Archive for the ‘Business VoIP’ Category

VoIP For Small Business – Does It Make Sense To Switch?

Friday, August 27th, 2010

VoIP office phone systems are flexible, feature rich systems that reduce telecommunication budgets without sacrificing voice quality or features.

In fact, VoIP has uses way beyond the capabilities of conventional phone systems such as virtual phone numbers, voice mail and fax forwarding to email, switching from Wi-Fi to cellular network, and more.

In spite of the strides in VoIP technology, some businesses have reservations about adopting VoIP. They worry about poorvoice quality, call hacking, losing service during internet outages, costs and complexity of implementation. In this article, we discuss how the advantages of VoIP beat the potential hurdles, and how to maximize your VoIP system.


Why choose VoIP systems?

VoIP service will undoubtedly add value to your business and drastically cut telecommunication expenses. Here is how it does it:

Progressing VoIP technology

Earlier, VoIP limited users to computer systems and patchy voice quality. Today’s regular phones (equipped with VoIP adapters) and IP phones promise high voice clarity, good mobility, and a variety of practical features. Businesses leverage existing networks for intra-office calls, leading to significant savings and improved employee productivity.

Business VoIP reduces telecommunication costs

Traditional phone systems need constant management and maintenance of expensive infrastructure as per industry regulations. With VoIP, businesses reduce implementation and maintenance overheads by using one network for voice and data. Moving the phone with the employees that incurs a charge of about $100 per head is now as simple as plugging an IP phone into another broadband network jack. For similar services, VoIP service vendors charge lesser too than traditional phone system vendors.

Use VoIP services wherever you are

An IP phone can be used wherever there is a high speed internet connection. Colleagues and clients can reach you whether you are at the office, your home, a hotel or even a friend’s place. This cuts down your cell phone expenses. A lot of VoIP systems include software that allows you to make and receive calls on your laptop with a headphone and a microphone.

Simple VoIP configuration

VoIP phone systems can be set up to forward voice mails and faxes to your email inbox and read emails into voice mail . You can easily manage your messages and mails at one place.

Virtual phone number

If you are making calls to customers outside your area, you may want to use a local number. With VoIP, you can have a virtual phone number with the desired area code.

VoIP improves productivity

Research indicates that VoIP systems improve productivity by almost 4 hours per employee per week. VoIP phone system features cut down on the time wasted in managing calls. Your VoIP phone number can ring concurrently on your landline and mobile phone before reaching voice mail, ensuring you never miss an important call.


Making the most of VoIP phone systems

As you can see, VoIP has much to offer. If you still have doubts, these tips will help you stay on top of them.

1. Use professional VoIP services

Though a standard VoIP phone system is fairly simple to install, hire a VoIP service provider for larger projects. Some network providers install and configure a VoIP solution provided by them.

2. Run a pilot project

Have a small group of people use the VoIP system and verify its usefulness to your business. Once you’re satisfied, implement it across the office. Retain your traditional phone system as a backup during this phase.

3. No missed calls with call forwarding

Configure VoIP phone system to forward unanswered calls to a cell phone or a landline or both. If there is a power failure, you won’t miss any calls till an alternative power source gets going.

4. Secure your network

Networks are always in danger of getting hacked. Protect your network from denial-of-service attacks and digital hackers. Make it a priority to update network security and to check it thoroughly at regular intervals.

VoIP phone systems are an economical option with all the advantages of an advanced telecommunications system. Small businesses can substitute travel with videoconferencing to save costs, use VoIP integrated call center applications, and other compelling benefits of VoIP. With latest wireless phones offering seamless switching between mobile and Wi-Fi networks, VoIP users can look forward to more services at affordable costs. Daljeet Sidhu is the author of this article.

Understanding SIP Termination And Its Benefits

Wednesday, August 25th, 2010

Most people have heard of the term SIP termination, but hardly anybody knows about it. Sometimes, people even use it without having a clue that it is a SIP termination they are using.

What exactly is SIP termination? Find out more now.

Session Initiation Protocol is the full name of SIP. The basic concept behind it is that it allows you, the user, to make use of ordinary telephones to make phone calls while using your existing Internet connection.

Having this type of service means that you no longer need to pay additional costs for buying new hardware or phone systems, instead you can simply use the ones that you have.

