The business communications world is always changing, and right now, the core of the evolution is in IP telephony. IP telephony, or Internet Protocol, is the ability to make phone calls over the Internet. However, it gets more complicated, and it’s a general term that covers a vast variety of different systems.
Today, we’re going to break down the basics that make IP telephony so useful, and you can determine if it’s the next logical step for your company. Dive in and explore IP telephony advantages!
What is IP Telephony?
“IP telephony” is short for Internet Protocol. It refers to pretty much every phone system that uses the internet to place calls or facilitate other features.
Because of this, the acronym is often associated with pretty much every internet calling service, and that makes it a little more confusing to understand.
Benefits of IP Telephony
The internet has made an unbelievable number of things possible that we’d have never imagined before, and it has dramatically impacted the world of business communications.
Here are some of the benefits of IP telephony that might make you want to switch from your traditional phone systems.
1: More Cost Effective
First and foremost, price plays a part in practically everything, and business communications are no different. With that being said, IP telephony is one of the advancements that can save you a ton of money to put toward more actively productive things.
IP telephony systems are dramatically less expensive than traditional phone systems. While you have to pay for expensive hardware, costly monthly bills, and costly service calls for traditional phone lines, IP telephony is relatively inexpensive. The monthly payments for a full business suite are about the same as one normal residential cellphone line. The only expense that is a little more costly is when you buy dedicated hardware for it. That’s optimal, though. It’s still not too expensive, and you don’t have to worry about compatibility issues.
At the end of the day, you spend less on the communication systems you need without cutting corners, and you can dedicate more funds to expansion and other projects that move your business forward.
2: IP Telephony Goes Where You Do
In an office, a bunch of phones that are stuck within 3 feet of a desk are good enough. However, that’s not how the modern business operates. Whether employees are working from home some days, or they’re moving around the workplace to handle a variety of tasks, communications can’t be tethered.
IP telephony is incredibly mobile, and you don’t have to worry about the movements of your company when you use it.
Whether you need to move to a new location out of nowhere or expand quickly and keep a uniform telephony system, or you have remote employees all over the world, IP telephony can go with you. It’s like the advent of the handheld phone, but for the business world and far more advanced than that initial step forward.
3: IP Telephony Scales with You
One major flaw with traditional phone systems is that you need to make a considerable investment every time you need a new line for new employees, divisions, or expansions.
However, IP telephony can scale with you and your business without all that. If you’re using dedicated hardware, you just need to buy another phone and maybe buy into a bigger plan depending on how many users your current plan has covered. In many cases, you just need to get more hardware and download the software, but even if you need to get a bigger plan, the increase is negligible. It’s extremely cheap to scale your plan up.
4: Hardware Freedom
It helps to purchase hardware dedicated to the IP system you’re implementing, but you don’t always have to. Many IP systems allow you to use practically any smart device as long as it has the associated software installed and the hardware necessary for the features you’re using.
This means that you can often repurpose older devices, have employees use their own devices in smaller work settings, or otherwise rethink how you go about setting up your comms system.
Sometimes, this can be more expensive, but it can also give you a bit of flexibility with what you use. It all depends on you.
In either situation, it’s typically cheaper than having to buy the required hardware from a traditional phone system provider, and even if you choose not to spend a lot, you can opt for pricier hardware where it counts.
5: A Full Business Suite of Features
Thanks to the internet, IP systems aren’t limited in what they can do. With a traditional phone system, you can place calls, start conference calls, put people on hold, or direct people to other lines, but that’s it. IP systems allow for far more.
You can enjoy video chat features, texting, email functions, and a lot more along with those traditional business features. Even more importantly, it’s easier to manage all those features. It’s just like working with a normal app. Your employees don’t have to learn unique hardware skills to use it.
6: International Calls
If you have to use international calling frequently, you know how fast that bill can climb. It’s not cheap when you’re using traditional phone lines.
However, IP telephony doesn’t charge you an arm or a leg for international calls. Because the internet is used, it’s just like calling someone down the street. This can be a huge money saver in the modern market where international communications are part of day-to-day operations for practically everyone.
7: Start Up and Small Business Friendly
Finally, there’s one more major advantage. In the modern world, a lot of people want to run their own businesses. Unfortunately, traditional communication systems are often inaccessible for small start-ups and small businesses.
IP telephony is cost-effective enough that practically any professional can afford it, and since it scales up, you won’t outgrow it, either.
Try Lanstar Today
If you’re ready to try IP telephony and enhance your business experience, try Lanstar Voice & Data today.
Contact Lanstar Voice and Data today.
