Unified Communications

VoIP solutions are being heralded as the next big thing in the telecommunications industry and all businesses are eager to see what kind of benefits, in terms of cost savings, increased employee productivity and user friendliness a VoIP based network can bring. There has been an explosion of Business Class VoIP Systems that provides various VoIP services to small and medium businesses as well as large enterprises. One of the key elements of the VoIP business is a device known as a VoIP phone system.

A VoIP phone system is a network device that translates voice calls as well as fax calls into digital data and back, between the more familiar public switched telephone network (PSTN) and an IP network. In other words, the VoIP phone system makes it possible for a data network to be able to handle voice and voice-related applications. The main functions of a VoIP phone system  are of course voice and fax compression and decompression but it also handles call routing as well as control signaling, voice mail, auto attendant, etc.

What does a VoIP phone system do?

A VoIP phone system has two main purposes:

1. To allow calls to be made or received on traditional lines through VoIP:
This part of the VoIP solution transforms the incoming PSTN lines into VoIP, which then allows for calls to be received or placed on the traditional phone network through the VoIP system in your business. However, most VoIP businesses always advise that a traditional phone line be maintained, to be used for emergency purposes.

2. To allow calls to be made using VoIP:
This part of the VoIP solution simply allows for calls to be made via VoIP –calls can be routed through the network to remote locations. This allows for reduction in call costs especially for companies which have multiple offices or which have a large volume of inter office calls.

Cost effectiveness and ROI can be calculated by diminishing the cost of remote location voice calls and faxes, reducing or eliminating the cost of long distance.  Increased employee productivity may be gained by the ease of communication in a real time basis, transferring callers directly to remote branches, collaborating on voice mails and calls, and distributing call flow just to name a few.

VoIP Phone Systems have come of age.  They offer a unique opportunity to cut costs while improving the productivity of employees at a time when “Bang for your Buck” has true meaning.