SIP can offer you so many benefits and advantages. For instance, SIP termination is ideal if you conduct plenty of video conferences, voice calls, stream media, or even instant messaging and gaming.

Hence, small companies as well as large companies can take advantage of SIP trunking to expand their businesses and make communication much more efficient.  You can communicate with your business partners by holding video conferences.

Moreover, you can expect to have the same capabilities that you would normally have on a regular phone. If you are a business and your customers are a top priority, then making sure their feedback or inquiries are heard is a top concern.

With Sip termination, you can expect to have the regular functions of a phone like call forwarding, caller ID, call waiting, voice mail and many more.

SIP termination and telephony has become so popular that even airports, hotels, and colleges are taking advantage of the technology.

One great reason why companies and businesses are turning to SIP termination to enhance their businesses is that it offers so many advantages.

One reason that companies are turning to SIP trunking is that it is cheaper compared to a regular phone line.

Both the cost for hardware as well as cost for maintenance has been virtually erased. Having to spend on a separate PSTN or data circuit is also no longer necessary.

Second, with SIP termination, you get to have access to different forms of communication without any hassles.  Your company can create a good presence and communicate better with clients through video calls or instant messaging.

The third benefit your company can get is the option of being able to use a Direct Inward Dialer or DID, which provides every employee or every department its own number. By having this, your customers or clients can easily get in touch with the personnel that they need.

Lastly, with SIP trunking you have your own channel all to yourself. Having your own dedicated channel means that you will an improved voice based IP quality, making it so much clearer.

Just by using Sip termination, all of these benefits can be yours.

If you go for it, you might make your current service providers and hardware suppliers feel bad, but in the end, SIP termination will give you the savings you need on your operating capital which can then be directed for other projects.

Learn more about sip termination and find local SIP providers that can benefit you and your company.

Let VoIP PBX Work For You

Wednesday, July 28th, 2010

The benefits of VoIP (Voice over internet protocol) PBX (Private Branch Exchange) have been lauded by many.  If you are still wondering what VoIP PBX is then this article is a perfect starting place for you.  VoIP is voice communication via the internet as opposed to a traditional telephone line, and PBX is a type of phone system that is great for effective business communications. With your PBX system, you get a whole bunch of features such as voice via email service, call transfer, fax, call screening, caller ID, dial by name, and some others. PBX telephone also includes an auto-attendant feature which is great for business because you can receive multiple calls at the same time! Your callers are greeted by an automated message and given a list of choices to reach the person they are directly trying to contact.  Now you’ll never have to spend a time on a receptionist! And, you will never have to miss a call because your calls can be routed to you!
It is easy to see why a dependable VoIP PBX telephone system can really help enhance your business.  The system itself is pretty complex, but you can install it pretty easily if you know anything about computers and networks. Unlike with traditional phone systems, with VoIP PBX you won’t need to deal with a professional.
Another bonus?  Your VoIP PBX equipment is maintained at your provider’s site not your office.  So, any issues that do arrive will be taken care of away from the office, saving you the hassle. 
Read on for more benefits:
1.     Money: You will without a doubt save some dollars with this service.  Whether it is due to the fact that you no longer need a receptionist, the fact that you can cut down on travel costs, or just the fact that you will have cheaper long distance phone bills; you will save a pretty penny. 
2.    Maintenance: You don’t have to spend any time worrying about maintenance, since the provider does it all for you.  Now you can be more effective with your time.
3.    Travel: The IP phones are controlled from central location and you can use them working from home or on the road.  You can’t tell the difference!
4.    Immersion: The system allows you up-to-date access to analytics, call recording, a variety of phone system statistics, and queue statuses.  All you have to do is log into your system from a web browser, and you can access all of your information which helps you make educated decisions easily.  
VoIP PBX lets you save money and time, and frees you from added stress and worry.  It can also help you run a savvier and smarter business.  No matter what kind of business you run, VoIP PBX offers a solution you’ll need.

You Got It Right About Voice Over IP

Monday, May 3rd, 2010

VoIP stands for Voice Over Internet Protocol and is a way for people to converse by voice using an Internet connection. Basically, you are using the Internet like you would a long distance telephone provider. Your voice is actually converted to a signal by your provider before it reaches its destination via the World Wide Web. There are a variety of benefits, as well as a few drawbacks, to this form of communication. First, let’s have a look at some of the benefits you will get when you use Voice Over Internet Protocol.

