What is VoIP?
VoIP is essentially a way to make voice calls through an IP or data network such as the internet. There are a range of different services available to businesses, from very basic offerings that allow you to make calls using free software to monthly billed services provided by telecoms companies such as Eircom, BT Ireland and Blueface.
There are some basic requirements before you can start using VoIP - a broadband connection for a start. Generally, the higher quality and faster your connection, the better the VoIP service will be. Contention ratios will impact on the quality of your broadband connection and, by default, your calls. Your contention ratio is available from your ISP - this is the number of customers who "share" your connection. The lower the number, the better. Business broadband typically has a lower contention ratio than consumer products, and some firms advertise contention-free broadband, which means that yours is the only business using your connection.
Many VoIP services work by connecting your handset, PBX or IP phone to your broadband connection. Traditional telecoms equipment can be hooked up to VoIP services through an Analogue Terminal Adaptor (ATA). Alternatively, a dedicated VoIP telephone requires no such adaptor.
Meanwhile, you can also use your PC to connect to some VoIP services, using a softphone - a software phone that allows you to call people who are using the traditional phone system from your computer's desktop.
What are the benefits?
VoIP is worth considering for your business because it can lead to cost savings. By allocating the extra, unused capacity on your network for voice calls, businesses can reduce their telecoms bills.
For example, calls to other VoIP users are often either free or billed at a vastly reduced rate, while calls to landlines and mobiles using VoIP can be priced at more competitive rates than normal.
Other VoIP services offer users multiple numbers over a single broadband connection, a handy feature that can help businesses reduce their line rental costs, while other optional services such as a virtual fax number, free voicemail and online call management can help reduce costs further and make everything a little more convenient.
Internet telephony is also more portable than traditional telecoms services. Many businesses operate from multiple locations these days - an area where VoIP really shines. Forwarding the VoIP number to another office is as simple as plugging in the ATA at your chosen location. Calls can also be directed as needed to different locations. And if you are travelling abroad, your VoIP number can come with you; as long as you have access to a broadband connection, customers can contact you as if you were in your own office.
Where can I get it?
There are several companies offering VoIP services in the Irish market. At its simplest level, VoIP can be used through providers like Skype or VoipBuster, or by using one of the main providers of consumer instant messaging applications - such as AOL, Yahoo, Google or Microsoft - all of whom have added voice services to their IM offerings.
Generally, all that's required to start availing of these services is the download and installation of a piece of software. PC-to-PC calls are usually free, while calls to landlines and mobile attract a small charge.
There is little point in buying a cheap PC microphone and bolt-on speakers if you are going to use VoIP as your primary method of voice communications. Not only could it make you seem unprofessional if the quality is bad, but it may hinder communication with your customers as any problems with audio may put customers off contacting you. Having high-quality microphones and speakers can really make a difference to the quality of VoIP services, but even this may not be enough to satisfy your company's needs.
If you need something a little more robust and reliable, you can opt for a VoIP service provider. While businesses may be a little more familiar with the likes of Eircom and BT Ireland, other firms such as BlueFace or SkyTel are also operating in this space. BlueFace offers a business service to customers that includes two lines, the option of a geographic number, and a virtual fax number with fax-to-email and email-to-fax service. SkyTel, meanwhile, is aimed at both SMEs and small or home offices and offers dedicated IP leased lines.
Ultimately, your choice of telecoms services should be aligned with your business needs. But with the benefits and popularity of VoIP steadily increasing, internet telephony is not an area that any business can afford to dismiss without investigating.
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