Businesses everywhere are embracing Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology to communicate more effectively with colleagues, clients, and suppliers. Do you have a VoIP phone system in place? When it comes to transitioning your business from traditional phone lines over to VoIP, preparation is vital to seamless and successful implementation. Here are the key components you need to examine in order to properly prepare your business for VoIP.

Network

Implementing a VoIP phone system presents challenges of its own. For one thing, VoIP service cannot tolerate any kind of network interruption. You need to ensure you have alternative physical links to carry all of your VoIP traffic in the event that you lose your primary path. An uninterrupted power supply (UPS) should also be installed. This way your Ethernet switches and VoIP devices won’t lose connection and go offline in case of power failure.

Security

As with other networks, VoIP is susceptible to cyber security threats and breaches. If you don’t have reliable and preventative security measures in place, you could fall victim to information theft and malicious attacks. Your best bet is to deploy a dedicated internal firewall to monitor the traffic flow and protect your systems from security threats.

Bandwidth

VoIP is dependent on the bandwidth of your Internet. Therefore, an accurate estimation of bandwidth consumption is crucial for proper planning in order to accommodate VoIP traffic. You need to perform tests to ensure you have enough bandwidth to handle the inbound and outbound call traffic. Relevant information includes the number of users, the number of handsets, the duration of calls, and data usage levels.

Budget

VoIP is no doubt a long-term money saver for your business, but switching over from a traditional phone system, or a fresh installation, involves a cost. You need to take into account the expenses of purchasing the equipment required for VoIP installation, such as VoIP phone cables, external power supplies, and routers. Installation costs may vary greatly, but it is worth the investment if you’re looking to take your communication systems to the next level.

Staff

Employee involvement and understanding is key to a seamless and successful VoIP integration. You can assign one, or a group, of your staff members the responsibility of learning about and managing your new VoIP systems. They can be the go-to person for any enquiries from other staff members. It is recommended that you ask a dedicated specialist to equip your staff with the information needed to utilize VoIP to its fullest potential. While most people are already familiar with video conferencing software such as Skype, it helps to create user guides and manuals to educate those that aren’t as tech-savvy.

VoIP implementation can often be a hassle if you undertake it alone. With the help of dedicated professionals, however, the whole process can become much easier, less expensive, and more rewarding.

Get in touch with us today and we’ll answer any questions you have on preparing your business to embrace this groundbreaking technology.

Voice over Internet Protocol, commonly known as VoIP, is on the rise among businesses of all sizes, owing to its numerous benefits and advantages. It allows you and your employees to make and take phone calls over the Internet using your existing broadband connection, saving substantial amounts of money while increasing workflow efficiency. If you’re considering VoIP for your business, here are some of the most important aspects you need to address before making the switch.

Network

Implementing a VoIP phone system presents challenges of its own. For one thing, VoIP service cannot tolerate any kind of network interruption. You need to ensure you have alternative physical links to carry all of your VoIP traffic in the event that you lose your primary path. An uninterrupted power supply (UPS) should also be installed. This way your Ethernet switches and VoIP devices won’t lose connection and go offline in case of power failure.

Security

As with other networks, VoIP is susceptible to cyber security threats and breaches. If you don’t have reliable and preventative security measures in place, you could fall victim to information theft and malicious attacks. Your best bet is to deploy a dedicated internal firewall to monitor the traffic flow and protect your systems from security threats.

Bandwidth

VoIP is dependent on the bandwidth of your Internet. Therefore, an accurate estimation of bandwidth consumption is crucial for proper planning in order to accommodate VoIP traffic. You need to perform tests to ensure you have enough bandwidth to handle the inbound and outbound call traffic. Relevant information includes the number of users, the number of handsets, the duration of calls, and data usage levels.

Budget

VoIP is no doubt a long-term money saver for your business, but switching over from a traditional phone system, or a fresh installation, involves a cost. You need to take into account the expenses of purchasing the equipment required for VoIP installation, such as VoIP phone cables, external power supplies, and routers. Installation costs may vary greatly, but it is worth the investment if you’re looking to take your communication systems to the next level.

