Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology is still in its comparative youth, chronologically if nothing else, but it's already managed to show itself as a powerful tool for businesses and consumers alike in terms of helping these users save money. Saving money is a powerful impetus for just about any user, but those who consider this path quickly discover that there are a lot of competitors eager to provide this new service. But which to go with? The answer to this question can mean major cost savings, while at the same time, keeping the business operating.
Naturally, the first place to look is in terms of fees and use. The price tag (News - Alert) is a great place to start looking, though by no means should it be the only metric involved. Consider just what VoIP will be used for in terms of the business, and what it will replace. A business that doesn't make many calls, but still has a fair amount of long distance calling, may well do best with a simple residential VoIP plan, like those offered by Aptela or Nextiva.
But some businesses may need a bit more power to pull the load, and that's where the second metric kicks in: features. Some businesses may be interested in conferencing tools, though this is rapidly being co-opted by the Web as a whole. Between services like iChat, Google Chat, and even Skype (News - Alert)—not to mention the still somewhat nascent movement in Web-based real time communications (WebRTC)--conferencing is only getting easier.
Some businesses may be looking for major alterations to current systems, including multiple line services, faxing services and similar measures, and this will require a much closer examination of features than in previous examples. But this in turn can be addressed with services like GetVoIP.com (News - Alert), a service that will allow for easy comparisons among the various providers in the field. Since GetVoIP.com offers comparisons for both business VoIP and residential VoIP services, businesses of all sizes and all needs should be able to make quick comparisons in terms of pricing and features available. Plus, GetVoIP.com also allows for access to aggregated product reviews, allowing users to, at a glance, spot potential trouble spots before said trouble spots actually become troubles.
All of this is a big help, but there's one last consideration a business must make before going into VoIP: bandwidth. VoIP runs on bandwidth, so businesses need to consider just what kind of Internet access is available before making the move to VoIP. Without a properly robust connection, even the best VoIP service will still stutter, drop out, and generally behave in an unacceptable fashion.
There are many considerations that a business should take before deciding which VoIP provider is right for that particular business. But thankfully, there are just as many resources for helping in the decision making process. Once a business more fully understands just what it needs to operate, a better decision can be made about which provider to select. But once that provider is selected, the benefits of said decision should become obvious, and in rapid fashion.
Edited by Rachel Ramsey