You’ll hear phrases like VoIP phones, hosted telephony, IP phones and cloud-based telephony being used in business. But what is a VoIP Phone? We’ve answered the most commonly asked questions about this technology to try and help give you a better understanding. Still got a question that we missed? Then get in touch with our team and we’ll be more than happy to help!
What is a VoIP phone?
VoIP phones use voice over internet protocol (VoIP) technology to deliver an internet based telephone service.
Calls are delivered over the internet rather than the traditional legacy technology of the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) or Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN). Both the PSTN and ISDN networks are set to be decommissioned shortly.
Due to the reduced infrastructure needed to deliver phone calls on VoIP technology, voice calls can be provided at a very low cost.
VoIP services also use the internet to deliver phone system functionality to the end user. Many new features and useful services are available to small/medium businesses that were previously unaffordable to SME budgets. These include voicemail-to-email, call recording, instant messages, international calling, music-on-hold and call diverts.
Can you use a VoIP phone like a regular phone?
Yes. A VoIP phone offers the same core service that a regular phone does, the ability to make, receive and manage telephone calls. However, functionality is greater whilst costs are lower.
The only real difference is that your voice is communicated via internet connections rather than copper lines. The only requirement is that you have fit for purpose internet access.
VoIP and Microsoft Teams
Many businesses are now replacing traditional phone systems with Microsoft Teams Phone, which uses VoIP technology to enable calling directly from the Teams platform.
By combining video meetings, instant messaging and business telephony in a single application, Teams Phone helps organisations simplify communication and improve collaboration. Employees can make and receive external calls from their laptop, desktop, mobile or Teams-certified handset, regardless of location.
For businesses already using Microsoft 365, integrating VoIP with Microsoft Teams can reduce system complexity while providing a consistent user experience across the organisation.
Benefits include:
- Make and receive business calls within Teams
- Support hybrid and remote working
- Reduce reliance on legacy phone systems
- Integrate calling, messaging and meetings in one platform
- Improve user productivity
Can I use VoIP on a mobile?
Some voice over IP services, such as Bluecube Cloud Voice, offer a mobile App that allows you to direct your landline calls to your mobile device. This means that you don’t have to be anywhere near your desk phone to make or receive landline calls.
Do I need a VoIP phone?
The UK’s telecommunications network has undergone a significant transition away from legacy PSTN and ISDN services, with businesses increasingly adopting cloud-based telephony solutions.
Modern VoIP phone systems provide greater flexibility, improved scalability and access to advanced communication features that traditional phone lines cannot offer. As a result, moving to a VoIP solution is a smart step for organisations looking to support hybrid working, improve customer service and future-proof their communications.
What are the advantages of using VoIP?
Using a VoIP system has many benefits for businesses.
VoIP provides communication at a lower cost compared to traditional landline phones. It can also introduce many advanced features that previously required a large internal infrastructure.
This means even small businesses can now introduce features such as on-hold marketing, call recording, voicemail-to-email. CRM integration, remote working via device sync and much more can also be introduced.
VoIP phones also allow for easy scalability for growing businesses. Traditional landline phones required costly upgrades or extensions to a business phone system upon the intake of new employees. With VoIP technology, a handset can very quickly and easily be introduced into the network via an existing ethernet port.
I’ve heard VoIP phones are unreliable. Is this true?
VoIP phones rely on a suitable internet connection to maintain high call quality. When the technology was originally introduced, the IP network was still underdeveloped to support VoIP technology fully. This meant the VoIP phones developed a reputation for delivering poor call quality.
Since the widespread expansion of high-speed business broadband, the reliability of the technology has increased and VoIP technology offers a superior failover plan to legacy PSTN or ISDN technology.
VoIP calls are now delivered in HD quality and feature services such a Disaster Recovery allow for constant connections, so your calls always go somewhere. Our cloud-based telephony has a 99.999% uptime and in the event of an internet outage calls are automatically forwarded to another location or mobile phone.
Does VoIP affect Internet speed?
The speed of your internet connection is very important for delivering high-quality phone calls. By its nature, a VoIP call uses far less bandwidth than for example visiting a website. You can prioritise voice data so that in the event of low bandwidth calls get priority over other data.
Using VoIP when you have a very fast connection won’t affect your Internet Speed too much. Despite this, we would recommend running your VoIP system through a separate, single-purpose, internet connection to your data network. This helps to guarantee the overall quality of your calls and the two connections act as back-up lines to each other.
Is VoIP cheaper than a landline?
VoIP is significantly cheaper than traditional phone lines. This is because it does not rely on the legacy technology of PSTN & ISDN to provide a connection. These traditional lines are copper-based networks that providers find expensive to maintain and will decommission soon.
Using a cloud-based phone system (VoIP) also introduces many features and guarantee for businesses of all sizes. This allows businesses to get better value-for- money from VoIP systems compared to traditional landlines and on-site phone systems.
The Future of Business Telephony
The communications landscape has changed significantly in recent years, with businesses moving away from legacy telephone systems and adopting cloud-based alternatives.
Modern VoIP platforms provide greater flexibility, improved reliability and access to advanced features that support today’s workforce. Whether employees are based in the office, working remotely or travelling between locations, cloud telephony ensures they can stay connected from virtually anywhere.
As organisations continue to prioritise flexibility, collaboration and business continuity, VoIP remains one of the most effective ways to modernise business communications.
Modernise Your Business Communications
Whether you’re looking to replace an ageing phone system, support hybrid working or integrate calling into Microsoft Teams, Bluecube can help.
Our cloud telephony solutions provide reliable, feature-rich business communications that scale with your organisation and keep your teams connected wherever they work.
Speak to one of our specialists today to discuss the right VoIP solution for your business.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does VoIP stand for?
VoIP stands for Voice over Internet Protocol. It is a technology that allows voice calls to be transmitted over an internet connection rather than traditional telephone lines.
Do VoIP phones need broadband?
Yes. VoIP phones require a reliable internet connection to make and receive calls. The quality of your broadband connection plays an important role in ensuring clear and consistent call quality.
Can I keep my existing phone number?
In most cases, yes. Existing business telephone numbers can typically be transferred to a VoIP provider through a process known as number porting.
Is VoIP suitable for small businesses?
Absolutely. VoIP is often an ideal solution for small businesses because it provides enterprise-level features without the high costs traditionally associated with business phone systems.
Can employees use VoIP when working remotely?
Yes. Users can access VoIP services from a laptop, desktop computer, mobile device or VoIP handset, allowing them to stay connected wherever they work.
Can VoIP integrate with Microsoft Teams?
Yes. Microsoft Teams Phone uses VoIP technology and enables businesses to make and receive external calls directly within Microsoft Teams.
Is VoIP secure?
Modern VoIP platforms include multiple security measures such as encryption, authentication controls and secure data centres. Working with a trusted provider helps ensure your communications remain protected.
Posted in: Market Insight. Tagged: Unified Communications
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