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VoIP is an advanced telephone system that uses your existing computer network cabling to transmit audio data over your Internet connection. It digitizes analog voice signals and compresses them with codecs to make them travel over the Internet more quickly. This article will show you Ooma: VoIP phones: a step-by-step guide.
Definition
VoIP technology turns audio from a phone call into digital data packets that travel over IP networks like local or wide area networks. These packets are then decompressed and reassembled on the other end, which converts them back into the sounds you hear over a traditional telephone line.
With this new technology, you can connect business phones to your internet service providers (ISPs) and call other VoIP users over the same network without paying international or long-distance charges. You can choose between hard VoIP phones that need to be connected to a VoIP system using cable or DSL and softphones that use an ordinary smartphone, laptop, desktop computer, or tablet and a stable internet connection to operate.
You can also integrate your business VoIP system with other technology such as UCaaS, SIP trunking, and advanced features like voicemail-to-text transcription, auto-reply, the group broadcast SMS, separation of work and personal calls, and conversational marketing that helps agents individually engage with customers. Regardless of your choice, it’s important to pay attention to the bandwidth of your internet connections and ensure they can support all your communication devices.
Basic Features
The basic features of a VoIP system are call recording, visual voicemail, and integration with other business tools. It’s important to find a provider that offers a range of features and flexibility in pricing. Some providers offer free calls, while others charge for international calling.
VoIP requires a reliable internet connection to ensure high-quality sound and prevent issues like call dropouts. Businesses should test a VoIP service’s stability and reliability by calling various locations.
Depending on the type of phone, companies can choose handsets compatible with a VoIP system or use softphone apps on mobile devices. Some VoIP systems feature ergonomic designs, speaker locations, and button placements, making them indistinguishable from traditional business desk phones. Some even offer AI-enabled mobile calling that empowers customer service agents to deliver sales recommendations and detect caller sentiment in real time. This is especially helpful for businesses with remote workforces or extensive sales teams.
Advanced Features
VoIP phones run online instead of traditional legacy networks like Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) and Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN). This enables businesses to leverage their data infrastructure to slash costs, increase performance and provide advanced call functionality.
This includes automatic dialers, voicemail-to-email, and music on hold. This can be a major benefit for customer service teams, who often need more time to avoid losing potential customers due to unanswered calls or disconnected connections.
Voice calls on a VoIP system use a codec to convert analogue voice signals into digital data packets before they are transmitted over an IP network. Once the destination receives these packets, they are decoded and transformed into voice data to make the call. VoIP systems can be paired with either softphones, mobile apps, or a hybrid, depending on the user’s requirements and work environment.
Cost
The cost of VoIP phone systems varies depending on factors such as hardware/equipment, regulatory fees, and taxes. However, some providers allow free use of their services (although they typically offer limited features).
VoIP breaks up voice audio from a telephone conversation into digital data packets which can be transmitted over the Internet. This process occurs instantaneously.
Compared to traditional business phone service, VoIP is considerably cheaper. Local calling rates are much lower, and savings on long-distance and international calls average around 90 percent.
In addition to lowering costs, VoIP provides unified communications benefits like voicemail-to-email, virtual receptionists, and videoconferencing. These tools have improved agent productivity by averaging more than 30 minutes per day of additional time and an extra 3.5 days in team productivity.