Staff

Employee involvement and understanding is key to a seamless and successful VoIP integration. You can assign one, or a group, of your staff members the responsibility of learning about and managing your new VoIP systems. They can be the go-to person for any enquiries from other staff members. It is recommended that you ask a dedicated specialist to equip your staff with the information needed to utilize VoIP to its fullest potential. While most people are already familiar with video conferencing software such as Skype, it helps to create user guides and manuals to educate those that aren’t as tech-savvy.

VoIP implementation can often be a hassle if you undertake it alone. With the help of dedicated professionals, however, the whole process can become much easier, less expensive, and more rewarding.

Get in touch with us today and we’ll answer any questions you have on preparing your business to embrace this groundbreaking technology.

Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) is one of the latest innovations in the communications industry. It replaces your traditional landline phone with one that connects over the Internet, allowing you to make local and long-distance calls for a low cost. Many companies are jumping on the VoIP bandwagon, including Facebook. In an attempt to transform its mobile messaging service into a full-featured platform, Facebook has featured a VoIP video calling function in its Messenger app. Here’s a recap on the social media giant’s big step.

Facebook first introduced desktop video calling in partnership with Skype in 2011. But now, with the launch of video calling in Facebook Messenger, there’s no doubt that Facebook and Skype have parted ways.

Today, Messenger has approximately 600 million users, and the new video chat feature will likely reel in even more people. Messenger already offers people the ability to make voice calls around the world, and video calling will expand its real-time communication features. This will enable people to reach out to others whenever and wherever, making Messenger’s video calling function a powerful tool.

How it works

Video calling in Messenger will be available today for iOS and Android users in most parts of the world, with more regions to be added in the coming months. The new video chat feature is simple to use. You simply engage a conversation with a friend in Messenger, and tap the camera icon at the top of the screen to start video calling. The call uses your phone’s front camera by default, but you can also switch to the back camera when you want to show off your surroundings to your correspondent.

Connectivity

Messenger will adjust the quality of your video call according to your Internet connection. Facebook will notify you if the connection weakens to a point where video won’t work, and you can simply switch to audio VoIP. What’s more, it’s free! You will only be charged for data use by your mobile operator, which you can avoid by using a Wi-Fi connection. The one thing that sets Messenger’s video calling apart from its competitors is the way it allows you to turn off your video feed to increase the other person’s video quality. This way you can give your friends extra bandwidth if what matters is you seeing their surroundings, not them seeing yours. The Messenger team has made an enormous effort to try crunch the data needed for video calling to make it as small as possible. So despite an imperfect mobile connection, Messenger’s voice and video quality will remain strong.

What next?

The current VoIP video calling feature of Messenger is in its early stages of development. Messenger only allows one on one video calls at the moment, but Facebook may develop and add group conference calling in the near future. The tech team is also working on a bunch of secondary features to expand Messenger’s capabilities and to improve the user experience.

Overall, Messenger’s new video calling feature is a great addition from Facebook. It allows for spontaneous conversations rather than scheduled occurrences. People can text messages to each other in Messenger, then switch to video call with one tap – it’s that simple.

Effective communication is also important for businesses. If you’re looking for VoIP solutions to simplify your company’s communications, contact us today – our tech experts can help.

Technological developments have greatly changed the way we communicate with one another. The introduction of VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) has revolutionized communication all around the world, allowing us to make calls over broadband Internet with little to no expense. Recently, Facebook has introduced video calling from within its Messenger app. Here’s a quick rundown on the social media giant’s latest innovation.

Facebook first introduced desktop video calling in partnership with Skype in 2011. But now, with the launch of video calling in Facebook Messenger, there’s no doubt that Facebook and Skype have parted ways.

Today, Messenger has approximately 600 million users, and the new video chat feature will likely reel in even more people. Messenger already offers people the ability to make voice calls around the world, and video calling will expand its real-time communication features. This will enable people to reach out to others whenever and wherever, making Messenger’s video calling function a powerful tool.

