Things To Consider When Choosing A Voip Solution For Your Business

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Whether you have a small or a large company, shifting to VoIP is an economical option

that helps businesses save costs and more easily weather bad economic times. Along with cheap local and long-distance telephone prices, getting VoIP gives businesses the opportunity to forego subscriptions to the public switched telephone networks (PSTN), which would mean more savings besides integrating voice and data communications.

Adopting VoIP entails not only buying equipment off-the-shelf but careful analysis of the communication requirements of the company. For example, the evaluation should look into how often local and long-distance calls are made, how much document is sent and received through fax and email, how calls are routed locally, among others. All this information is essential when choosing which VoIP solution would best suit the business.

Another important thing to consider is the current capacity of the company's broadband connection, since adding voice communications would undoubtedly put a strain on the data network. If the current subscription or provider is unable to give the Internet bandwidth and speed needed, the subscriber may have to upgrade the subscription or choose another Internet Service Provider (ISP).

Hosted or Onsite VoIP

The next thing to consider in planning the shift to VoIP is whether to opt for onsite or hosted service. Both options have their pros and cons, and it is up to the business owner to decide.

Onsite Service

Onsite service or customer premises equipment requires purchase of a dedicated IP-PBX system, VoIP software and peripherals and installation of these within the company premises. VoIP connection for this setup is typically an add-on service provided on an on-going basis by the company's ISP.

Pros:

-The company has control of the way the system is managed and run

-The system can easily be adjusted, moved and configured as necessary

-Cost-effective for medium to large businesses in the long run

Cons

-High cost of initial expenditure for hardware and software

-Require skilled IT personnel to maintain the system

-Equipment may become obsolete and need to be replaced in a few years

Hosted Service

In this set-up, the VoIP PBX equipment and switchboards are owned and managed by the ISP and are located offsite. The VoIP subscriber typically leases the equipment needed (although sometimes, no equipment other than phones is needed) and the cost for these is included in the monthly service fee.

Pros

-Low installation cost allows the company to use funds for other needs

-No need to hire extra IT personnel to manage the system

-Maintenance and upgrading of equipment is shouldered by provider

Cons

-ISP technical glitches would affect downstream customers

Whatever option one chooses, shifting to VoIP surely gives your company a competitive advantage, as it streamlines operations and allows businesses to quickly adapt to rapidly changing business needs. This fast-rising technology definitely is the future of business communication systems.

by: Andrew Wiggin

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