Using the internet as a platform for telephony, based upon VoIP technology is going to become the norm in the near future. VoIP has many benefits to offer, including its significant cost savings for businesses. As more and more businesses –and domestic users too – embrace the flexibility and efficiency of VoIP, major telecoms providers such as BT have recognised that landlines are becoming antiquated technology and are making plans to phase out the present analogue telephony systems. BT has announced that ISDN services will be shut down in 2025. By then it is thought that just about all telephony will be carried out using VoIP.
Dispelling a fear of the unknown
Of course, VoIP makes some people nervous because they don’t understand it. However, they have possibly used WhatsApp or Skype to make calls and thus been using VoIP without even realising they were doing it. Any remaining wariness of VoIP needs to be dispelled as soon as possible because VoIP is here to stay.
Since VoIP is digital technology, it can be used as a platform from which many of the next generation technologies can develop. One of the great advantages of VoIP is the lack of expensive hardware and infrastructure that is required with a VoIP system, so it can be endlessly adaptable to innovation, scaling up, scaling down or being customised to the needs of a business as they develop.
Many SMEs and larger businesses are discovering the advantages of VoIP, particularly if they do business internationally. It is ideal for enterprises where staff are routinely expected to travel; the VoIP system will be available to them wherever in the world they happen to be, provided that they have an internet connection. With a VoIP system, all that is needed to access it is broadband and a password. For making calls around the world VoIP also delivers immense cost savings as many international calls can be made for a fraction of comparable calls on a traditional phone network. VoIP is also the natural choice for businesses where staff require a system that enables remote working.
What quality can a VoIP wholesale carrier deliver
In looking for a VoIP wholesale carrier for a business, the first step is to consider the communication needs of the business and how these are likely to develop. Then you can look at the packages offered by different VoIP providers, together with the level of customer service on offer, which is vital when customising your VoIP service to accommodate changing communication needs.
A mature VoIP provider such as IDT will have a large and well developed global network that ensures termination rates around the world are competitively priced. In addition, the service should be extremely reliable and offer flexibility and the ability to scale up or down easily.
VoIP offers a wide range of technical features. These include customised security options for staff and data access, support for videoconferencing and setting up virtual receptionists. VoIP also enables the generation of dedicated numbers for special clients without having to install an extra line for them. In addition, numbers can be assigned independent of actual geographical location. If consumers would be more comfortable with a number that appears to be a local line in Leeds, the business can have this without actually needing to set up an office in Leeds.
This can give a business enormous adaptability with little expenditure. Of course, when choosing a VoIP provider it is necessary to undertake due diligence and check that it really can supply all these things. While cost is a major factor in choosing a VoIP provider, the absolute cheapest is by no means always the best. It can be better to spend more for a service that can grow and expand with the business and exploit new developments as they become available.
Bespoke solutions
Increasingly, customers and clients want experiences or products that are tailored to their needs. The right VoIP system can enable a business to be more responsive to these demands. With VoIP, a business can have its own omni-channel facility that offers voice communication, instant messaging, video and web services via one convenient and integrated platform. This allows staff and clients to switch easily between whichever mode is most effective and convenient in any number of locations.
Once a business has made the change to VoIP, users will probably wonder how they ever got anything done using the restrictive options of the current legacy networks. Cloud hosting offers even more options for storing data and accessing services. A successful business is a competitive and evolving business that assesses changes in technology and client desires. Making the most of what VoIP has to offer will be a key element of this process.
