VoIP is an acronym for Voice over Internet Protocol and is fast becoming the phone system of choice for businesses large and small across Australia. With VoIP, phone bills are slashed without compromising on call quality and there are a lot more capabilities with VoIP as opposed to a traditional phone system. Here we break down what exactly a VoIP system is and answer common questions such as, is VoIP wireless and how exactly can a call be made over the internet?
How are Calls Made Using the Internet?
Two of the most common questions businesses have is how do internet enabled phone conversations work when not everyone has a VoIP system installed, and is VoIP wireless.
The technology that has enabled people to make and receive calls over the internet has been around since the mid 1990s, but the concept itself first came about even earlier in the 1970’s. The technology has been fine tuned to such a degree since these early days that you now wouldn’t know the difference between a VoIP call, or a call made over traditional phone networks. All VoIP systems work by converting your voice into a stream of data, which is then carried over the internet and converted back into sound waves before reaching the other caller. There is no physical difference to the user in how a call is made or received. All you need to make and receive VoIP calls from the office is a working “landline” phone (with a VoIP adapter) and a good broadband internet connection – essential components of every business. If the person you’re speaking with isn’t using VoIP themselves, the call will switch between the internet and phone line network as necessary – the call itself will not be affected.
Is VoIP Wireless?
Is VoIP wireless in that case? Essentially, yes it can be. When it first came onto the market you could only make calls through a computer to computer connection. Thankfully since then the tech has developed and it’s now easy and simple to make a VoIP call using your mobile phone. VoIP calls can be made using the phone carrier’s data package or if a WiFi hotspot is available, you can bypass the mobile network altogether. In each case, there are no phone lines involved. You don’t really need to ask is VoIP wireless because being wireless is one of its most useful advantages.
What is the Biggest Benefit of a VoIP Phone System?
VoIP phones for small business owners are a no brainer. The biggest benefit? Huge cost savings. Because VoIP business phone providers are able to bypass carrier phone networks, the call charges can be kept very low, or if both callers are using VoIP, even free. Both national and local calls are often charged at a single per call cost as the call can be carried over the internet to the local area of the other caller, before switching on to the phone network, meaning the call is treated as local.
Businesses can enjoy instant savings on their phone bills and enjoy a whole host of other benefits when switching to a VoIP phone system. The pitfalls of using old phone lines are avoided, money is saved and additional features previously unavailable on traditional phones can be utilised. What’s not to love?
