How is Voice over Internet Protocol different from a regular phone service?

VoIP stands for Voice over Internet Protocol which is the technical term for a phone service which is provided over the internet. This has become the new standard for voice calls, so it’s important to understand exactly how it differs from a regular phone service.

 The main differences between VoIP and a regular phone service:

1. Utilises different technology

With a regular telephone service, your voice travels through copper wires and over the PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network). VoIP differs as it uses data networks like the internet or internal enterprise LANs to route voice calls. This is known as packet switching technology.

2. Makes business features more affordable

There tends to be a clear distinction between business and consumer lines, and for this reason, it is often too expensive for a small business to purchase a leased line. With a VoIP in place, business features can become more affordable to those that need it and a few companies offer packages that can be tailored to suit your business requirements.

3. Requires an external power source

One of the downfalls of VoIP is that it requires an external power source to work. This is unlike a regular phone, which would still work in the case of a power cut, proving invaluable in the event of an emergency.

4. Calls can be made and received from any device

With a landline phone, you can only make calls from one device and, more often than not, from one location. With VoIP, any phone number that you purchase can be assigned to any (compatible) device meaning that you can make calls from devices such as a laptop, tablet and mobile phone. The number is not be tied to any particular location so you can take it with you if you’re travelling, a particularly useful feature for businesses that need to stay on the move.

     5. Can be integrated with enterprise applications

With cloud technology being an integral part of an efficient workflow, many businesses require a system that can bridge the divide between phone calls and other forms of communication such as email, instant messaging and video calling. Hosted VoIP systems can be integrated with a number of enterprise applications to ensure that data transfer is easy and efficient.

However, some features stay the same

Even if you opt for a voip phone service, some of the features of making a phone call will stay the same. For example, you will still pick up the phone and dial the number of the person you wish to contact or pick up the phone to receive a call. Additionally, many of the features we’ve become accustomed to with a landline phone tend to remain the same on VoIP such as the ability to put someone on hold and to forward calls to another number. It is the way that these features are implemented and configured that has changed.