How it works

Video calling in Messenger will be available today for iOS and Android users in most parts of the world, with more regions to be added in the coming months. The new video chat feature is simple to use. You simply engage a conversation with a friend in Messenger, and tap the camera icon at the top of the screen to start video calling. The call uses your phone’s front camera by default, but you can also switch to the back camera when you want to show off your surroundings to your correspondent.

Connectivity

Messenger will adjust the quality of your video call according to your Internet connection. Facebook will notify you if the connection weakens to a point where video won’t work, and you can simply switch to audio VoIP. What’s more, it’s free! You will only be charged for data use by your mobile operator, which you can avoid by using a Wi-Fi connection. The one thing that sets Messenger’s video calling apart from its competitors is the way it allows you to turn off your video feed to increase the other person’s video quality. This way you can give your friends extra bandwidth if what matters is you seeing their surroundings, not them seeing yours. The Messenger team has made an enormous effort to try crunch the data needed for video calling to make it as small as possible. So despite an imperfect mobile connection, Messenger’s voice and video quality will remain strong.

What next?

The current VoIP video calling feature of Messenger is in its early stages of development. Messenger only allows one on one video calls at the moment, but Facebook may develop and add group conference calling in the near future. The tech team is also working on a bunch of secondary features to expand Messenger’s capabilities and to improve the user experience.

Overall, Messenger’s new video calling feature is a great addition from Facebook. It allows for spontaneous conversations rather than scheduled occurrences. People can text messages to each other in Messenger, then switch to video call with one tap – it’s that simple.

Effective communication is also important for businesses. If you’re looking for VoIP solutions to simplify your company’s communications, contact us today – our tech experts can help.

Over the past few years VoIP, or Voice over Internet Protocol, has completely changed the way we communicate on a global scale. VoIP allows you to connect and talk to your friends on the other side of the world for little to no cost. In response to the growing demand for VoIP technology, Facebook has recently announced that its standalone Messenger app will now support free VoIP video calls. Here’s what you need to know about the social networking giant’s next big move.

Facebook first introduced desktop video calling in partnership with Skype in 2011. But now, with the launch of video calling in Facebook Messenger, there’s no doubt that Facebook and Skype have parted ways.

Today, Messenger has approximately 600 million users, and the new video chat feature will likely reel in even more people. Messenger already offers people the ability to make voice calls around the world, and video calling will expand its real-time communication features. This will enable people to reach out to others whenever and wherever, making Messenger’s video calling function a powerful tool.

How it works

Video calling in Messenger will be available today for iOS and Android users in most parts of the world, with more regions to be added in the coming months. The new video chat feature is simple to use. You simply engage a conversation with a friend in Messenger, and tap the camera icon at the top of the screen to start video calling. The call uses your phone’s front camera by default, but you can also switch to the back camera when you want to show off your surroundings to your correspondent.

Connectivity

Messenger will adjust the quality of your video call according to your Internet connection. Facebook will notify you if the connection weakens to a point where video won’t work, and you can simply switch to audio VoIP. What’s more, it’s free! You will only be charged for data use by your mobile operator, which you can avoid by using a Wi-Fi connection. The one thing that sets Messenger’s video calling apart from its competitors is the way it allows you to turn off your video feed to increase the other person’s video quality. This way you can give your friends extra bandwidth if what matters is you seeing their surroundings, not them seeing yours. The Messenger team has made an enormous effort to try crunch the data needed for video calling to make it as small as possible. So despite an imperfect mobile connection, Messenger’s voice and video quality will remain strong.

What next?

The current VoIP video calling feature of Messenger is in its early stages of development. Messenger only allows one on one video calls at the moment, but Facebook may develop and add group conference calling in the near future. The tech team is also working on a bunch of secondary features to expand Messenger’s capabilities and to improve the user experience.

Overall, Messenger’s new video calling feature is a great addition from Facebook. It allows for spontaneous conversations rather than scheduled occurrences. People can text messages to each other in Messenger, then switch to video call with one tap – it’s that simple.

Effective communication is also important for businesses. If you’re looking for VoIP solutions to simplify your company’s communications, contact us today – our tech experts can help.

