Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) has come a long way in helping businesses use sophisticated features with significant cost savings. The challenge for small- and medium-sized businesses is knowing where to begin. Here’s a list of pros and cons to help you decide which system is right for you.

What are “proprietary” systems?

When most companies release VoIP software, such as Microsoft’s Skype, they often package it in a way that makes it almost impossible for users to view or alter the programming code. By keeping it locked down, they retain control over which hardware and software systems it is compatible with and prevent hackers from uncovering vulnerabilities.

Pros and cons

One of the biggest benefits of a proprietary VoIP system is a consistent user experience across compatible hardware devices and software integrations. Brand-name handsets and third-party software must be programmed by the VoIP system’s developer to be compatible, so you know everything will be optimized for a uniform and reliable user experience.
But keep in mind that, in the majority of cases, the added security and polished integrations of these systems cost more than open-source alternatives.

What are “open-source” systems?

The programming code that enables open-source VoIP solutions to work is free and accessible to anyone. Open-source systems are made to be more of a starting point than a finished solution, which means they’re usually pretty rough around the edges until you customize them.

Pros and cons

The two best things about an open-source system are the cost and the flexibility. The core system will be totally free, but tailoring it to your desktops, handsets, and servers will require a fair amount of time and technical expertise. This usually requires a larger upfront investment when compared to proprietary systems, but will pay off with lower operational costs as time goes on.

The tradeoffs between open-source and proprietary systems are fairly even. The former is often better for business owners who prioritize keeping costs low, while the latter is usually better for those who prefer refined solutions. Choosing between the two comes down to your customer service model, IT resources, and business priorities.

Small businesses like yours can enjoy personalized, high-end IT solutions, they just need support from experienced technicians. With years of experience in VoIP, we’re the answer to all your problems. To learn about what we think is best for your business, call today!

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Forget about the days when your company used to spend a lot of money on long-distance phone calls to clients and partners. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology allows people to place and receive free or cheap calls, and there are various options for individual users and business owners alike.

VoIP comes in a variety of forms. Do you rarely leave your house and office, or are you usually on the move? If you’re a business owner, what’s the size of your company, and what factors matter most to you? Let’s take a look at some of the VoIP services available on the market to help you make a better decision in choosing your means of telephony.

Residential VoIP services
For this type of VoIP, you use an adapter to connect your landline phone to a Wi-Fi modem to make and receive calls over the internet. Depending on the plan you choose, you’ll be billed each month for either unlimited services or for minutes you actually use.

Examples: VoIP.com, Lingo

Device-based VoIP services
This involves purchasing a VoIP device from a service provider and plugging it into your existing phone set so that you can make free calls within the US. This means not having to pay a monthly bill, and you need no other devices besides your old landline telephone.

Examples: MagicJack, Ooma

Software-based VoIP services
This is the most common type of VoIP, and many of us use it on a daily basis. You either access a web-based application online, or install it as software on your computer. Then you use your computer’s audio input and output device to talk and listen.

Examples: Skype

Mobile VoIP services
Like software-based VoIP services, mobile VoIP is also an application. However, it is installed on mobile phones instead of computers, thus enabling you to make and receive calls no matter where you are as long as you have a good internet connection.

Examples: Skype, WhatsApp, Google Hangouts

Business VoIP services
VoIP for business comes in two options: on-premises and cloud-based. Both provide much more cost-effective communication solutions than traditional landlines and have a variety of useful features for businesses. These include video and audio conferencing, screen-sharing, interactive voice response, automated attendants, call queues, and call reports, just to name a few. These features are scalable, and you’ll also get complete technical support.

For on-premise VoIP systems, businesses need to purchase all the equipment and house it in their office. This requires huge capital expenses. Businesses also have to pay a monthly fee for SIP trunking or PRI circuit, as well as dedicate IT staff to maintain, repair, and upgrade the systems on a regular basis. The upside is you’ll have total control over your hardware.

With cloud-based VoIP systems, you outsource the phone system to your VoIP provider. This means there’s no need to purchase hardware or invest in maintaining the systems since your provider will take care of everything for a fixed monthly fee. You can also add or remove users easily. The downside is that you’re not in total control of the hardware and need to rely on your provider’s expertise to ensure system reliability and security.

Want more detailed information about VoIP to help you choose the most suitable VoIP provider? Talk to our professionals today. They have extensive knowledge about this efficient, low-cost communication technology and can explain everything to you in plain English!

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Business communication is different from traditional landlines. Today’s buzzwords are internet-based phone systems or VoIP. Before upgrading your old phones, determine where you want the new system to be: in the cloud or on-premises?

Installation and maintenance
On-premises VoIP phone systems are installed in your office and typically managed and maintained by your own personnel. While you can hire a third party to do this, you can’t avoid the hardware costs of setting up your VoIP phones.

Cloud-based VoIP, on the other hand, means all the software and hardware are hosted and maintained by a VoIP provider. Other than the physical phones, everything else is provided virtually, which means you won’t be bothered with expensive hardware costs nor will you need an in-house staff to manage the system.

But since all support requests must be addressed by your VoIP provider, service responsiveness and flexibility are crucial, as they can directly impact your daily operations.

Security
You might think having on-premises VoIP is the obvious choice when it comes to security, and in one specific case, that’s true. If you have vast IT resources, deploying VoIP on premises gives you better security control since you will know your system’s capabilities.

But for small to medium-sized businesses, cloud-hosted VoIP remains a favorable option because every aspect of security is taken care of by a provider whose reputation rests on maintaining the most stringent security measures. That entity is well-versed in identifying vulnerabilities, reducing the area of attacks, and protecting all entry points.

Control
On-premises solutions give you better control of your VoIP phones since you can design systems suited to your needs without relying on a third party. This makes it a popular choice for larger enterprises with dedicated IT technicians who are needed to customize and manage the system.

With cloud-hosted VoIP, you relinquish a certain amount of control to your service provider, which is the price you pay for the convenience of professional deployment and maintenance. This, however, doesn’t give your provider the right to monitor your calls or conduct any activity that breaches your business’s confidentiality.

Scalability
With on-premises VoIP systems, you rely on your in-house personnel to add or remove features to accommodate your changing needs. There are various backend processes involved and every expansion often increases the complexity you have to manage yourself.

With a cloud-hosted solution, you’ll have an entire team of technicians at your beck and call, so features can be added or removed as needed. If you’re anticipating future changes, cloud-hosted VoIP will be more effective in the long run.

Whether you’re looking to host your VoIP phone systems on-premises or in the cloud, we can help make the process quick and painless. Give us a call today, and we’ll help you decide.

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