

Both types of phones are useful for multiple business purposes, and both can help lower the cost of phone calls overall, make for an improved customer experience and ease the holding of conference calls.

What are the main advantages of a VoIP phone?

With features that are compelling for businesses of all shapes and sizes, there are several advantages of the VoIP phone system, such as those listed below:

• A lot less costly than traditional landlines, VoIP can help businesses save money
• Enabling phone calls to be made long-distance and internationally without incurring additional charges, VoIP phones are worthwhile for businesses for whom this is applicable
• If using a local business telephone number, many providers of VoIP services offer no limit on the number of business calls you can make
• With a range of additional features, such as conference calling, caller ID, call forwarding and call waiting, VoIP phones are versatile. You can also take advantage of VoIP call centre technology
• You can link up to more than one other office and a workforce based all over the country (or world), all at the same time with VoIP
• The system can be scaled up, or scaled down, as per a business’s requirements, at any given time

How do VoIP phones actually work?

Using the internet to link IP telephones to networks, providers of VoIP services follow internet protocol to help businesses make full use of the technology. By converting audio, such as analog calls, into packets of data, these are then converted back into analog before they can be used to carry out a phone call with customers of traditional landlines.

When your business converts to VoIP, it will be able to complete phone calls to both landlines and mobiles, or use computer-to-computer connections using microphones, headphones and speakers.

If your business is currently struggling with a traditional analog phone system, and as its owner, you would like to start saving money with a VoIP phone system, why not schedule an initial consultation (this is usually offered for free) with a local service provider, today?