Investing money in new VoIP equipment is easy, says tech writer Jennifer Cuellar, if one keeps a few things in mind before taking the leap.
In a recent opinion piece in Business2Community, Cuellar recommends people to have a very clear idea about what they need while making a purchase decision about VoIP technology.
If people and businesses know what their requirements are, they will make efforts to find solutions that serve their exact needs. Not all plans and solutions will work for your business, so it is imperative to carefully note down your requirements before beginning a vendor search.
For instance, cost savings was the most important factor when Walter Reed Army Medical Center (WRAMC) decided to incorporate VoIP.
While it is dangerous to speed on a highway, it is important to have a high-speed Internet connection that can support a VoIP system. If your Internet speed is slow, a modern VoIP system will not be able to run on it and this would not serve the purpose of purchasing a new solution.
Once the requirements are clear and a good Net connection is in place, businesses should carefully evaluate the options of implementing a hosted or on-site PBX (News - Alert).
Having an onsite PBX is very convenient for businesses, but a company needs to keep in mind that it has to have people who can manage the several phone lines in use with a VoIP system. In contrast, a hosted PBX system offers a lot of freedom to businesses, as all the responsibility of operating and managing the solution is given to experts who are hired to run the system for the company.
The choice between implementing a hosted and in-house VoIP system depends on the requirement of an organization, and can be made after weighing the benefits each system gives.
“At the end of the day, hosting any service [on-site] represents an investment for which a verifiable stream of benefits must exist,” says United States Merchant Marine Academy CIO Howard Weiner. “I could not see where telephony services to our faculty, staff, and midshipmen would benefit from an [in-house] implementation.”
Cuellar also adds that enterprises that have decided to invest in a modern VoIP system should also be careful about not spending too much on the hardware. It makes more sense to evaluate the existing equipment and identify if any of it can be used for the new setup.
Many VoIP providers provide flexible plan options for businesses so that they get what they want in an Internet telephone plan. One can pick basic unlimited Internet telephone plans that start at $29.99/month per extension. One company provides users with tiered pricing on their Internet telephone plans and another offers one unlimited extension for $39.99/month.
Considering all these points while switching to a VoIP system will definitely help businesses that are searching for an affordable solution which addresses their communication needs.
Edited by Rory J. Thompson