What to expect: Is VoIP still important in 2022?

There are rumors about the future of the VoIP industry saying that its end is very close, but experts believe the opposite. Exponential growth is expected in the VoIP market between 2020 and 2025. Advanced technology and high-speed internet are reducing the significant equipment investments in the telecom sector.

What is a VoIP Number?

A VoIP number is also known as Voice over IP number. It is an actual telephone number that is assigned to a user but not to a particular phone line. A virtual number is denoted as an extension, and it may have a Direct Inward Dial (DID) phone number accessible to the public.

A VoIP telephone number looks exactly the same as an ordinary PSTN number and costs the same to call but offers advanced call management features. The United Kingdom VoIP phone number is a business phone number that forwards calls from the UK to physical phone lines via VoIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol). The user can forward calls to any location worldwide, not just within the UK. The three common types of virtual numbers in the UK are:

• Toll-Free Numbers (0800 and 0808)

Toll-free numbers are usually referred to as ‘free call numbers’ in the UK. These numbers have no geographic limitations, and users can use these numbers to call your business with zero cost on their end.

• UK National Numbers

National numbers allow callers in the UK to reach the business while being charged the same rate they would pay for a local landline call. Common national number dial-codes include: 030, 033, 034, 05,0843, and 0845.

• Geographic Numbers (Local 01 and 02 Numbers)

Geographic and non-geographic numbers work the same way, but they have a dial-code associated with a local neighborhood. Local numbers always begin with a -01 or -02 dial code in the UK.

How Does a VoIP Number Work?

VoIP works by placing a call over the internet using a broadband connection, unlike traditional phone services where calls are routed through the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN). Using this method, VoIP routes a call through the most efficient path. VoIP is not limited to phone calls but also extends to other forms of communication such as text messaging and chat. A business can choose VoIP numbers for its staff member, even if they operate remotely.

VoIP doesn’t use a conventional phone network; instead, telephones connect directly to broadband via a DSL router or VoIP-enabled cable modem. The process that takes place in the background can be divided into these steps:

1. Voice is converted

Your VoIP application digitalizes the audio signal.

2. Data is transmitted

The various data packets that comprise a phone call are transmitted through the Internet.

3. Data is decrypted

Once the data reaches the target destination, it is converted back into voice.

A VoIP connection is easy to set- all the user needs are the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP). It acts as a medium for managing the communication connections between participants. Every VoIP user has a unique SIP address which is structured similarly to an email address. A SIP trunk is like the virtual version of a phone line. SIP trunking is a technique of sending voice and other unified communications services over the internet.

A VoIP softphone is a program that can be installed on your computer. It enables you to make calls with your computer using a VoIP service. Some of the more popular services include Skype, iChat, and Google Talk.

VoIP: What to Expect in 2022

Growth among the leading VoIP providers has continued through 2021, and it is expected that the year 2022 will definitely be a good year for business phone system providers. By the following year, all VoIP providers will have 5G technology which is creating waves due to its faster connectivity, high quality, low latency, and the ability to connect with a large spectrum of devices. With the ever-increasing capacity of this new technology, it promises to boost the overall productivity of a business, making it an invaluable asset.

As we progress into mobile computing in almost every aspect of our professional and personal lives, there will be increased pressure on networks and their providers to prepare for an exponential increase in VoIP mobility. Most companies are gravitating towards partnering with single-service providers to upgrade their IT infrastructure, including hosting via VoIP.

When you consider what the technology of the Internet of Things (IoT) is capable of, the possibilities and applications for VoIP are endless. The connectivity power of VoIP cannot be ignored with millions of things connected with the internet. As the IoT continues to expand in drastic proportions, VoIP phones will make up for crucial automation components.

Customer service interactions include many moving parts such as call centers, agents, and receiving calls and call recording. It is estimated that 95% of customer service interactions will be Artificial Intelligence, AI-driven, by 2025. This statistic demonstrates the staggering totality of AI’s impact on customer-company interactions. For VoIP, this will transform the industry. The main reason why most businesses purchase a VoIP solution is to use auto attendants to handle incoming calls or set advanced call routing. These services help speed up long-distance communication and optimize the process of call handling. AI has the potential to enhance these functions.

With time, cloud computing will become a necessary and valuable asset in the IT industry. While some companies have adopted this new technology, the real value will be explored when all VoIP providers start to use cloud computing as a means for data centers and information storage. It is predicted that a majority of businesses will transition from on-premise PBX systems to the cloud in the coming years.

VoIP systems help unify communication channels, bring together emails, messages, calls, and other tools that enable communication all within a single medium. This allows the business to create a more effective workflow and facilitate better collaboration. VoIP providers are becoming more integrated where systems offer various interactive options to boost the efficiency of business operations.

In today’s digital world, cybersecurity is a primary concern of both companies and providers alike. With proper system monitoring tools and security measures in place, cybersecurity can potentially become less a daunting part of the business.

VoIP for Businesses

The VoIP market facilitates seamless communication and collaboration, which is critical for any business. With VoIP, you can have access to the latest technology and benefit from constantly additional features. This means that businesses can save money and respond proactively to developments in day-to-day work at any time. The key benefits of using VoIP include:

• It is possible to make external phone calls cost-effective (landline and mobile).
• Internet connection freephone: Internet calls from VoIP to VoIP are free of cost-even international calls.
• It is possible to integrate other functions, such as video telephony, at an affordable rate.
• There is no space restriction. You can make your office mobile and use your mobile phone to make office phone calls while you are unavailable and away from your desk phone.

The fact that we live in a highly competitive marketplace means that businesses must stay on trend and make full use of value-adding tools, or else they might lose their competitive edge. VoIP is one of those tools that will enable companies to evolve and grow with advanced technology.