Have you been waiting for WhatsApp to introduce voice calling? If so, the wait is over and free calls on the Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) platform are finally here – at least they are if you happen to be an Android user. The instant messaging giant has finally released an update for the Android version of its app that enables free internet-based calls between WhatsApp users. Here are the essentials on the release, how to get it and a trap to beware of.

WhatsApp’s plan for the introduction of voice calling was first announced by its CEO Jan Koum in February 2014, and was due to have been available by last October. However, technical problems delayed the release until the first quarter of this year. When the voice calling feature did arrive, it was subject to a slow and somewhat complex invite-only rollout program whereby, unless you were personally selected by WhatsApp to try it first, you could only access voice calling if you had a friend with existing access who then called you with it. After taking their call, the feature was unlocked on your app and you could use it to call others too. The latest move to make the feature available to all users means no invite is now required.

To take advantage of the voice calling option, make sure you have downloaded at least version 2.12.5 of the free app from the Google Play store. Within the app’s Calls tab, tap the phone icon in the top right-hand corner. Select from the list of available contacts – which only includes those also setup with WhatsApp voice calling, and therefore for now only those on Android – and you’re off! iOS users need to wait a little longer, though WhatsApp founder Brian Acton has promised the feature is on the way in the near future (the voice calling button has been spotted in the latest release of WhatsApp for iPhone, but has yet to be activated). Yet an unofficial Cydia tweak known as WhatsApp Call Enabler makes this possible now, if not exactly recommended, on jailbroken iPhones.

Those eagerly anticipating the arrival of WhatsApp’s voice calling feature should be on their guard against attempts to prey on that enthusiasm. A number of phony messages are currently circulating on WhatsApp, by email and on the web, inviting users to click a link to activate voice calling within the app. Since no additional download is required to access voice calling – and indeed activating the capability this way is not possible – clicking the link will not achieve the desired outcome, and will instead leave you vulnerable to unintentionally installing malicious software and spreading the malware further.

Since its launch in 2009, WhatsApp has become a hugely popular instant messaging app worldwide. The platform now boasts 700 million active monthly users, and claims to handle 30 billion messages each and every day. Prior to the introduction of voice calling, the app’s use was limited to sending and receiving text messages, images and short sound recordings – meaning that a conversation of sorts was still technically possible by sending recordings back and forth, albeit in a more long-winded manner. But the implementation of live voice calling puts it on a par with the likes of Skype, and makes it more likely that VoIP will become mobile users’ preferred means of placing a call.

That is something which other apps have arguably failed to do on a large scale – despite Skype and others having long been mobile compatible – since the majority of mobile users still opt to make regular calls unless doing so is prohibitively expensive, for example to overseas. Provided it can get the user experience right and make the process of placing a call so intuitive that it becomes as natural feeling as it currently does to phone someone the old-fashioned way, WhatsApp could be about to tip that balance and make VoIP huge.

Want to learn how to implement VoIP in your business – whether on your office or cell phones – to cut costs and increase mobility and productivity? Give us a call and see how we can help.

WhatsApp fans rejoice – the instant messaging giant has finally released a long-awaited update that enables free internet-based calls, powered by the Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) platform. At least, it does for Android users – following a slow invite-only release program, the update is now available to all WhatsApp users on Android devices. We’ve got the facts on the release, how to enable it on your phone, and a trap to keep an eye out for.

WhatsApp’s plan for the introduction of voice calling was first announced by its CEO Jan Koum in February 2014, and was due to have been available by last October. However, technical problems delayed the release until the first quarter of this year. When the voice calling feature did arrive, it was subject to a slow and somewhat complex invite-only rollout program whereby, unless you were personally selected by WhatsApp to try it first, you could only access voice calling if you had a friend with existing access who then called you with it. After taking their call, the feature was unlocked on your app and you could use it to call others too. The latest move to make the feature available to all users means no invite is now required.

To take advantage of the voice calling option, make sure you have downloaded at least version 2.12.5 of the free app from the Google Play store. Within the app’s Calls tab, tap the phone icon in the top right-hand corner. Select from the list of available contacts – which only includes those also setup with WhatsApp voice calling, and therefore for now only those on Android – and you’re off! iOS users need to wait a little longer, though WhatsApp founder Brian Acton has promised the feature is on the way in the near future (the voice calling button has been spotted in the latest release of WhatsApp for iPhone, but has yet to be activated). Yet an unofficial Cydia tweak known as WhatsApp Call Enabler makes this possible now, if not exactly recommended, on jailbroken iPhones.

