Businesses throughout the world, seemingly regardless of the markets in which they participate, have a key point in common in increasingly large numbers: these businesses are considering softswitch solutions like voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) as an alternative to the standard phone system. But within the VoIP market there's a staggering amount of issues to consider as to finding the best in the field, and a new report from SipVine suggests just how to get the best out of the many possibilities the market has to offer.
One key point that the report addresses is consideration of bandwidth issues. Just one voice call, according to SipVine, takes around 80k of bandwidth, and that's when data isn't being compressed. But if a compression system is put into place, that demand drops around two-thirds to just 25k per call, and that puts VoIP access into many more hands than previously realized. But even with the compression, it's still going to be worthwhile to consider the overall availability of bandwidth and the speeds available therein; no one wants to lose the ability to call out because a bandwidth cap was hit for the month.
Determining available bandwidth is actually a fairly simple process; using available services like SpeedTest can help users identify the amount of bandwidth on hand, though these tests should be conducted several times in a day to get the best results, and have a better understanding of how much bandwidth is on hand. With that in mind, there's also the consideration of concurrent calls to make. While each call may take 80k of bandwidth uncompressed, and a business may have a 10 megabit connection about, that connection can be eaten up rapidly should there be multiple calls involved. A business should be ready to handle as high a call volume as possible, particularly during rougher business transactions.
It's not just a matter of bandwidth, either. Consider the kind of software and hardware being used; does the voice compression program used make the call sound clear, or is it sacrificing call quality for bandwidth improvement? Sound quality can also fall with improper equipment, in much the same way poor-quality phones did for landlines. But don't just throw money at the problem; instead look for products with good results.
There are ways to accomplish these tasks further; check reviews online for those who have had experiences with the products in question. Consider setting up pocket systems in which the equipment gets a bit of a trial run. Don't make the leap to VoIP all at once; make it gradually, so that changes can be made and issues can be addressed at a point in which the operation isn't a matter of a business' life and death. Be prepared to make mistakes and get suboptimal results, particularly early on. Never forget things like adding wiggle room to schedules or outright factoring for bad luck. Let prudence be the watchword of the day, and it shouldn't take long to find the best in solutions.
VoIP can be an incredible move for businesses, offering savings in time and money, and better service than landline phones could ever provide. But making a move like this isn't simple, and a little care in making that move should pay dividends for the prudent company that moves with some judiciousness through the maze of possibilities that is the VoIP market.
Edited by Alisen Downey