VoIP has made a lot of news in the past while, a lot of it caused by BT announcing preparations for switching us all over to it in a few years.
It seems that everyone has an opinion on VoIP. Some are for, some against. The postman has an opinion. So does the guy down the road. But are any of these opinions right? We look at three common misconceptions about VoIP, and explain what (if anything) you should worry about.
Common Myth #1
VoIP is very technical, and you will need a trained staff member with a degree in IT or computing to run it for a company.
Myth #1 Debunked:
There are many VoIP Providers out there who will handle all of the technical stuff for you. You don’t need to understand what all the acronyms mean, or know how to set up any equipment.
Of course, many companies do have their own IT person or department. If this is the case then yes, we probably have to agree that setting up a VoIP system could well be within their remit.
But it is not true at all to say that a novice IT person would not be able to use a VoIP service. Anyone who can download an app onto a smartphone can, with very little help, set up a VoIP phone system for their company. People from all ages and all walks of life are adopting VoIP for their primary telecoms, and this trend is gathering pace.
Common Myth #2
VoIP is only suitable for larger companies, it’s not for smaller outfits or Sole Traders
Myth #2 Debunked:
There has been a tidal wave of business people seeking to move away from traditional telecoms, and that includes people from all walks of life, running all sorts of companies. There is little doubt that a lot of this is driven by the approaching sea change from BT. If you read our article last week then you’ll know this is to do with modernising the national infrastructure.
All companies, from large multinationals, to small Sole Traders, can benefit from a VoIP system. It allows for reductions in cost and gives increased flexibility. All businesses, whether large or small, can take advantage of the positives on offer. The system will be scalable, so you can add or decrease your user count. You can also add features as your needs change and your company grows.
Common Myth #3
VoIP is only suitable for my teenage daughter to call her friends over Social Media
Myth #3 Debunked:
This may have been true in its very early days, but VoIP has come a long way since then. If anything, the call quality has improved beyond anything offered by a ‘traditional’ phone service. Call drop outs and lag have decreased, and the amount of bandwidth used over a standard internet connection is minimal. If you have a business-grade service, then QoS (‘Quality of Service’) means that telecoms are prioritised over other internet traffic on your connection. This means your phone calls will always have good sound quality, with minimal interference. Certainly no worse, and probably better, than the crackle or distortion you would undoubtedly have experienced from time to time during traditional analogue phone calls.
The feature set depends on the VoIP system, but it will invariably be an improvement on an analogue phone. To achieve anything like the menus, options and add ons available across the board for VoIP would mean a massive investment in some very expensive hardware. Not to mention having trained staff on-hand to look after it.
Summary
So – three myths surrounding VoIP, and the reasons why you shouldn’t worry. You don’t need a degree in IT or trained staff to benefit from a VoIP system, and it will be suitable for any size of business, large or small. The service features and call quality are, if anything, an improvement on a traditional phone system. It will save money compared to an ‘old school’ set up, with more features, for less cost.
To discuss setting up a VoIP service suitable for your business, just get in touch.