Communication is essential for any company, no matter the size or purpose. Today, it is nearly impossible to maintain a successful business without the help of VoIP and other IP communications solutions. But what happens if you are running a smaller business that doesn’t require all the capabilities an enterprise solution has to offer?

Small business VoIP is Voice over Internet Protocol designed for smaller companies that utilizes voice over IP technologies that allow calls to be made over an IP network such as the Internet rather than a traditional PSTN. VoIP phone systems are commonly used by small to medium sized businesses (SMBs) and provide users with the ability to perform calls and take advantage of additional features that integrate with the company’s resources over the Internet.

Many telephony solutions are scaled for enterprises and while some can be altered to meet the decreased needs of a small or medium sized business, some features tend to get lost in translation.

For that reason, there are a number of VoIP solutions that are specifically developed to fit the needs of smaller businesses that cannot support the high demands that an enterprise telephony solution provides.

Small business VoIP services let small businesses present a professional corporate image at a fraction of the cost of traditional enterprise PBX (News - Alert) systems. A growing trend in small business VoIP is the integration of both office and mobile communication devices into one seamless system. Small business VoIP phone systems offer all kinds of benefits for small businesses including eliminating the need for on-site phone equipment and reducing costs significantly while still providing enterprise features.

For an even lower fee, small businesses can take advantage of applications that offer phone services on your smartphone to-go. VoIP apps allow users to either add an additional line or connect to their IP/VoIP phone at work. These applications allow employees to work remotely from virtually anywhere utilizing all their desk phone has to offer for a fraction of the price.

Small business VoIP features can include options such as auto attendant, virtual assistant, conference calls, call handling, custom greetings and search dialing. Advanced applications also include features such as dial-in access, visual voicemail unlimited national calling and additional mobile applications at a lower rate than most VoIP systems.

Stefanie Mosca is a Web editor for TMCnet. Previously she worked as a freelance copy editor for Digital Surgeons LLC. She holds a master's degree in journalism from Quinnipiac University and a bachelor's degree in communication from the University of New Haven. To read more of her articles, please visit her columnist page.

Edited by Chris DiMarco