Flexibility is a major benefit of communicating with Voice Over Internet Protocol. You can make your calls right from your computer, special phone, or regular phone that is hooked up to an adapter. In certain places with wireless Web like cafes, airfields and libraries, you could be able to attach wirelessly and make your Voice Over Internet Protocol calls there as well without the requirement for an adapter. The required equipment for this type of service is easy for most anyone to acquire. All that you need is a PC with broadband Net service. For those not in the know, broadband refers to Internet service like DSL and cable. These days, most people already have this type of service, although a few are still on dial-up.

One of the finest things about Voice Over Internet Protocol is that many suppliers offer it for nothing. This means the end of dreadful long distance phone bills! Naturally, not every supplier offers this service for free. For instance, some permit free local calls but charge a tiny charge for calls outside of the neighborhood. Others may charge a fixed rate a month for the unlimited usage of the service. You can even hold conference calls with multiple users with this technology. In theory, if you have a broadband Internet connection, sound card and a way to speak and listen such as a microphone, speakers or headphones, you may not even need a long distance phone line.

Of course, there are a few disadvantages to VoIP. For example, you can only use it if your computer is on and connected to the Internet or if you are in the vicinity of wireless Internet with your computer turned on. You have to have the right software loaded and running, as must the person you are conversing with. Because Voice Over Internet Protocol does use your personal computer, you wouldn’t be ready to communicate this way in a power cut. For most, the advantages of communicating through Voice Over Internet Protocol far outweigh the disadvantages.

What is VOIP?

Tuesday, April 13th, 2010

VoIP stands for Voice Over Internet Protocol and the easiest way to describe this is to say that it is essential a broadband phone.  VoIP allows internet users to make phone calls over the internet instead of using the traditional phone line.  There are a number of different VoIP services but the most popular is Skype.  If you have Skype and the person you are looking to contact also has Skype installed on their PC you will be able to call them for free.  You can also make cheap calls to land lines via Skype and other VoIP providers too.

In a side-by-side comparison VoIP service providers can provide companies and individuals large savings over land lines.  The reason for this is that many VoIP providers allow users to make free or cheap calls using their software and this includes international calls too.  Many VoIP providers also have a number of VoIP plans too and these plans are great for large businesses and companies looking to make savings on their phone usage.

If you wish to use broadband phone all you have to do is sign up with a VoIP service provider.  The most common provider is Skype and signing up with this service provider is free.  All you have to do is download their free software and install it on your pc.With Skype you will get an electronic phone book that lets you see when your phone book entries are online and availabe for contact.  Calls to people in your contacts are free if they also use the Skype software.You can choose Skype or other VoIP plans that will let you make inexpensive phone calls to traditional lines as well.

In order for broadband phone to function correctly on your pc you may need to purchase a headset or a broadband phone.  There are a number of Skype phones and there are even Skype travel phones and Skype integrated mobile phones too. 

Phone calls aren’t the only thing VoIP providers are offering, some companies also offer video calls.Web cam service is a part of the package provided by Skype and if free if you and the person you are talking to both have a web cam you can see each other while you talk.In addition to a free VoIP account, Skype offers a built in instant messenger which makes them the all-in-one company to meet communication needs up to and including exchaning documents with other people.

Making calls to people around the world and saving money on your phone calls is an advantage that broadband phones or VoIP offers.The cost of international calls can mount up but by using VoIP services you can get cheap international calls and even free services if the person you are contacting has a pc.

It’s easy to see why VoIP has become so popular and if you are looking for a way to make cheap calls then you can’t beat broadband phone services.

Article by Broadband Hub where you can compare services to use VOIP including naked DSL to save money on your phone bill.

The Most Advantages Of Voice Over IP Technology

Monday, April 12th, 2010

Voice over IP (VOIP) technology is bringing forth a important advance in telecommunications. This technology delivers a new and a lot less expensive way for people to send and receive telephone calls and conference calls. While VOIP technology is new, people are switching to using it for one main reason – it saves them a bunch of cash on their phone bills. VOIP technology leverages the technology that makes the Internet work. Internet systems operate by sending so-called packets of information more some likely broadcast media, including cables, wires, fiber optics, and the air using wireless technology. At the receiving end, the packets of information are connected together to recreate the original message.

