As more enterprises begin to see the cost benefits of switching to a VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) phone system, industry advocate VoipReview.org has begun analyzing a few of the many benefits of making the switch.
Some businesses have yet to fully commit to VoIP, expressing concern that it might be too complicated or costly. But that fear is being allayed by companies such as AudioCodes (News - Alert) and its analog telephony adapter, or ATA. An ATA device handles all of the tasks related to providing a telephone-line experience while talking over an IP network, and will typically have a Web server that will allow you to configure the device on your computer.
In addition, a fax ATA allows fax machines to connect to a variety of fax service providers, VoIP telephony providers (that support T.38), business fax server vendors and premises-based VoIP solutions. Fax is imperative for a number of different industries such as healthcare, insurance and legal, as enterprise content management becomes the next-generation extension of fax. Using IP technology to send and receive faxes can reduce the amount of paper, and hassle, associated with document transmission.
So, once that hurdle of doubt is overcome, prospective users might ask how a business can get VoIP service simply and easily. VoIPReview.org spells it out:
- Evaluate your current phone situation. Are you unhappy with how much you are paying for telephone service with a POTS (plain old telephone service) company?
- Evaluate your Internet setup. Your connection needs to meet a certain bandwidth minimum in order to give you the best service. For example, while VoIP technology will technically work with dial-up Internet, you won’t really be able to get good quality service with a dial-up connection because dial-up doesn’t provide you with a high speed connection. If you want to get VoIP, you may first have to find a better high-speed Internet service.
- Read up on different providers. It’s highly recommended you look into customer reviews before choosing a service.
- After you’ve found a service provider you like, find out how much equipment you will need to buy. Some service providers will give you adapters or IP phones with your service, some will allow you to rent equipment, and some don’t include equipment at all. Calculate the cost of switching over your home or office phone system to an IP system before you commit to a VoIP system.
- Implement your VoIP solution. Depending on your comfort level with computers, this should be relatively easy. There’s not much to it. You will just need to buy a monthly or yearly plan with a service provider, download the system, and plug in your new phones or adapters.
Once you’re up and running with a VoIP phone and a Fax VoIP system, you’ll wonder why you waited so long.
Edited by Rachel Ramsey