Those eagerly anticipating the arrival of WhatsApp’s voice calling feature should be on their guard against attempts to prey on that enthusiasm. A number of phony messages are currently circulating on WhatsApp, by email and on the web, inviting users to click a link to activate voice calling within the app. Since no additional download is required to access voice calling – and indeed activating the capability this way is not possible – clicking the link will not achieve the desired outcome, and will instead leave you vulnerable to unintentionally installing malicious software and spreading the malware further.

Since its launch in 2009, WhatsApp has become a hugely popular instant messaging app worldwide. The platform now boasts 700 million active monthly users, and claims to handle 30 billion messages each and every day. Prior to the introduction of voice calling, the app’s use was limited to sending and receiving text messages, images and short sound recordings – meaning that a conversation of sorts was still technically possible by sending recordings back and forth, albeit in a more long-winded manner. But the implementation of live voice calling puts it on a par with the likes of Skype, and makes it more likely that VoIP will become mobile users’ preferred means of placing a call.

That is something which other apps have arguably failed to do on a large scale – despite Skype and others having long been mobile compatible – since the majority of mobile users still opt to make regular calls unless doing so is prohibitively expensive, for example to overseas. Provided it can get the user experience right and make the process of placing a call so intuitive that it becomes as natural feeling as it currently does to phone someone the old-fashioned way, WhatsApp could be about to tip that balance and make VoIP huge.

Want to learn how to implement VoIP in your business – whether on your office or cell phones – to cut costs and increase mobility and productivity? Give us a call and see how we can help.

It has been a long time coming, but WhatsApp has finally introduced free voice calling – at least for Android users. The free calls, which work between WhatsApp users and operate on the Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) platform in the same way as those on Skype, are now available to all WhatsApp users on Android, following a slow invite-only release program. Here’s what you need to know; how to enable this capability and a trap to watch out for.

WhatsApp’s plan for the introduction of voice calling was first announced by its CEO Jan Koum in February 2014, and was due to have been available by last October. However, technical problems delayed the release until the first quarter of this year. When the voice calling feature did arrive, it was subject to a slow and somewhat complex invite-only rollout program whereby, unless you were personally selected by WhatsApp to try it first, you could only access voice calling if you had a friend with existing access who then called you with it. After taking their call, the feature was unlocked on your app and you could use it to call others too. The latest move to make the feature available to all users means no invite is now required.

To take advantage of the voice calling option, make sure you have downloaded at least version 2.12.5 of the free app from the Google Play store. Within the app’s Calls tab, tap the phone icon in the top right-hand corner. Select from the list of available contacts – which only includes those also setup with WhatsApp voice calling, and therefore for now only those on Android – and you’re off! iOS users need to wait a little longer, though WhatsApp founder Brian Acton has promised the feature is on the way in the near future (the voice calling button has been spotted in the latest release of WhatsApp for iPhone, but has yet to be activated). Yet an unofficial Cydia tweak known as WhatsApp Call Enabler makes this possible now, if not exactly recommended, on jailbroken iPhones.

Those eagerly anticipating the arrival of WhatsApp’s voice calling feature should be on their guard against attempts to prey on that enthusiasm. A number of phony messages are currently circulating on WhatsApp, by email and on the web, inviting users to click a link to activate voice calling within the app. Since no additional download is required to access voice calling – and indeed activating the capability this way is not possible – clicking the link will not achieve the desired outcome, and will instead leave you vulnerable to unintentionally installing malicious software and spreading the malware further.

Since its launch in 2009, WhatsApp has become a hugely popular instant messaging app worldwide. The platform now boasts 700 million active monthly users, and claims to handle 30 billion messages each and every day. Prior to the introduction of voice calling, the app’s use was limited to sending and receiving text messages, images and short sound recordings – meaning that a conversation of sorts was still technically possible by sending recordings back and forth, albeit in a more long-winded manner. But the implementation of live voice calling puts it on a par with the likes of Skype, and makes it more likely that VoIP will become mobile users’ preferred means of placing a call.

