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VoIP Switch - Small Business Owners Switching to VoIP Need Answers to Basic Questions

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Small Business Owners Switching to VoIP Need Answers to Basic Questions

 
September 11, 2014

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By Ed Silverstein,
TMCnet Contributor
 


Small Business Owners Switching to VoIP Need Answers to Basic Questions when Reviewing Options

Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) now has about 17 percent of the voice business market. Projections suggest that VoIP will have about 40 percent of the market by 2018.

Among the reasons for a switch to VoIP are businesses which use VoIP need just one vendor, they’ll realize savings, and they will not need extra IT staff support.


In a recent article on SmallBusinessComputing.com, Jim Gustke, vice president of marketing at Ooma, reminded owners of small businesses, in particular, that they have “powerful, flexible and affordable options when it comes to choosing a phone system … VoIP systems let you and your employees make phone calls over the Internet using your existing broadband connection.”

To best compare different VoIP providers, Gustke offers some questions that small businesses may want answers to before selecting a VoIP provider. One of these relates to mobile devices. Given the growing presence of the bring-your-own-device to work trend, the number of smartphones and tablets is increasing rapidly. So it is important to know if the VoIP system supports mobile devices. “Look for a VoIP phone system … that lets you make and receive calls through the company number, transfer calls to other extensions and voicemail boxes, access the company directory, view call logs, [and] manage voicemail and update preferences, all when away from the office,” he advises.

It is important too, how the voice sounds; it can be different among different VoIP providers. Depending on what software and hardware they use, the voice coming through the phone can sound different. Gustke said the technology should be based on the latest industry standards. One interesting question for businesses to ask is if the voice quality is impacted while using broadband Internet. Also, he recommends that businesses “seek out products that are engineered end-to-end with hardware and software that make the most efficient use of your Internet connection and prioritize voice quality and delivery.”

Just about every business hopes it will grow, so the new phone system should be able to grow as the business grows. That is where the cloud comes in. “VoIP products and services that leverage the cloud can provide new features, incorporate updated technology, and can accommodate more users without requiring you to upgrade or replace hardware,” Gustke said. Many VoIP phone systems will only allow for a certain number of users, extensions or lines, which means they will need to be replaced as the company grows. Another important question is, when new features are offered by the provider, will the phone system need to be replaced for the features to work?

Especially at a small business, it is very important for the phone system to be easy to install and manage, too. “Look for a VoIP phone system that doesn't rely on proximity to pre-existing wiring or Ethernet ports,” Gustke suggests.

And don’t forget how the phone system provides consumers and others the first impression of a business; it better be a good one. Small businesses should offer features to callers that remind them of those offered by larger companies.

With answers to these questions, the switch to VoIP will be an easier one.




Edited by Rory J. Thompson
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Intro to Basic System Features

Accounts Overview
An account is a logical entity usually representing some logical or physical end point in the VoIP network.

Customers
Customers are logical entities in the system for which invoices will be generated. They may be termination partners, resellers of a service, or a virtual .

Tariffs and Rates
Tariff is logical entity in the system, which represents rules for rating and billing calls made by Account or Customer to which this Tariff has been assigned.

Balance and Credit Limit
In addition to Tariff, each Customer or Account, except Root Customer, has those two basic rating/billing parameters associated with it � Balance and Credit Limit.

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Intro to Advanced System Features

On-Net Routing
On-Net Routing is the feature that allows placing calls from one account in the system to another account in the system.

Ability to Charging On-Net (Account-to-Account) Calls
In some cases it might be necessary to charge either caller or callee or both for the on-net call based on per-minute rate.

Automatic Database Backup
The Softswitch includes the system which allows performing automatic backup of the database periodically.

Ability to Get exchange rate using external script
Exchange rates can be set using external custom script.

View More





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