Myth Busters – VoIP edition

In the ever changing world of technology, people are always going to critique innovation, try to figure out the problems with it. Because of this, and the Internet’s – let’s just say – slower past, VoIP has gotten a bit of a bad reputation. So today I’d like to go over some common myths and misconceptions that need clearing up for anyone wanting to make the switch to VoIP.

1. The technology is too young

Yes, VoIP is a relatively new technology compared to analog’s 150+ year history, I have not been shy in saying that before. But let’s compare it to something everyone can relate to. Think about when the Internet started growing like crazy in the 90’s. At first people didn’t know what to think and there were so many uncertainties. But then everyone quickly realized how beneficial the Internet could be and now people can’t imagine life without it. What on earth would we do without having the ability to Google “how can airplanes fly when they are so big”? The more people educate themselves about VoIP and it’s advantages, the more they realize that it’s the obvious phone system solution for today’s times.

2. No one uses VoIP

Over the past 10 years, VoIP has remained the fastest-growing industry, even surpassing search engines. In 2008 (so five years ago), 80% of all new PBX lines installed internationally were VoIP. According to Infonetics, the number of seats for hosted business VoIP is on track to more than double between 2012 and 2016. What does all of this mean? Well, it means that pretty soon VoIP will be the common solution for companies’ phone system needs. My best advice? Ask around, talk to friends and family and see what their company uses, you will be surprised how many use VoIP, then ask their opinion.

3. The voice quality is bad

Voice quality is affected by the quality of your internet connection. So, the first step is to find out if you have the adequate amount of bandwidth to carry out your phones call. We actually have a nifty tool that serves that very purpose called the Internet Speed Test. If you have a good internet connection, the voice quality will actually end up being much better than a traditional land line. At Telonium, we don’t believe in recommending VoIP for you unless we know for sure that you will have the best quality possible.

4. The system is unreliable

What made VoIP appear unreliable at first was larger companies pushing the technology out before it was ready. The technology has improved greatly over the years. There are also so many features available to make sure you are in constant contact. Features like call fowarding, follow me/find me, and voicemail to email. You could actually make the argument that VoIP is more reliable than analog, because in times when analog will be down (like a bad thunderstorm), you can still use VoIP. Also, do some research before you decide on the best VoIP provider for you. While some larger companies dip their hands into the VoIP market, since VoIP is not their primary service, it tends to be less reliable than companies whose main focus is on VoIP.

5. Switching to VoIP costs too much and the setup is complicated

Making the move to VoIP is less than you might think and once you do have it you will realize how invaluable it is, especially if you are a small to medium sized business. Yes, you may have to purchase some new equipment (phones, headsets, etc.) but the actual cost of installing the phone system amounts to almost nothing. Not to mention the installation is shockingly easy. I’m talking, you just plug your phone in and it starts working – that easy. With the savings your business will be getting from the monthly service costs, the new system quickly (I’m talking in just a couple months) pays off any of the starting up costs.

6. All VoIP is the exact same

When a lot of people think of VoIP they think of services like Skype or Google Voice. Don’t get me wrong these can be great options, but are usually best served for a one man company working out of a home. Also, large telephone companies who now have VoIP as an option are often less reliable (see number 4). If you are a business with multiple people and want to have a larger presence, hosted VoIP is probably your best bet. With hosted VoIP (which is what Telonium provides) another company takes care of the technology for you and you still get the advantages of a fully-featured phone system.

As you can see, VoIP has grown in leaps and bounds over the years. With its reliability, scalability, and maybe most importantly – affordability, what are you waiting for? It’s time to make the switch!

Keep checking back in with us, and as always, if you ever have any questions or comments for me, I’m always here to chat. You can contact me at <my first name>@telonium.com. Until next time.