There are special Voice Over IP modems that send and receive telephone voice information. The VoIP technology uses digital internet packets to send the voice. The Voice Over IP sound quality is generally much better than the old fashioned telephone system, which makes it a desirable option over old fashioned telephones. It is so crispy that people don’t even hear any buzz that you usually hear in other systems. The only requirement that is needed for this Voice Over IP is a high speed Internet connection. High speed internet connections are available almost everywhere in the United States, even in small towns. This kind of Internet presence will make everyone access VOIP services. Now we can research which companies are offering Voice Over IP plans. There are plenty of companies in the market which provide Voice Over IP services.

Vonage: Vonage is the largest and the majority well known of the Internet companies that provide VoIP service plans. However, Vonage is one of the extra expensive options for getting VOIP service. A limitless calling plan expenses approximately 25 dollars per month. But several people use Vonage, primarily because of their violent advertising over the past year.

– Sunrocket: Sunrocket offers reasonably reliable service starting as low as $17 per month. They are fairly new to the world of VoIP, but the technology has been around for a while and their low price gives them an edge over other services.

– Mainstream telephone companies: The big companies do not like losing their ground to upstarts like Vonage and Sunrocket, so companies like Verizon that offer traditional telephones are now also offering a version of VoIP. They cost about the same as Vonage, so they have trouble competing. Their one edge is they may combine bills, so instead of being billed for phone and cable separately you would see it all on the same bill.

There are many small companies that have started setting foot into this new technology. To attract customers sometimes these companies offer terrific low cost services. The Voice Over IP business environment is changing rapidly so that these new companies must be approached carefully.

Long distance charges are expensive, and today everyone makes enough long distance calls to make a difference. Because of this, no matter who you choice as your VoIP carrier, you are pretty much guaranteed to get more talk time for less money, and you probably will end up with a few extra features, too!

Have A Perfect Video Conference By Following These 5 Approaches For Video Conferencing

Sunday, April 11th, 2010

Currently a growing number of companies around the world are employing video conferencing equipment. Companies who apply and use tools of this sort benefit in a lot of various ways. The amount of money that a company might dedicate on travel costs for it’s employees to attend meetings could be drastically reduced because meetings may be held at work with partners across the world using
2.5¢ conference calling plans
. This technology is also pleasant on the environment and will trim down a companies carbon footprint as there is no requirement for all the traveling.

There are some things that you need to remember while you are using this equipment to hold meetings. I have furnished in this article some suggestions which I expect you’ll discover useful for upcoming use.

Tip 1 – It is important that you identify a collection of ground rules that all participants to the meeting have to follow as this helps to ensure that it runs more smoothly and thus more effectively.

Tip 2 – Do not actually commence the conference until you have checked to guantee that everybody that needs to be heard is heard by everybody involved with the conference. Should there be any troubles then ask those involved to speak or shift into a position where they can be plainly seen. If the people who are inside the meeting don’t know how the tools works or are not quite familiar with it, then now is the time to allow them to see it works and get familiar with the system.

Tip 3 – Some people like to move around a room when they have the floor doing a web video conferencing presentation, but this is not an option with this setup, so it is important to limit your movements. The people who are attending your meeting may become highly disrupted because of this type of movement.

Tip 4 – When you are speaking make sure that you talk to the other participants very slowly and clearly as they will be able to understand you better. Should anyone else be talking make sure that you allow them to finish speaking first. In order to make sure that all of the people hear everything that you have to say, it is vital that you make a conscious effort to speak directly into the microphone during your entire speach.

Tip 5 – If there are several groups involved in calls made using video conferencing equipment then when someone else is speaking or presenting to you for any given period of time make sure that your microphone is switched to mute. By doing this you will assure that there will not be any disruption to what the other speaker has to say or when someone has a question.

By using these tips, you will now be able to hold a meeting that will be assured to run smoothly and effeciently. Other than the tecnological standpoint it is simply using good manners.

