VoIP Phones - what you should know about

With the rise of globalization and the spread of business functions shared across locations and the world, more companies are turning to Voice Over Internet Protocol to address their communication needs. Instead of simply relying on traditional phone lines, firms are looking into cheaper and more efficient communication solutions that allow them to make voice calls over a computer network.

There are basically two types of VoIP systems. One that involves Internet telephony, which passes through a regular phone line, and one that directly operates via your computer network, with the goal of bringing in offices from various locations, no matter how far, into a single unit. Having such a business IP phone will not only make communication much faster, it will also reduce telephone costs significantly.
VoIP phone systems can work either in large corporations or in small office units. It has even been predicted that all companies will eventually shift to IP PBX phone systems as their costs go down.

The Advantages

IP telephone systems are best, however, for firms with a number of locations, and those that have work-at-home or telecommuting stations. All the features of your VoIP system may be accessed by anyone from a remote location, as long as he or she is connected to the company’s Wide Area Network (or in a small office’s case, a Local Area Network).

The best thing about having an IP PBX phone is the rate of expenses saved. Aside from free phone calls, with an IP telephone system, all office units connected to the LAN or the WAN will be able to enjoy all the benefits of a standard office phone setup, such as call transfers and extension dialing. It also makes it easier for employees to share information and files even from locations miles away.

Another major cost saving factor VoIP systems bring is that network administrators do not need to monitor multiple networks and servers. Because everything goes in and out one network, only one location needs to be maintained.
The Disadvantages

Choosing to put up IP telephone systems can also have certain drawbacks.

Of course, since your IP phones operate on a computer network, there will be instances that they shut down because of server crashes and certain maintenance checks. Also, since they do not run on traditional phone lines, once power is out, IP PBX phone systems and other IP systems will also be out. To operate such, you will need to plug them to an outlet, as opposed to standard phone lines, which draw power from another source.

Bandwidth strength will also be a challenge. In order to work perfectly, VoIP systems need significant bandwidth to be able to maintain high communication quality. Apart from this, VoIP systems also require more frequent checkups, maintenance and upgrades, which can be quite costly in the long run.

In sum, having VoIP telephone systems is an investment. If you think your office is up to the challenge, particularly if you operate in various locations, then, PBX IP systems may just be for you. Just make sure that you’ve talked to the right people and asked all the questions before you decide to push through.