What is VoIP? VoIP stands for Voice over Internet Protocol. VoIP refers to the technology used in communicating calls and videos via an internet connection. Simply, VoIP is internet-based phone service.
Rather than transmitting voice conversations through traditional phone lines, the conversations are digitized and routed through internet lines. Computer software records your voice and then codes it into a digital signal, which is then sent over the internet. All of this happens instantaneously.
Landlines are a thing of the past. VoIP is the future, for many reasons, one of them being mobility.
Mobility
One of the biggest advantages of VoIP is that it allows employees to bring their business phone line with them anywhere they go. This is especially helpful for businesses with employees who work remotely or in multiple locations.
On a traditional phone system, a line that runs to a home or business is assigned its own phone number. Any movement that takes place then becomes a trial of remembering the right codes or keys to dial on your phone. A lot of time can then be wasted by contacting phone companies to transfer services and phone numbers to new locations. With a VoIP phone system, all of this is eliminated. There are no physical limitations. You have the freedom to move as your business demands without any added stress.
CallHarbor’s phone application allows you to effortlessly handle everything from your mobile phone, including utilizing your business phone number from your mobile phone.
Call Quality
Sound is usually clearer with VoIP than with analog phone lines. VoIP systems now take advantage of advanced high-definition codecs that have vastly improved the voice quality, making modern VoIP networks sound even better than landline networks. However, this depends on your internet connection. A slow connection can negatively affect the quality of your call, but a strong connection typically results in clear, consistent sound quality.
Advanced Features
VoIP can match traditional calling features like holding, transferring, call forwarding, caller ID and more. Further, with VoIP, features like call recording are much easier. The call is already digitized, so adding a feature to record the digital file is extremely easy.
VoIP services can also offer business tool integration. This allows your calls to integrate with other communication services like chat and email. These features can even organize communication by party and time. This allows you to seamlessly review a conversation that took place across multiple media.
CallHarbor also offers features that will have you completely forgetting about landlines, like:
- Call center functionality
- Unlimited calling
- Full unified communications
- Detailed analytics
- Email reports
- Unlimited domestic and long distance calling
- Mobile app
- Web-softphone
- Video calling
- SMS & MMS
- And more!
Affordable Hardware
If you are having second thoughts about using VoIP because you are concerned that the hardware and software used would cost you a fortune, fret not. Don’t worry about hiring an IT staff for installation or to keep it up and running. CallHarbor does the installation for YOU, free of charge. Additionally, CallHarbor charges a monthly per-user fee, rather than a fee based on how many minutes everyone in the company spends on the phone.
CallHarbor offers hardware as cheap as $6 per month, and their innovative VoIP platform which includes all of the features that you need to get business done for just $20 per month.
Reliability
A regular phone line normally only lets you talk to one person at a time. VoIP allows multiple calls, including conference and group calls, which is an important advantage. It’s also faster for clients to connect with customer support. As a result, their concerns can be handled and resolved faster, which in turn improves the customer experience and strengthens your business relationship with them.
Furthermore, in the event of an office phone going down due to lack of network, calls can always be forwarded to mobile phones and other devices. That also means weather issues and power outages no longer present the risk they once did. If the office phone can’t be answered, your mobile device or laptop can. No landline will be able to cover you in a pinch like VoIP can. This is especially true with CallHarbor as CallHarbor has experienced zero full service outages in the past five years and counting.
Is VoIP Right For You?
Determining if a VoIP phone system makes sense for your business all depends on the quality of the network and its needs. You want to ensure you have enough upload bandwidth for the amount of phone calls you expect to have running concurrently. Additionally, businesses also have to factor in whether they have enough bandwidth to handle the other traffic on the network, and whether or not their firewall and router can prioritize VoIP traffic over regular Internet traffic. If you determine your network can support it, then VoIP is likely the superior option for your business. With the option of mobility, improved call quality, the plethora of advanced/additional features, affordable hardware and increased reliability – it’s hard to say no to VoIP technology.
Visit https://callharbor.com to learn more and schedule a FREE demo with us. We look forward to talking with you!