Security For Business Communications

Tuesday, March 9th, 2010

Data is the life blood of any business and keeping data safe is of vital importance for any business.  Data can take many forms including company guidelines and policies along with client information.  Protecting this data from computer hackers and other potential threats is very important to maintain successful business relationships.  Any lost data could mean lost customers even to extent of having a business fail entirely due to the lack of security.

The reasons for protecting the data from falling into wrong hands are clear. Though the means to gain the data illegally have improved, the means to protect the data has also improved. The computers have become the main stay for any business. Everyone uses them to store the data that might be important to them. This is why software that can protect the data from being accessed by unauthorized people must be installed. Such software includes the ones like anti-hacking, anti-spyware, antivirus, etc.

Along with computers, telephones are used to communicate with clients in the business world.  Communication via phone must also be protected from malicious types, also. In recent years, VoIP has become more widely adopted across businesses because it provides the ability to improve competencies and increase productivity. VoIP provides a business with the ability to make calls at a lower rate than conventional methods and also provides a wide feature set when compared with a conventional phone. These features can provide businesses with better ways to communicate while not taking as much from operational costs.  VoIP gives the users the capabilities to access audio and videoconferencing, text messaging, call waiting, and three-way calling with some of these not being charged. When compared with conventional phones, VoIP can provide great costs savings.

With the innovation of Wi-Fi, a user can use his VoIP telephone to call anyone anywhere. Since it is easier and faster to make telephone calls with a telephone rather than waiting for a computer to boot up, the user can save valuable time which gives him more time to devote to the success of his business, which in turn can lead to higher profits.

The sound quality is seen to be better than regular telephones, as the sound from the sender is first converted into digital signals over the internet, instead of analog signals in normal telephones. These digital signals can carry additional features of a sound, like the crispness and the clarity of the sound, for a longer distance. This makes the experience on the VoIP phones better than regular phones, when making long distance calls. VoIP is being complemented by the recent advances in wireless technology. The best advance is the Wi-Fi that can help a user make wireless VoIP calls through Wi-Fi phones, instead of hooking up to computer to make and receive the VoIP calls, which can be tiresome.

Innovations in wireless technology with VoIP phones have alleviated the necessity to hook-up the phone directly to the computer to receive or make calls. Security is still an issue with VoIP phones.  People using wireless VoIP phones must take precautions to maintain secure communications.Users of wireless VoIP phones should employ programs that allow for secure communication. Using data security on these phones may require users to input approved credentials. Newer Wi-Fi  phones have integrated privacy measures directly on the phones to allow for protected calls.

Since information is vital to every business, it is important that you be constantly aware of the need to protect your data from would-be intruders. VoIP and a Wi-Fi connection can be valuable tools to help you meet these goals.

Internet-Phone.org is Up and Running!

Tuesday, September 16th, 2008

I finally took the time to build a VoIP site that lists local, unlimited, business and hosted PBX VoIP services. If you’re looking for any of these types of plans, head on over to Internet-Phone.org and compare each type of plan side by side. Most of the plans offer pretty much the same features, so they are listed by price, with the cheapest plans listed first.

If any of you VoIP webmasters want a link on the new site, or this one for that matter, send me a VoIP related article with your byline and I’ll put it up for you. As a matter of fact, I could pretty much publish any telecommunications related articles you might have. If you’re interested, post the first paragraph in one of the comment fields, along with your email address, and get in touch with you. (Don’t worry about your email address, I’ll keep it private; nothing gets posted to the site unless I do it.)

VoipSpider

VoIP For Small Business Gets “Thumbs-Up” From Nerds…

Wednesday, August 6th, 2008

Jan Harris posted an article over at VoIP-News today that said that engineering and techie nerds in England have decided that VoIP is good for small business.

OK, she said it way better than that, but since she didn’t put any references in her article to where she found the information, I couldn’t check it out for myself. I even wandered around the British Computer Society’s website for about an hour trying to find a news release or white paper that coroberated the story, but couldn’t. Oh, well, it’s not like it matters that much anyway… we all know VoIP kicks ass and if your business is still spending money with AT&T, SBC or Qwest, you deserve to be losing money on your phone service.

If you do have a company, and are interested in VoIP, you can use Telerus’s comparison tool to price out VoIP PBX or VoIP Office type products for your business.