There’s a reason that the VoIP market is expected to reach $86.2 billion by 2020 according to Future Market Insights: Both businesses and consumers are discovering that digital calling is not only cheaper than analog phone service, it also delivers more features.
While opting for VoIP might be an easy call, choosing the right provider is anything but easy; the VoIP market is filled with providers of various grades of service, and it can be a challenge sorting through the options.
With that in mind, here are four mistakes that you should avoid when choosing a VoIP provider.
1. Not understanding VoIP technology
The way that VoIP works is substantially different than analog phone service, and it is important that you have at least a basic grasp of the technology before selecting a provider. Traffic, bandwidth, network testing and system architecture are all important factors, and knowing how they play into the decision-making process requires understanding the tech. You cannot decide on the merits of on-premise or hosted solutions without understanding SIP trunking, for instance.
2. Not considering the total cost
VoIP is economical, and hosted services can sound like flat pricing. There can be hidden costs even with hosted solutions, however. For instance, most businesses will want VoIP handsets to go along with their VoIP business phone system, for instance. Or, for on-premise VoIP solutions such as Asterisk (News - Alert), SIP costs might not be immediately apparent.
Make sure you take the time to understand the full cost of a VoIP offering before diving in.
3. Not performing due diligence
Phone (News - Alert) systems are mission-critical business tools, and that makes your VoIP provider a critical technology partner. Quality of service guarantees, good customer support, regular updates to networking infrastructure and constant innovation are just a few of the reasons that you need to make sure that you select your provider slowly and with care. Choosing a partner that is reliable and will be in business several years into the future is important.
4. Not researching features
VoIP offers a wide variety of features, from call-hunting and simultaneous ring to multiple number aliasing and interactive voice response. With hundreds of possible features, researching the options and coming to the selection process with a clear understanding of crucial functionality is important.
While avoiding these four mistakes won’t make the VoIP selection process a breeze, it at least will help you avoid some of the worst mistakes. And that’s a good start.
Edited by Rory J. Thompson