Businesses are rapidly discovering the advantages of VoIP in simplifying communications and increasing productivity. Not so long ago, telephony was conducted on analogue systems. Since VoIP became widely available, a communications revolution has taken place. It is only a few years since the Harvard Business Review and Networld World predicted the end of PTSN as we know it. They were right: in a few more years PTSN will not exist.
Telephonic transformation
As this communications revolution got underway, traditional phone lines – the staple of phone conversations for most of the past century – were abandoned. Landlines made of copper are being supplanted by high tech optical fibre, or just being allowed to wither away. Telecoms companies are now directing resources into fibre optic cable, developing VoIP platforms or investigation communication options for the future.
VoIP’s rapid rise in popularity is based on a number of factors, one being its versatility. With VoIP, video, data or voice can be transformed into digital packets that are transmitted easily across wifi, mobile networks or fibre cable. Today, VoIP is quite literally a one stop shop for business communications needs.
Growing demand for the international VoIP wholesale provider
VoIP is the most popular communications platform for today’s businesses. Some enterprises are still using PTSN despite data limitations, while other businesses are using the enhanced facilities of ISDN. But it is likely that those businesses which have yet to convert to VoIP will do so in the near future.
Another advantage of using VoIP is the way in which it integrates with mobile technology. Users frequently switch to VoIP to enable easy forwarding of calls from mobile phones. As mobile devices become ever more entrenched as part of the modern landscape of business communication, this feature will become indispensable.
VoIP’s flexibility is another significant attraction. In looking at a VoIP wholesale provider, businesses now expect features such as a system that can be accessed wherever the user happens to be, with simple procedures to check voicemail, interact with colleagues and even take part in conference calls or videoconferencing.
With VoIP, a business can have a system that is easy to use wherever there is an internet connection. VoIP systems can be configured so that staff can log in with the use of a PIN number, which also functions as a useful security feature. As an extra bonus, the cost of international communications is reduced significantly with VoIP. A reputable, established VoIP provider can offer competitive rates on international calls, including those which terminate in developing countries. Here at IDT, for example, we have an extensive global network that guarantees compelling rates for voice calls all around the world.
Future developments
In the coming years, telecoms companies are going to direct more resources into research and development so VoIP features will become even more seamless. Expect innovation in Voice over LTE and HDVoice. The telecoms market will undergo a period of turbulence as traditional suppliers and startups battle it out to be the new market leaders. In the future, factors that determine success will be less to do with coverage areas and more to do with the quality of voice calling, and the way in which services can interact and integrate for comprehensive communications solutions.
Reservations
Businesses that have dragged their handsets when it comes to VoIP conversion usually cite the perceived low quality of sound. This is a hangover to some extent from the early days of services such as Skype. However, in the past two decades, providers and engineers have collaborated to dramatically improve QoS – or Quality of Service – for VoIP.
Voice quality – or Voice UX – can be affected by the available bandwidth and network traffic. Continuing evolution of digital infrastructure will lead to continual improvement in this area. Telecoms providers are increasing processing speeds and software sophistication to deliver a better end product.
Next generation
The launch of 5G services will also have a marked positive effect on VoIP, as this technology can enable streaming of data, voice and video at speeds of up to 10 times that delivered by 4G. With 5G, voice calls on VoIP will go from strength to strength. Interoperability will also be addressed, with R&D targeted at ensuring back office functions and mobile devices integrate smoothly and productively. Enhanced smartphone functionality and software to address back office functions will bring benefits to businesses using VoIP.
Increasing the power of mobile devices when users are out and about will be another critical issue to address. In the future, phone systems will be designed to put mobiles first, using software that supports and enhances their capabilities in conjunction with all kinds of infrastructure and office systems while delivering high quality voice communications.
