Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) is revolutionising the telecommunications industry worldwide. The range of support services and features provided by VoIP-based systems are unequalled in the world of traditional telephony systems. The advances offered by VoIP are applicable in both internal and external telecommunications. How?

Internal Telephony using VoIP

VoIP-based telephony within organisations offers several advantages over traditional phone systems:
The feature-set offered by IP-based telephony is many times that of traditional telephone systems. The ability to integrate into computer (data) networks that are running the same protocol as the voice network offers endless possibilities. The level of interaction possible between your PC and your VoIP telephone handset is staggering, allowing you unprecedented flexibility and performance. For example, routing calls to a different desk is no longer a complicated procedure - many VoIP-based systems include a system manager that can be run from a PC by a non-technical person, who can simply click to change the destination of a telephone number. Also, an IP-based phone system will let you simply pick up you telephone handset and plug it in anywhere in the office into a voice port. The system will automatically recognise your phone, register it, and let you take & make calls as you would at your desk. Software loaded on your PC will load up numbers & logs based on who is logged in, and will automatically have your profile, not that of the owner of the workstation. Your computer can alert you to missed calls, or you can dial a number straight out of your address book and pick up the phone to start talking.

Naturally, VoIP-based telephone systems include all the standard features such as call-waiting, call-forwarding, voicemail etc. But the extended feature-set is what's really exciting: A soft-phone on your laptop. The ability to see at a glance which one of your colleagues is available. Call-following which allows your number to ring wherever you are in the building, city or country.

The possibilities are literally endless, and with firmware & software upgrades always available, you are never limited to the feature-set that you have today.

 The total cost of ownership (TCO) of an IP-based telephone network is significantly lower than a traditional telephone system. As technologies converge, the skill set required to maintain one system can more easily be transferred onto another. This results in a lower TCO for the end user. Using IP-based telephony allows you to consolidate your physical networks while maintaining redundancy.

External Telephony using VoIP

"Make free calls to anywhere in the world." VoIP telephony probably needs no introduction. During 2005 & 2006, VoIP services have really come of age in the UK. In years past, VoIP usually meant you were tied to using a software-based phone on your PC to make VoIP calls. Call quality was dreadful. You were also limited in your choice of destinations, at times only being able to call other users on the same network, or only a limited number of countries for PC-to-phone calls. All that has changed. VoIP is available with a staggering number of features & superb clarity even on the basic free services offered by a huge number of operators. You can now use wireless (Wi-Fi) handsets, or even your existing telephone - so you're no longer stuck at your computer. Call costs to telephones worldwide are now so cheap, that it may cost you several TIMES less than what you pay for a local call from a mobile.

With the increasing ubiquity of always-on high-speed broadband connections, VoIP has truly come of age. Talk really is cheap these days, and with all the possibilities that VoIP offers, there's sure to be something for everyone.

To find out more about how VoIP can help you do more for less, drop us a line at voip@iforge.co.uk, or, call us on 0845 200 7828.