VoIP has been around for a long time, and it’s not just for the tech-savvy. The term “VoIP” stands for Voice over Internet Protocol, which simply means you can use your computer or smartphone to make phone calls using an internet connection instead of traditional lines. VoIP has made its way into homes, offices, and businesses alike. In fact, hundreds of millions of people use VoIP every day! It’s easy to see why: VoIP delivers clear audio quality that rivals traditional landlines at less cost while providing additional features like voicemail transcription services. But not all VoIP phones are created equal (pun intended). Here are some pros and cons to consider when purchasing a VoIP system:
Pro: Less upfront costs
The big draw of VoIP phone systems is that they cost less upfront than traditional analog phone systems. The phone build quality on VoIP handsets Vs old analogue handsets is like chalk and cheese , you’ll also save in the long run because you don’t have to pay huge prices for long-distance calls or international calls (unless you live in some places where they’re free). This can be especially helpful if you regularly call work colleges in different countries who are far away. Calling others who are connected to the same phone system anywhere around the globe will result in a Free leg calls.
There are also a number of other benefits to VoIP phone systems. You can often choose from several options for how you want your system set up, including some that allow you to use your computer as an answering machine. This means you can answer calls even when you’re not at work or aren’t within reach of your landline. VoIP puts the power back in the consumers hands, giving control to the end user where as traditional phone systems usually needed a phone system engineer or IT specialist to administer the basic tasks.
Pro: Flexibility to choose the features you need
You’ll also have to consider the features you need. Many VoIP providers offer a wide range of services and capabilities, so you can choose only the ones that apply to your business. If your office has only one phone line, then perhaps a full-featured VoIP system isn’t necessary for you. But if you have multiple lines or offices with employees in different locations around the country or world, a full-featured solution will make sense for your company.
Pro: VoIP applications are more reliable
One of the most important benefits of VoIP is its reliability. A traditional phone system relies on a lot of different components working properly to work properly as well, which can easily cause problems down the line. When you’re calling from a mobile or landline, you’re also relying on an outside connection to work efficiently and reliably.
Let’s be real: you probably have poor cell phone service at the office. And even if you’re lucky enough to have a landline phone, it’s still prone to hiccups. Even if your business is in a major metropolitan area with great cell reception, there are some days when just walking outside is like stepping into a war zone.
VoIP applications are more reliable than traditional options because they use the internet instead of wireless signals (unless you choose one of their satellite packages). While internet connections can sometimes go down, these VoIP services are designed to switch over to backup systems seamlessly so that calls aren’t interrupted in any way.
If your business is located in a remote area with poor mobile phone signal, you should consider switching to VoIP. As we mentioned above, these services are more reliable than traditional landline phones because they use the internet instead of wireless signals. And if you’re worried about losing access to 999 or 111 services, don’t be—these providers offer that option as well.
The thing is—VoIP applications are more reliable than all these options; they just use your internet connection (which should be pretty reliable).
Con: Security risk
There are several reasons why VoIP is more vulnerable to hacking, eavesdropping, spoofing and denial of service attacks than traditional phone systems.
- VoIP uses the internet to deliver calls, which means that it is subject to all the same risks as any other internet-based communication system.
- VoIP relies on IP addresses for routing calls over the internet – this makes it easier for hackers and other cyber criminals to identify and target VoIP systems using brute force methods such as distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks.
The use of IP addresses also makes it easier for hackers to spoof caller IDs and other information that appears on the screen. VoIP systems are also more vulnerable because they tend to be installed on servers rather than in-house hardware, which makes them easier for hackers to infiltrate remotely.
The fact that VoIP systems use the internet as a backbone also makes them more vulnerable to eavesdropping. Traditional phone lines are completely secure because they run through copper wires, which cannot be accessed by hackers. Please note, the ISDN switch off is coming and the option to have calls over copper wires is going to be very limited past 2025.
Conclusion:
So, you may be thinking, “Why not just use a traditional phone system?” Well, the biggest benefit of VoIP is that it saves money, and the technology is so more advanced. if you’re looking for new features or technology that your current supplier doesn’t offer (and they probably don’t), then VoIP phones are an excellent option. Plus, you can use them on any type of device—from smartphones to tablets!
Here at Rydal we live and breath VoIP. speak to our team by calling 01733 511116 and we will be more then happy to assist you!