What is VoIP?
Voice Over Internet Protocol, known better as VoIP, was launched in 1995 and it is safe to say it has been a revelation on how we as people communicate with each other daily.
VoIP refers to the protocols that enable voice-based phone conversations to be made utilizing an internet connection rather than a local telephone provider.
VoIP is a technology that converts your voice into a digital signal, compresses it, and sends it over the internet. The call is set up between all users by a VoIP service provider. The digital data is then decompressed at the receiving end into the sound you hear through your mobile or speakerphone.
Once VoIP is set-up, anyone can call you from anywhere in the world and in doing so, this will save hefty charges that once were.
Benefits of VoIP
Costs: Having a traditional landline can be very costly as there are only so many available lines. Using VoIP to make calls cuts the cost as they are done through the internet.
Reliability: With a traditional landline, a power outage or bad weather could leave you without a landline, whereas VoIP offers call forwarding so power outages or bad weather will not affect it.
Mobility: With internet connectivity being available on most smartphones, it is possible to make VoIP calls on the move. This also offers the option to work remotely, allowing employees to work from anywhere in the world.
Simplicity: VoIP is a simpler way to conduct conference calls as you can add invite as many people that your broadband connection can withstand. Doing a conference call with a landline could build-up a costly bill due to additional hardware and connectivity calls.
Efficiency: With VoIP, it can allow businesses to use call recording to their advantage as they can use the recordings to train their staff to become more productive and efficient in the workplace.
Sales Growth: VoIP can be utilized to improve training in sales, allowing feedback from managers to be unique to every member on the team. In doing so, each member will improve faster, and the team will become more efficient.
VoIP in your Home
For your home, VoIP is a perfect tool to keep up to date with your friends and family. It is normally free to sign up to a lot of the VoIP services, although you may have to pay for more premium services such as video conference calls. However, once you are signed up, you can make VoIP calls to anyone in the world. VoIP will normally work out cheaper than using a traditional landline, especially if you make a lot of international calls. Depending on the quality of your internet connection, the sound quality is a lot better on a VoIP call. One of the only disadvantages of VoIP is the fact it is powered through your internet connection, so if you have poor internet connection then the quality of VoIP calls will also be poor.
All in end, VoIP has been a revolution for communication as it has allowed people to communicate in a new and more efficient manner. Like every system, VoIP has it benefits and its downfalls but when the system is used in the right way, it can make your life a lot easier in both a business and personal environment.
