The Internet is full of some crazy memes, one of which includes pictures of yesterday that compare room-sized computers to our pocket-sized mobile devices, and how far we’ve come in terms of storage, use, and efficiency.
Even sci-fi films of the past have somewhat accurately predicted certain technologies, like Web conferencing, but of course most depicted these devices as heavy machinery. We live in a connected world that is powered by devices that are no bigger than a wallet, and thanks to modern technology, we’ve been able to use these devices to access a lot of cutting-edge communication tools.
The folks at GetVoIP do a good job of summarizing the development of our most favorite gadgets. Laptops and the like have gotten smaller while our video game cartridges have been replaced by apps. Storage media is probably the most impressive of all; the vessels themselves have gotten smaller while the technology has gotten bigger on the inside (insert obligatory Doctor Who joke here).
Mobile technology, whether it’s tablets or smartphones, have sort of waxed and waned. Mobile phones once were smaller, but now we’re seeing bigger screens as they do and perform more tasks. This opens up a whole new era of computing on the go and mobile communications.
People are quick to ditch wired phones for one that can go with them, and for businesses this means productivity pretty much anywhere that gets a signal. As mobility has paved the way for newer services, and with the proliferation of mobile devices and savvier applications, we can expect to see business VoIP become more prominent as it is more readily available in its mobile form.
As mobile phone usage starts to take the place of its landline counterpart, consumers and business users are in search of inexpensive ways to communicate with others across the globe. With VoIP being the global phenomenon that it is, text messaging and long-distance calls have seen a decrease over mobile networks as business VoIP services are more easily available. Network providers are in constant battle to compete with consumer’s attraction to VoIP’s smart costs.
Integration is another feature of VoIP, which has made it attractive to businesses and helped shaped the day-to-day processes of businesses. Smooth integration with e-mail programs, or with other office and other applications allows users to do more things in more ways than before.
The mobile workforce can stay connected to their home offices, making it seem as if they never left their physical desks. Messaging has become more efficient, and portability has never been easier. It’s easy to make extended international or interstate calls without incurring huge call costs. Sharing files, keeping track of large client lists, accessing call information and history – these are much simpler than they used to be. Back in the day, a pretty large gadget was necessary to perform such tasks. Today? It can be done all on a handheld device.
Our devices have not only changed the way that companies communicate by making it cheaper, more comprehensive, and more inclusive, it’s also still a work in progress. As telecommunications become more refined, perfected and evolved, just like the sizes of our devices, so too, how we employ business VoIP has also come a long way.
Edited by Alisen Downey