VoIP Basics- August Edition

Posted by: Jen Robinson

What is Business VoIP?

VoIP stands for Voice over Internet Protocol. With VoIP, phone service is delivered via the Internet, meaning that users have the ability to make phone calls over their Internet connection instead of going over traditional phone lines. Any business with a quality broadband connection can take advantage of a VoIP phone system.

Is Business VoIP service different than residential VoIP service?

Yes. Most residential VoIP services are designed to minimize bandwidth requirements and cost-usually at the expense of voice quality and reliability. This is fine for home use and even, in some cases, for home-based businesses. But a larger business will need the more robust capabilities that business VoIP providers, such as Aptela, can provide.

What are some of the benefits of a VoIP phone system?

VoIP is useful to any size business, but it's particularly valuable to small companies that do not have tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars to invest in receptionists, information or telecommunication systems, and dedicated technology staffs. It also provides businesses with flexibility and mobility, while still providing basic phone service features such as extension dialing, choice of area code, voicemail, caller ID and more.

How much Internet bandwidth should a VoIP customer have?

The answer depends on how many users you have, how many simultaneous calls are made per location, and your level of Internet usage. A broadband (high speed internet) connection is usually required, and can come from a cable modem, a high speed service such as DSL or a local area network.

Take a network Speed Test to determine if your network is VoIP ready.

Can you keep your existing phone number when switching to a business VoIP Provider?

Yes. Thanks to Local Number Portability, you can keep your existing phone numbers or range of numbers. Generally, it takes 2 to 6 weeks for your numbers to be released by your current phone company. Typically temporary numbers, which will forward calls made to your original numbers to the temporary numbers, are assigned to customers during the porting process, to avoid downtime or loss of service.

What is the difference between analog and VoIP phones?

Analog phones- Send transmissions and perform switching that are not digitally generated. Transmissions are sent and received over standard telephone lines.

• Use circuit switching network
• Are the traditional phones found in stores
• Offer simple features for basic needs
• Do not usually have specific buttons for call functions

IP phones- Allows telephone calls to be made over a data network using IP protocol

• Use a single network that is not phone-specific to transmit voice and data
• Are portable and can be used locally or remotely
• Retain custom settings
• Offer advanced features

To learn more about VoIP phone systems, check out the Aptela website here. Stay tuned for a second VoIP Basics post coming in September!