IP telephony (VoIP) for businesses: why make the switch

If your company still pays for traditional phone lines, you are paying more to do less. IP telephony, also called VoIP, has been the standard for years, and the switch is simpler and cheaper than most people think. We explain what it is, what you gain and what it takes to make the move.

What IP telephony (VoIP) is

VoIP means voice over IP: your calls travel over the internet instead of over the phone lines of old. In practice, your company stops depending on a physical phone system and copper lines, and moves to a system that runs in software, reachable from any device with a connection.

For the caller and the person answering, the call is the same (or better, in quality). What changes is everything behind it: cost, flexibility and features.

What your company gains by making the switch

• One number, anywhere. The same extension rings in the office, on the laptop from home and on the mobile. Ideal for remote work and spread-out teams.
• A lower bill. You drop the maintenance of physical lines and calls are cheaper, especially if you call a lot or between sites.
• Enterprise-grade features. Voice menus, call queues, recording, statistics, CRM integration to see the customer record when you pick up.
• It grows with you. Adding or removing extensions takes minutes, with no technician visits.
• Simple multi-site. Several offices behave as one, with free internal calls.

What it takes to work well

The only must-have is a stable internet connection with enough bandwidth. If your connection is decent (and today almost all are), the quality is excellent. It is worth reviewing the office network to give voice priority, something a good integrator sets up as standard. You do not need to run new cables or buy expensive phones: you can use IP phones, the computer or the mobile.

3CX, the solution we deploy

At ADMNetwork we work with 3CX, one of the most widely used IP phone systems, with fifteen years of experience deploying it. We handle the porting (you keep your number), configure the system to your needs and train your team. If you want the detailed comparison, we cover it in 3CX versus the traditional phone system, and the full service is in IP telephony and 3CX.

Frequently asked questions

What is IP telephony or VoIP?

It is a form of telephony where calls travel over the internet instead of over traditional lines. The phone system runs in software and is reachable from IP phones, the computer or the mobile.

Is IP telephony cheaper than traditional?

Usually yes. You save the maintenance of physical lines, calls are more economical and internal calls between sites are often free.

Do I need a good internet connection to use VoIP?

Yes, a stable connection with enough bandwidth. With a decent connection the quality is excellent, especially if the network is set up to give voice priority.