With so many businesses moving into the VoIP landscape, it is easy to say that AT&T (News - Alert) isn’t the only company that thinks the public switched telephone network (PSTN) on the brink of extinction.
A few months ago, AT&T set forth a petition that would rid it from abiding by any PSTN regulations, which will allow it to abandon 50 percent of their customers, including businesses, schools and residential areas that still utilize PSTN. This caused an outrage in the telecommunications industry among companies like New Networks, a telecom and broadband research company, which are defending PSTN against VoIP technologies. New research from White Label Communications, however, believes that VoIP and all of its newfound benefits are here to stay, while simultaneously pushing PSTN out the door. Here are a few reasons why:
Avoid Taxes
Currently, the federal government requires that all users of landline phones pay the PSTN tax. Since VoIP runs through the Internet, VoIP users don’t have to pay this tax, which can be as high as 23 percent on monthly plans in some areas in the U.S., with an average around 16 percent. With VoIP, the tax can be as low as three percent, which means that with each monthly bill, VoIP users will have much less payments as opposed to those using PSTN services. This is especially important for businesses that are operating large offices, or more than one, and will easily see their taxes dramatically decrease.
Save Money on Cheaper Long-Distance and International Calls
Traditional phone providers have to charge more per minute, whether it is a local or long-distance call. VoIP technology uses the Internet, so it doesn’t matter how far a call travels across the country; the cost doesn’t change. VoIP providers don’t charge extra per minute -- rather, it is just a low monthly fee for unlimited calling. According to My VoIP Provider, PSTN providers charge as much as $3 per minute for international calls, while most residential VoIP providers charge as low as $0.01 per minute. Voice and message applications like Skype (News - Alert), which operate from a VoIP network, also add to the influx of internationally calling and are available for unlimited world calls at $7.99 per month. With VoIP providers like Avoxi even international told free number options which provide organizations with inexpensive ways to conduct worldwide ventures.
Less Wires to Untangle
Businesses do not have to worry about monitoring hardware or any type of infrastructures on-site since everything takes place over the Internet. This means less wires and hardware for the IT staff to manage, rather it is up to the VoIP providers. Providers also make system configuration easy as some provide a graphical, Web-based tool that can be accessed from any type of browser where users can configure and manage their individual extensions, check messages and log in and out of ACD queues. Most providers offer 24/7 support for any technical issues at hand that will help an IT member find a solution without the need for an outside technician from a phone company.
With the rate that VoIP is moving, PSTN will become a relic of the past sooner than later but not because of its lack of technology, rather, its benefits can no longer match those of VoIP. All around the spectrum VoIP providers offer reliable, inexpensive phone solutions that co-exist with the foundation to any business: the Internet.
For more information on Avoxi’s service offerings, click here.
Edited by Rachel Ramsey