That is something which other apps have arguably failed to do on a large scale – despite Skype and others having long been mobile compatible – since the majority of mobile users still opt to make regular calls unless doing so is prohibitively expensive, for example to overseas. Provided it can get the user experience right and make the process of placing a call so intuitive that it becomes as natural feeling as it currently does to phone someone the old-fashioned way, WhatsApp could be about to tip that balance and make VoIP huge.

Want to learn how to implement VoIP in your business – whether on your office or cell phones – to cut costs and increase mobility and productivity? Give us a call and see how we can help.

The telephone is an essential part of the communications toolkit in any business; it’s been used for over a century for good reason. But in today’s business world, the costs of traditional phone systems can drag down your company. Wouldn’t it be nice if there was an alternative? Well, there is. If you haven’t heard of VoIP, it’s time to learn about the next step in the evolution of the phone. And there are a number of advantages that make it essential for many businesses in today’s modern world. Here’s how VoIP can help your business.

What is VoIP?

To truly understand how VoIP can help your business, you must first know what it is. VoIP stands for Voice over Internet Protocol. All that means is that you’re essentially able to talk with others over an Internet connection instead of a traditional phone line. Yes, you can still use your actual phone handset, as well as your tablet or computer. The major difference is in the way the call is transmitted.

VoIP lowers costs

The biggest advantage of VoIP is that your business will save a bundle on costs. VoIP takes efficiency to a whole new level. Since you’ll be receiving phone calls over the Internet, you’ll cut out the expense of a phone line altogether and instead consolidate both your Internet and voice communication costs. To do this, however, you’ll need to upgrade to a high-speed Internet connection (if you don’t have one already), which will of course cost extra money. But knocking out the expense of your phone line will likely be much more cost-effective for your business overall.

If your business makes international calls regularly, VoIP is even more of a no brainer. With VoIP, international calling costs are significantly reduced and in some cases even free. Skype, which is similar to VoIP, is a perfect example of the latter.

Statistically speaking, VoIP services have helped many businesses lower costs dramatically. For some, local call expenses have been reduced by up to 40% and for international calls by a whopping 90%. How’s that for savings?

Many, better features than traditional phones

In addition to reduced costs, VoIP also offers a wide array of innovative features that surpass those of a traditional phone line. While listing them all would take several pages, three notable ones are virtual numbers, call routing and improved conference calls.

• Virtual numbers – A virtual number allows you to easily have a local number anywhere in the world. That means if you have a large market of clients in London, you can actually get a local London number with the area code of your choice. When someone in the UK dials this number, it will transfer to your phone – whether your business is actually in Seattle or Toronto. This makes it easy for your customers to contact you and will likely garner more business, since we all know customers like things to made as easy as possible for them.
• Call routing – If you’ve ever worried about missing an important phone call, call routing will have you breathing a long sigh of relief. With this feature, an incoming call will be transferred to multiple devices of your choice. So if your office desk phone rings when you’re not there, that same call will then ring on your mobile, home phone, iPad and other devices before going to voicemail.
• Better conference calls – With VoIP and a high speed Internet connection, you can include an unlimited number of people on conference calls. And even better, you can also use video conferencing so you can see your colleagues or clients in person.

Interested in learning more about how VoIP can work for your business? Call us today.

Traditional phone lines are still the preferred choice of many businesses. However, the times they are a-changin’. And there are some good reasons to consider other options. No, that doesn’t mean getting rid of your phone altogether, but considering an alternative method that turns the whole idea of traditional phone use on its head. We’re talking VoIP, the telephony solution for the future. And it may be time your business took notice. Here are some of the unique advantages of VoIP.

What is VoIP?

To truly understand how VoIP can help your business, you must first know what it is. VoIP stands for Voice over Internet Protocol. All that means is that you’re essentially able to talk with others over an Internet connection instead of a traditional phone line. Yes, you can still use your actual phone handset, as well as your tablet or computer. The major difference is in the way the call is transmitted.

