By: Kurt Sack, VoIP Technician
Landline phone systems haven’t only become a thing of the past in our homes. More and more companies are modernizing their communications technology too. With the growing use of cell phones and the greater speed and reliability of the internet, businesses across the world are taking advantage of Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP).
It has also become very apparent amidst the COVID-19 epidemic that companies with a VoIP solution in place had more flexibility in moving employees to work remotely and put call menus in place to streamline customer calls.
VoIP is a type of hardware and software that allows the use of a high-speed Internet connection to communicate voice, video, and data. It turns analog data (i.e. your voice) into packets of digital data, which can then be transmitted through internet cable lines.
As a business communications tool, VoIP can be a cost-effective way to encourage collaboration within an organization, as well as with customers and clients. Through a wide range of applications, VoIP also enhances the collaboration experience between employees and clients with tools that help manage projects, as well as facilitate mobile communication. Capabilities can include virtual call centers, auto attendants and more, allowing businesses to flex big communications power.
Networks Plus is a leading provider of VoIP services for businesses. We use a cloud-based system called Virtual PBX, also known as a hosted VoIP or hosted private branch exchange (HPBX), that is accessible over a network in the cloud. By utilizing a hosted system, companies experience savings through the elimination of installation, operation, software, hardware, and maintenance costs.
More than one-third of businesses today – large and small – are using a VoIP phone system. In recent years, Networks Plus has received a growing number of requests for VoIP and we expect about half of all businesses will make the switch to some sort of VoIP or HPBX phone system over the next five years.
When switching to HPBX, the business leases or buys the phones and pays for their internet connection.
HPBX allows multiple call appearances on one line. Each individual phone–or seat–has the ability to host up to three calls at one time. The phone can be located anywhere there is an internet connection, which allows transferred calls and voicemail. Each phone has a seat charge.
When VoIP services first rolled out, one of the greatest disadvantages was the requirement of a reliable internet connection. Today, most locations have a fast and stable internet, making VoIP a more popular option. About 90% of Networks Plus customers find our Virtual PBX to be a good solution. There are, however, some instances in which we would not recommend using a HPBX.
You also want to consider security when considering VoIP. Any time your business connects to the internet, there is risk involved, however secure encryption can protect your voice data. Networks Plus has a team of cyber security experts to ensure your data is safe.