VOIP Advantages and Disadvantages – Top 10 Must Read.
What is VOIP
VoIP stands for Voice over Internet Protocol, a technology that allows people to make calls easily over an internet connection rather than using traditional landlines. In simple terms, it is a phone system that uses the cloud to place calls.
With the rise of Broadband internet service, VoIP has become a significant part of consumers’ life for different use cases.
VoIP got launched in 1995 as a cheap source of communication. But now, VoIP tool has become the most used technology with advanced features like call recording, custom caller ID, auto attendants, voicemail to email facilities and more.
VoIP solutions are compatible with all computers, and users can make calls regardless of the location.
There is no need for people to remember the dial codes to connect with customers or friends. The digital world is growing so rapidly so is remote work and it is time to eliminate the use of traditional phone systems and adopt VoIP technology.
VoIP Features
Some of the VoIP Benefits
- Call Management and Routing.
- Anonymous Call Rejection.
- Call Forwarding.
- Call Transfer.
- Conference calls.
- Music on Hold.
- Hot Desking.
- Instant Messaging.
- SIP Trunking
- Voice Calls and voicemail ( Voicemail forwarding)
- Video meetings.
Follow this post for VOIP Advantages and Disadvantages – Top 10 Must Read for home or business use. Compare the VoIP technology with your traditional phone service and then make a final decision as to which is better for your business.
VOIP Advantages and Disadvantages-Top 10
VoIP Pros
There are various benefits of adopting VoIP technology:
1. Reduce Telephone Costs
VoIP systems involve the use of the internet to connect with people unlike the telephone system, where all the data is transferred into packets which are further forwarded to the IP network. People can also make international calls for free with VoIP technology. Further, VoIP providers offer guaranteed quality service and high quality sound systems at a cheaper rate.
Other features include forwarding messages, adding voicemails and access to missed calls, call recording, auto attendants, etc.
2. Easy to install VoIP system offers more service mobility
VoIP service offers mobility, which is moving from one location to another without any disconnection of service. VOIP is IP based voice services work like a computer. Users can do call routing to hide their physical location. VoIP promotes a mobile workforce.
Also it is easy to start using VoIP with simple hardware components. It is the traditional systems that included various hardware components and had a line that connected one business to a specific phone number. The user always had to remember the correct number to reach out to the customer.
With VoIP things are much easier for example if you operate a mobile business, you can be reached out to any destination.
3. Simplified Conference Calls
VoIP is essential part for Business due to the increases in remote working and working from home. VoIP Conferencing for group meetings with staff at different locations is much cheaper than video conferencing with PSTN connection. Their calls are routed over the Internet rather than the PSTN
Instead of using dedicated phone lines, the VoIP services use converged data to create connections. It has made conference calls more simplified and easier to participate in.
Big benefit is no extra charges to be applied to host multiple callers. Get access to make conversations in real time and share images and text over the Internet using VoIP.
4. Strengthens Your Business
Adopting new technology doesn’t mean you are leaving behind the benefits of a traditional phone system. VoIP phone system is an advanced version of the traditional phone system that uses the Internet to make calls with additional features like voicemail, call forwarding, etc.
With the help of VoIP, you can make more informed decisions by recording and analyzing calls. Further, it allows you to integrate with other tools like Email, Zapier, etc. Moreover, it allows businesses to take up calls instantly from their browser based app.
You can easily streamline business processes, get insights, and perform better using VoIP services.
5. Offers Reliable Voice Quality
While using traditional phone systems, most of us have faced the issue of poor sound quality, lags, or dropped calls. It generally happens when the received signals are not strong, leading to miscommunication during meetings.
However, VoIP providers offer reliable phones around with solid internet connections and better voice quality features. Thus, helping you make crystal clear calls whenever you want.
VOIP system improves workplace efficiency. Staff can be available to other members of staff and customers at all times for group video calls, wherever they are and at any time. It results in improved workplace efficiency and effectiveness.
To summarize the benefits of VoIP for Business is that it reduces communications costs and keeping staff contactable.
VoIP Disadvantages
VOIP Cons
1. Requires an Adequate Equipment
If your building uses outdated firewalls, routers, or cable modems to create an internet connection, you might face poor quality VoIP service. If the glitch occurs while on a call, update the router software or replace older equipment and reconfigure network gear.
But, to have a smooth running VoIP service, you must have all the adequate equipment and dispose off all older components that require an upgrade or replacement.
2. Security Issues
Anything that involves the use of the Internet often raises security concerns as you might experience viruses, denial of service attacks, malware, identity theft, and other issues on using this technology. Even if you have taken measures to remove vulnerabilities, in most cases, call tampering and phishing attacks occur.
Hence, it is best to immediately report any suspicious activity, such as unusual call traffic that occurs to the VoIP service provider.
3. Poor call quality
Packet loss or poor connection is often the main reason behind poor voice quality. As a result, you might hear echoes, noise, or different voices in the background.
You can use the VoIP SIP test or other tools to review connections and check for packet loss. Also, the option to register the softphone with the server is not possible in some cases. In order to make phone calls using a softphone on your laptop, we recommend using firewall testing tools for checking UDP ports.
4. Bandwidth dependency
Internet connection is a shared community resource used by multiple people at the same time. As a result, there are high chances that the speed and quality of service might reduce, especially during peak hours. It might also cause overload on your system resulting in a lack of bandwidth for VoIP services.
Experts cannot control internet issues every time. Do you know a typical VoIP connection (G711 codec) demands 80k for each call? However, the range varies for other codecs based on their requirement. So, make sure to run Internet speed tests beforehand and check with the selected provider.
By running a simple Internet test, you can get more information about the bandwidth and avoid this disadvantage.
Overloading can also lead to poor call quality. Hence, try to avoid doing extra tasks involving the use of the Internet when making a VoIP conversation.
5. Security and extra costs
Internet technology security is a major consideration with VoIP. Possible threats include identity and service theft, viruses and malware, spamming, call tempering and denial of service attacks.
Also, to use VoIP services, it is a must to plugin your equipment into a power resource. If there are interruptions in the power system, you might not be able to communicate properly using this technology. In some cases, people also use an uninterruptible power supply, but it is not a full time solution.
Lastly extra costs can be incurred if you use VoIP to phone someone without VoIP capabilities.
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VOIP Advantages and Disadvantages – Top 10 Must Read Conclusion
VoIP stands for Voice over Internet Protocol, a technology that allows people to connect and communicate over the Internet. With VoIP services, you no longer require local phone service to make calls. You can also perform routing of outgoing and incoming calls using this technology.
Unlike traditional phone systems, VoIP does not use analog lines to carry voice signals from one place to the other. Also, no specialized hardware is needed for its installation.
VoIP service has many benefits compared to its drawbacks. Also, it is much easy to manage VoIP connections. Even, if you face any problem related to the technology, the service providers will look into the matter and will resolve the common problems.
With the improving bandwidth and internet speed, more and more people are embracing VoIP services and adopting the technology. It is a highly scalable and reliable technology to use.
Further, it saves time and allows businesses to make data backed decisions. If you really want to invest in a technology that will improve your business communications, we recommend investing in VoIP technology.
No doubt, it has a few drawbacks, but it is more advantageous than other communication channels. There are various perks of switching from a traditional to an internet based phone system. A trusted VoIP provider will handle all your issues and make efforts to resolve them on time. Follow the above listed points to compare the VoIP technology with the traditional phone system and make a final call for your business communications.
If you are looking forward to switching to VoIP services, get yourself a broadband internet connection and enjoy the excellent service at a lower cost.
