The Benefits of VoIP

The significant cost-savings associated with VoIP systems is a considerable enticement for many businesses to replace their traditional phone systems with VoIP. If your business has a high volume of international or long distance calls, you stand to potentially save hundreds or even thousands of dollars monthly by switching to a VoIP system. Despite the money saved, companies still enjoy features such as call forwarding, voicemail, and call waiting, and also enjoy internet-exclusive features such as video conferencing. These features are also usually less expensive with a VoIP system.
VoIP is a much less cost-intensive telecommunications solution mainly because monthly bills reflect calls made with no indication of the call’s origin. If the calls origin cannot be determined, the distance between caller and recipient cannot be measured, thus long-distance charges cannot be assessed.
Since calls are placed over the internet, large businesses that are spread across the country or globe often take advantage of VoIP-- both extension and call forwarding features are able to help them save money. Additionally, these large companies enjoy the ability to easily transfer calls to and from employees with the push of a few buttons, even if thousands of miles separate employees. If a caller dials a company’s main number, he/she can be transferred to any employee within the system without having to dial a separate number.
VoIP also enables employees that travel often the ability to take calls at the same phone number, no matter where they are, provided an internet connection is available. A popular feature of VoIP utilized often by businesses is called ‘follow-me’ which enables a call to be placed not only to one line, but to an office phone, and to a cell phone, and to a user’s laptop, simultaneously, to allow a user to be reached regardless of their current location.
While switching to VoIP presents the opportunity to save amply, the features provided by VoIP systems are usually more dynamic and are often provided at less cost than traditional systems. Here are some options that are often included in a VoIP plan:
  • Call Blocking - Numbers listed as ‘blocked’ will not be routed to your phone
  • Call Forwarding - Calls can be forwarded or transferred automatically to a different phone number in cases where an employee is out of the office
  • Caller ID - Caller ID on a VoIP system works the same as n a traditional phone
  • Voicemail - This feature also works the same as on traditional systems
  • Faxing - Faxes can be sent and received over a VoIP system exactly like a traditional system
  • 3-Way Calling and Conference Calling - Users can speak with multiple people at once
 Advanced features are also available. These features will usually add additional costs to the system, but can be excellent tools for a business that utilizes them to enhance their communications capabilities to reach employees and clients away from their offices.
  • Hold Music or Information - Callers can hear music or recorded messages about your business
  • Outlook Integration - Calls can be sent from your Outlook email box
  • Find Me / Follow Me - A feature allowing a user to receive a call on any of several different phones. Each different phone (desk phone, cell phone) will ring in a sequential order when a call is placed
  • Conferencing - Conferencing can be audio only or include video.
VoIP providers can assist you in determining which features are right for your business and its needs. Most of these features will cost much less when using VoIP.