Lately VoIP, also known as Voice-Over Internet Protocol, has been taking the world by storm.  Being known as the ‘reinvention-of-the-wheel,’ VoIP is a fancy term used to describe the transmission of audio signals over the internet. It is commonly used in the business world, but also as a consumer product–Viber, Google Voice, even Skype are currently dominating smartphones and PC with the concept of making free phone calls globally over the internet. Something current carriers do not offer.

Small business and large corporations appreciate the concept of VoIP due to the fact that it’s flexible enough to respond to the changing needs of the everyday work force. VoIP is also known to boost communications productivity alongside employee productivity. Imagine moving offices and having to change ALL of your employee’s phone numbers, with the VoIP system there is no need for that.  Your employees can even take their IP Phones home, and it’ll associate that phone with their office number.

VoIP doesn’t stop there. If by any chance you do not have an IP Phone or cannot manage to carry a telephone across town, there are two other methods used to communicate via the VoIP Telephony system:

The Three Flavors of VoIP.

ATA – This method allows you to connect a standard phone to your computer or your Internet connection for use with VoIP.

Computer-to-computer— This is certainly the easiest way to use VoIP. Just call someone straight from your computer.

IP Phones — These specialized phones look just like normal phones with a handset, cradle and buttons. But instead of having the standard RJ-11 phone connectors, IP phones have an RJ-45 Ethernet connector. IP phones connect directly to your router and have all the hardware and software necessary right onboard to handle the IP call.

VoIP offers users a more advanced and more cost efficient mode of telephony. With that being said, here are the top three most common misconceptions currently surrounding the VoIP phone system.

#1: VoIP is Unreliable:  Many VoIP services assign phone numbers to switches in different locations—so for example, if there was an outage or natural disaster, the phones will be re-routed using a different switch to their proper destination.  Remember, VoIP runs over the internet therefore, the service can be susceptible to bandwidth restrictions—which can affect the sound quality, but this can easily be fixed by your VoIP service provider. With a series internet speed tests, VoIP providers offer a number of different protocols and codecs to ensure that users are fit with HD sound quality. For example, providers can allow users to select from Compressed Toll Quality (G.729), Toll Quality (G.711), and HD Voice (G.722) codecs. In doing so, users can choose a codec that matches how they plan to utilize their VoIP system.

 #2: VoIP is Confusing:  As explained earlier, the installation of a VoIP is as simple as connecting your phone into your computer network. No long hours on the phone, or waiting to the sound of elevator jazz music.  Users can even manage, maintain, and engage their phone system very easily through web interfaces.  Most VoIP service providers offer full web-access, where users are able to view every aspect of their system ranging from usage stats to account information and online billing payments. From these interfaces users are able to add, drop, and even edit their accounts— eliminating the need for any sort of expert / IT presence.

#3: VoIP is Not Secure: Contrary to believe, VoIP tech is much safer than any landline phone, as they have been less prone to security leaks. With that being said, security, much like reliability, is determined by the security settings of your own internal network as well as the security implemented by your current ISP. Remember to constantly update all of your network settings to ensure the highest encryption rate possible for your VoIP service.

Overall, VoIP is becoming the telephony method of choice for not only business but also consumers.  Don’t be left behind tangled in those old phone coils—Make the switch now.

Stratosphere Networks provides expert consultation and management series in all IP Telephony matters. We offer our clients IP-PBX, VoIP and Sip solutions. In addition, we here at Stratosphere Networks are a provider of HAAS-Hardware as a Structure. In an effort to keep the hardware costs of clients down, as well as allow clients to easily access their data. Give us a call, we would be happy to give you a quote regarding the instillation of any Telephony system.