Why VOIP?

The primary motives for companies to move to VoIP in the short term are often cost reductions enabled by on-net calling and consolidation of access facilities, according to IDC. Whether companies choose a managed premises-based solution or a fully hosted service, the benefits of bringing together voice and data traffic are similar. Companies can save significant money in their long-distance usage, since they can connect remote sites and headquarters to support on-net calling. They can also create on-the-fly networks with partners, customers, and suppliers to save on long-distance charges. “The elimination of PSTN [public switched telephone network] costs for interfacility calls is compelling,” says IDC. Companies connect IP telephony systems via the Ethernet network to bypass the PSTN.

VoIP also offers users and IT managers alike a host of productivity-enhancing features. Find-me, follow-me features allow users to direct calls to other phones when they are out of the office. Auto-attendant lets companies create a virtual office without the need for physical office space and a live receptionist. Web portals let users take advantage of directories, call lists, and click-to-call contact databases. Users also enjoy unified messaging (UM), which lets them intermingle voice mail, e-mail, and faxes in a single e-mailbox. They can access their e-mail and faxes via voice mail or play voice mail messages back via their e-mail applications. This is an important feature for users on the go who might not have an Internet connection, but need access to their messages.

There are also benefits gained in mobility. Road warriors can use softphones to access VoIP services. (Softphones are software-based phones installed in desktop or laptop PCs, which require a headset and microphone to operate.) This saves companies the high cost of using dial-up at hotels and airports. It also allows employees to access and use employee directories, their contact databases, and other important resources while traveling—saving them time and boosting productivity.

One of the biggest VoIP benefits for organizations is that it creates a unified presence for the outside world. With four-digit dialing, employees in headquarters and remote offices can seamlessly connect. Also, because employees are on a single network, customers can easily reach them no matter where they are located, creating a better overall customer experience.