Auditel Consultant:
Peter Harrison

The VoIP Revolution is finally here at last!

19 Mar 2010 | Filed under: Communications

VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) has been around for quite a number of years now in various forms, but the widely predicted VoIP revolution has been very slow to gather pace. Traditional copper-wire telephone systems using the PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) are still by far the most commonly used in both the consumer and business markets. But things are changing and the long awaited full scale VoIP revolution may already have quietly begun.

The buzz word at the moment is “Hosted VoIP” which effectively replaces the traditional PBX (Private Branch Exchange) hardware that you would currently find in almost any business environment. The exchange service is instead delivered from a secure remote data centre and supplied over a private IP network. The inherent advantages this technology brings make a compelling argument in its favour over a traditional telephone system:-

1/ Lower Total Cost – Fewer lines needed, no call charges between remote company sites, cheaper call rates, reduced on site maintenance and support, low capital investment and depreciation

2/ Advanced Telephony Features – Corporate level PBX functionality available to smaller business users eg. conferencing, advanced incoming call management, virtual grouping, disaster recovery.

3/ Flexibility – Hosted system can be scaled to suit with users and features easily added or removed. Hot-desking and remote working is possible, providing geographic freedom. You can even move your entire office and take all your existing numbers with you.

4/ Security & Continuity – Hosted services are provided from a secure remote data centre, with full back-up systems in multiple locations. IP telephony effectively guarantees communication as secure as a private network.

5/ Integration (Convergence) – IP technology allows better integration with other forms of digital communication such as email, SMS, video, and mobiles.

This all sounds fantastic, so what’s stopping you from replacing your aging telephone system right now and reaping the benefits of this new technology? I think the main issue is perceived quality and reliability of VoIP in general. Many people have had bad past experiences when the technology was in its infancy and so the whole concept of carrying voice traffic on broadband connections seems a bit flaky. But this is almost certainly an outdated view as IP technology has matured and Enterprise-Class VoIP systems are now appearing on the market. If you choose a reputable service provider and carefully analyse the costs and service levels, which is where Auditel can guide you through the maze, there’s no reason why your business shouldn’t benefit from a state-of-the -art Hosted VoIP telephone system.

If you’re interested in more detailed and, most importantly, impartial independent advice on VoIP please give me a call or drop me an email. I’d be pleased to help.