The market for voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) has moved to a mainstream level now in almost all developed countries. Innovations are emerging more quickly than ever, and currently, there is great demand for enterprise cloud-based services, hosted VoIP and UC services. Cost is ultimately the primary factor driving companies to hosted VoIP, making it a viable alternative for telecom services delivery for small and medium businesses.
Advancements in hosted services is enticing even larger organizations, and is thus bringing a number of new service providers into the market
Moreover, with the mobile workforce expected to grow to 1.3 billion by next year, businesses are being face with rising expenses due to the deployment of more and more cellular devices and legacy carrier rates. According to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, Canadians pay some of the highest prices for some of the worst cell phone service in the industrialized world.
While Canadian businesses are waiting for the government to address the need for market competition, Epik Networks (News - Alert), a Toronto-based company specializing in VOIP and Internet services, is of the opinion that these companies can currently reduce their cell phone costs through VOIP services.
“Many Hosted VOIP providers offer mobile applications that provide a sustainable alternative to high-cost carrier plans,” Claudio Nespeca, vice president operations and marketing at Epik Networks, explained in a statement.
Epik also believes that until carriers redevelop their B2B cellular service architecture, mobile VOIP is the best choice for commercial cell phone users. Mobile VOIP apps are adaptable, affordable and accessible from any smartphone, thus reducing cell phone costs for business while simultaneously addressing the needs of a growing mobile workforce.
Key benefits of mobile VoIP include:
- Free in-network long distance
- Elimination of roaming charges
- Reduced use of carrier minutes
- Data-only plans as an option
- Linking all mobile employees without added expenses
- Softphone apps for smartphones and tablets that create phone access over free wifi networks
Nespeca said, “They transform everyday smartphones and tablets into a portable extension of the office network with a simple VOIP application.”
Edited by Blaise McNamee