A VoIP phone system may sound like a high-tech fad, having no bearing on your daily life. In reality, however, if you’ve ever placed cross-country or international phone calls, odds are that a VoIP phone system was at the heart of that connection. VoIP is tech-speak for the Voice over Internet Protocol mechanism. A VoIP device, essentially, transcribes the usual analog sound waves, generated over conventional telephone connections into digital packets of data, communicated online. VoIP phone systems, thus, enable users to make voice calls independent of traditional phone company assistance, whereby making the actual call significantly cheaper. Given the technology’s universal connectivity options, and the inherent cost-savings it generates, a consistently increasing number of home and business users is integrating VoIP phone systems into their routine operations.
Reasons to make that call
The number one reason to make the shift to VoIP phone systems lies in the fact that incumbent network technology is already amenable to digital transmission. Telephone companies, invariably, make use of VoIP themselves in order to realize the dramatic reductions in bandwidth that the system facilitates. Home and business users should not then hesitate to embrace VoIP since the present infrastructure does nothing, but support the move. Further, VoIP phone systems only require a working Internet connection to be service-able. Resultantly, users can carry their VoIP device anywhere they like and maintain consistent functionality, provided there is Internet connectivity available. Moreover, given its design, the VoIP phone system allows different users to link their devices and, thus, make free calls to different sites regardless of geographical distances. Traditional options, such as voice mail, call waiting/forwarding, caller I.D, and redial, are incorporated into VoIP phone systems to maintain familiarity, mitigating so-called shocks that accompany adoption of new technologies.
Attention! Networking in progress
VoIP is relatively young; therefore, susceptible to growing pains. A VoIP phone system is completely dependent on your broadband service for power. Unlike its conventional counterpart, the VoIP shuts down during power failures or other network issues that cause broadband service to go offline. Understandably, users who require 24/7-connectivity cannot fully rely on their VoIP phone system alone, and would consequently be advised to retain the traditional phone line as backup. Additionally, VoIP does not support other services such as digital cable connections, blu-ray players, and latest television technologies that require a phone connection for optimum functionality. The VoIP technology is undoubtedly revolutionary, offering substantial economic and operational incentives for prospective users; however, it is important to realize that hiccups remain, nevertheless, given its endless potential, VoIP has nowhere to go, but mainstream.
