With the introduction of Voice over IP (VoIP) technology, a new world of communication was established for the virtual community. Tech-savvy Internet users immediately hailed VoIP as an ideal alternative to costly long-distance charges on traditional phone lines. Casual Internet users were cautious and waited to see how this new method would fare before testing the waters themselves. Competition in this market has pushed many VoIP providers to expand their offerings to include more than just digital phone service. The result? Business owners can now choose the VoIP provider, plan and pricing that best suits their needs and their budget.
Inexpensive alternative to traditional long distance
Countless small business owners are finding it easier to manage their budget when it comes to phone service. The majority of small businesses are now using broadband rather than dialup, allowing them to take advantage of services previously unavailable on the slower connections. Of the many reasons business owners opt to switch to digital phone service, cost is typically the biggest factor in making the change. Anna Baron, owner of The Virtual Link, says, “I was previously paying hundreds of dollars per month on long-distance”. She goes on to say, “I have a fax number, toll free number and phone number with all features (voicemail, call-forwarding, 3-way, free long distance, etc.) for about $55 per month… about what I paid previously for just basic phone service with voicemail/call waiting.”
When compared with long distance plans offered by traditional providers, many businesses can save significantly on long distance calls each month. Outbound calls through a digital service average just $0.02 per minute.
Your choice of software or hardware
Several VoIP providers now support the use of a softphone. Wikipedia defines a softphone as “software that simulates a real phone and runs on a general purpose computer, rather than a dedicated device.” Use of a softphone eliminates the need for a user to have a physical telephone to make and receive calls. Utilizing a microphone and speakers or headset, users can communicate directly through their computer.
For users preferring to use a telephone, an adapter is normally required. The adapter connects to a broadband modem (or network router), converting the Internet connection into a telephone-ready signal. After connecting a regular telephone to the adapter, a user can make and receive calls just like a landline.
Conducting business without boundaries
Implementing a VoIP service also has many advantages for businesses utilizing offsite contractors or working from multiple locations. Having several support staff located across the U.S., Susan Britton Whitcomb, President of CareerCoachAcademy.com, utilizes digital phone service to manage calls for both organizations. Using phone service over the Internet allows groups like Whitcomb’s to give the appearance of a full office staff while minimizing the personnel required for managing calls. Many VoIP providers also offer web-based account management and virtual voicemail. These features give business owners the ability to stay abreast of all call activity as well as monitor voice mail messages. Whitcomb explains, “When calls go to voice mail at my associate’s office in Michigan, I can access them in California via a .wav file that gets sent to my email.”
Raquel Nilson, owner of Executive Assistance International, provides Virtual Assistant services from multiple locations across the globe. Spending over 30 hours on the phone each month, Nilson appreciates the portability of her digital phone. Using Vonage, Skype and IConnectHere for her needs, she says, “I can take a laptop and headset with microphone and I can run my business seamlessly.”
Not everyone is going digital
Although many remote professionals are using Voice over IP, not all have made the jump to digital phone service. Of those interviewed, many indicated they were concerned about the reliability of a Voice over IP network. In response to these concerns, most providers have a “network availability” feature; allowing users to set a forwarding number or send the calls to voicemail should the network be unavailable for any reason.
Another common reason cited for not making the switch was the small amount of time spent on the phone. Several interviewees noted they do not receive or place enough calls to justify changing their current service.
Anyone considering the change to digital phone service should be aware of how emergency calls are handled. In the U.S., the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), has issued a consumer advisory regarding 911 service. They have also established a website detailing efforts by Voice over IP providers to improve emergency response through enhanced 911 services. This VoIP/911 site includes a list of all Voice over IP providers servicing the U.S. that have provided information about their VoIP service’s 911 capabilities to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).