Should I be using VOIP in my business? | Blue Rooster Telecom

By: Jeff Buckingham

Summary: VOIP or ?Voice Over Internet Protocol? is applied to a wide range of services that convert voice telephone calls to a stream of data which can be passed over Private Networks or the Internet.? This technology can be very useful when integrated in an overall telecommunications plan.? However, for many reasons, this may not be the best solution for all businesses. VOIP can be costly, complicated and can reduce overall call quality.? However, VOIP can also provide many new features and reduce costs over time. Before making a decision to move to VOIP, make sure you fully understand your communication needs and how VOIP service may help support your business.

The three main areas of VOIP are: Business or Hosted VOIP, VOIP based Business Telephone Systems and Consumer VOIP.

1. Business VOIP services such as hosted PBX ? A hosted PBX is a telephone system that is housed outside of the customer?s office in the provider?s network and is becoming popular in the work place. The customer uses an Internet connection and VOIP telephones connected to their local area network. The advantage of these services can be a fixed cost per month with unlimited calls, as well as using the same telephone system for employees with common voice mail and dialing plans.

The disadvantage of these services can be service outages caused by the customer?s local area network, the Internet connection, or the hosted PBX provider. It is also often difficult to diagnose the source of the service outages, resulting in frustration for the customer and service provider. The highest-quality hosted PBX providers will provide their own Internet connection and often insist on managing the customer?s local area network so they can make sure that service works properly. Some customers save money with hosted PBX but many do not due to the cost of local area network upgrades. These systems need to be looked at on a case by case basis.

2. VOIP based business telephone systems ? These systems place the telephone hardware at the customer?s office. The features are very similar to a hosted PBX and the telephone lines can be VOIP based (called SIP trunks) or traditional telephone lines. The initial cost of these systems is often 20 to 50% higher than a traditional telephone system but there are long term savings on maintenance. For example; employees can simply plug their phone into any network jack in the office. There is often a requirement for upgrade or replacement of the local area network equipment for these systems to function properly.

VOIP based business telephone systems are growing rapidly in business telecommunications and there is no question that this trend will continue. In spite of the popularity there are many customers who have experienced significant service interruptions due to poorly planned installations. Even the best installations do tend to have a higher incidence of occasional unexplained technical problems. It is highly recommended that business installations be handled by a trained professional with a past record of successful installations. Make sure that thorough reference checks are performed on any vendors before the project is implemented, and that the system is fully tested under real life conditions before the installers leave the building.

3. Consumer VOIP services ? These are free or low cost services such as Skype, Vonage, or Google Voice. Typically, these are used for saving money on long distance telephone calls.? These services are especially popular for placing international calls. Skype is also used as a video conferencing service. These services often do save money but the quality of calls can vary since the provider has no control over the user?s Internet connection. If you can tolerate poor connection quality or can place another call over a regular telephone line when VOIP call quality is poor, this service may be of interest to you.?

These services do work especially well for businesses to save money when an employee is located in another country. The amount of money saved is usually significant compared to buying traditional telephone service.? However, most businesses telephone conversations are important and the cost of lost calls or poor communication can far outweigh the savings. Long distance calling rates have come down significantly in the past few years, so a regular telephone line may end up being a better option even for international calls.

What?s the right decision for me?

Businesses often think that if they aren?t using the latest technology, they are falling behind their competition. This may be true, but not all new technologies are the best choice for all situations.? Many people assume that VOIP services are ?cheap?, but VOIP services can actually be more expensive in some business applications.? Additionally, communications over a VOIP phone system may be ?choppy? and difficult to understand due to poor data transmission and poor quality Internet connections.? Most businesses cannot tolerate these disruptions to quality communication within their organization. In other words, poor call quality can also be very expensive by reflecting negatively on your business.? If you have employees scattered all over the world, VOIP may be a great way to be connected. But for most businesses, traditional phone services including the integration of VOIP applications as needed, may be the best option for affordable, consistent, high quality phone service.

Who can you contact to help you through the process?

If you have questions or would like to discuss VOIP options for your office, please feel free to contact Blue Rooster Telecom at 805-543-8700 or visit our website at www.blueroostertelecom.com

Want to learn more about Blue Rooster Telecom?

Blue Rooster Telecom is a San Luis Obispo-based telecom carrier offering voice, VoIP, Internet, and data services. Its customers are always first, as the company sets the highest standards for customer service, delivering reliable products and creating custom solutions. Some of Blue Rooster Telecom?s employees have over 30 years of telecommunication experience, with a passion to be dependable, professional and friendly when working with any client. For more information, visit www.blueroostertelcom.com or like them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/blueroostertelecom

Tags: Business Telecom SLO, Business Telephone Lines, Jeff Buckingham, San Luis Obispo, VOIP

Source: http://www.blueroostertelecom.com/blog/2013/01/29/should-i-be-using-voip-in-my-business-2/

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