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Question to Ask Before Choosing a VoIP Provider

Shaun Tanger

VoIP, which literally stands for Voice over Internet Protocol, has become one of the most popular and affordable methods of providing your business with a high-quality telephone line. A typical PBX phone system will often include a VoIP phone as part of a bundled package, along with some other advanced call management features for your business. You can incorporate VoIP in your current PBX or purchase VoIP based upon specific needs and budget restrictions. If you’re considering a VoIP solution for your business, it’s a good idea to understand what options are available. Then, you can make an informed decision about which service best meets your requirements.

A basic question to ask before choosing which VoIP provider to go with is “What kinds of services can I get for my money?” Different providers offer different bundles and services to their customers. Some offer VoIP phone service in the form of hosted VoIP, allowing you to simply plug a phone into the network. Other providers offer both hosted and stand-alone VoIP solutions. The most costly providers often offer enhanced call management features such as SIP trunks, call forwarding, and automatic redial, among others.

SIP is a term used to describe the voice data sent and received over a broadband Internet connection. Most providers use the terms ‘SIP trunking’ or ‘direct access’ to describe voice traffic within a workplace or large company. SIP trunks serve as extensions that connect two IP phones to the same network, allowing them to dial phone numbers via Internet. These are the basis for many advanced calling features. For instance, toll free numbers and interactive voice response can be dialed over the Internet from a SIP trunk. These features are only possible when using SIP trunks, however.

If a customer doesn’t want to pay for his own IP phone service but needs access to Internet based calls, he should choose a SIP provider offering hosted VoIP rather than stand alone. Hosted calls allow a company to rent out space on their network, and then lease additional lines to house VoIP calls. This allows the organization to save money by not needing to buy and install expensive IP phones, and it also allows the company to make money on unused or underused IP phones. Because hosted calls can be used just as effectively as regular calls, hosted VoIP phone systems usually have the same features as a traditional telephone system.

SIP is not the only option for companies seeking new ways to communicate with their customers. Many businesses are opting for modern phone systems that run on web servers. Modern phone systems can incorporate VoIP, as well as carry out fax and email functions, and even offer phone numbers that can be dialed from computers. These modern phone systems can be set up on a company’s server in just minutes, and are often less expensive to set up than traditional methods of VoIP calling.

Unlike VoIP systems, a hosted PBX system provider does not need to own or lease a huge amount of office space.

The providers have equipment provided by companies such as Microsoft, Cisco, and Nortel that is based on standards similar to those found in other businesses. This equipment will allow companies using VOIP to connect to each other using an internet connection rather than using long distance or other methods of communication. When an individual uses a hosted PBX service, he doesn’t need to have a phone that is specifically designed for making and receiving phone calls – he just plug in the correct number into the appropriate port on the provider’s system and then use the appropriate voice software to make and receive the calls. Companies using voip systems can save money by avoiding buying additional phone equipment for employees, and they can also avoid having to provide their employees with the phones they already own, saving them money on phone rental fees.

SIP trunks are also available through hosted business VoIP services.

SIP trunks are sets of extensions or lines that are used to forward voice requests to specific IP addresses, allowing the user to receive his or her phone calls without having to maintain call handling records or inventory. Many providers offer unlimited calling plans, which means that a business can get unlimited calling for one monthly price.

Hosted PBX systems are a great choice for small, medium, and large business. Because they are all contained in the same network, all users can use the same line, or virtual IP address, regardless of where they are in the world. Many companies also prefer to use VOIP over traditional phone lines because it allows them to maximize bandwidth and to reduce their expenses.

  • For example, a business can eliminate the need for a landline phone, since the calls made within the network will not result in extra charges.
  • Business phone systems are a great way to stay connected with customers, increase sales, and decrease costs.
  • By choosing hosted pbx services from a leading provider in the US, you can get the services you need at a low cost and in a fast-working fashion.