VoIP lowers costs

The biggest advantage of VoIP is that your business will save a bundle on costs. VoIP takes efficiency to a whole new level. Since you’ll be receiving phone calls over the Internet, you’ll cut out the expense of a phone line altogether and instead consolidate both your Internet and voice communication costs. To do this, however, you’ll need to upgrade to a high-speed Internet connection (if you don’t have one already), which will of course cost extra money. But knocking out the expense of your phone line will likely be much more cost-effective for your business overall.

If your business makes international calls regularly, VoIP is even more of a no brainer. With VoIP, international calling costs are significantly reduced and in some cases even free. Skype, which is similar to VoIP, is a perfect example of the latter.

Statistically speaking, VoIP services have helped many businesses lower costs dramatically. For some, local call expenses have been reduced by up to 40% and for international calls by a whopping 90%. How’s that for savings?

Many, better features than traditional phones

In addition to reduced costs, VoIP also offers a wide array of innovative features that surpass those of a traditional phone line. While listing them all would take several pages, three notable ones are virtual numbers, call routing and improved conference calls.

• Virtual numbers – A virtual number allows you to easily have a local number anywhere in the world. That means if you have a large market of clients in London, you can actually get a local London number with the area code of your choice. When someone in the UK dials this number, it will transfer to your phone – whether your business is actually in Seattle or Toronto. This makes it easy for your customers to contact you and will likely garner more business, since we all know customers like things to made as easy as possible for them.
• Call routing – If you’ve ever worried about missing an important phone call, call routing will have you breathing a long sigh of relief. With this feature, an incoming call will be transferred to multiple devices of your choice. So if your office desk phone rings when you’re not there, that same call will then ring on your mobile, home phone, iPad and other devices before going to voicemail.
• Better conference calls – With VoIP and a high speed Internet connection, you can include an unlimited number of people on conference calls. And even better, you can also use video conferencing so you can see your colleagues or clients in person.

Interested in learning more about how VoIP can work for your business? Call us today.

As a small or medium business, you know that costs and overheads need to be kept to a minimum if you’re going to keep the lights on. And let’s face it, if you had the opportunity to knock out some routine business expenses, you would likely do it. VoIP gives you the chance to do just that. If traditional phone line costs are adding up, why not get rid of your system altogether and make your business more efficient by using VoIP for all your telephony needs? Here is how and why this may be a better option.

What is VoIP?

To truly understand how VoIP can help your business, you must first know what it is. VoIP stands for Voice over Internet Protocol. All that means is that you’re essentially able to talk with others over an Internet connection instead of a traditional phone line. Yes, you can still use your actual phone handset, as well as your tablet or computer. The major difference is in the way the call is transmitted.

VoIP lowers costs

The biggest advantage of VoIP is that your business will save a bundle on costs. VoIP takes efficiency to a whole new level. Since you’ll be receiving phone calls over the Internet, you’ll cut out the expense of a phone line altogether and instead consolidate both your Internet and voice communication costs. To do this, however, you’ll need to upgrade to a high-speed Internet connection (if you don’t have one already), which will of course cost extra money. But knocking out the expense of your phone line will likely be much more cost-effective for your business overall.

If your business makes international calls regularly, VoIP is even more of a no brainer. With VoIP, international calling costs are significantly reduced and in some cases even free. Skype, which is similar to VoIP, is a perfect example of the latter.

Statistically speaking, VoIP services have helped many businesses lower costs dramatically. For some, local call expenses have been reduced by up to 40% and for international calls by a whopping 90%. How’s that for savings?

Many, better features than traditional phones

In addition to reduced costs, VoIP also offers a wide array of innovative features that surpass those of a traditional phone line. While listing them all would take several pages, three notable ones are virtual numbers, call routing and improved conference calls.

• Virtual numbers – A virtual number allows you to easily have a local number anywhere in the world. That means if you have a large market of clients in London, you can actually get a local London number with the area code of your choice. When someone in the UK dials this number, it will transfer to your phone – whether your business is actually in Seattle or Toronto. This makes it easy for your customers to contact you and will likely garner more business, since we all know customers like things to made as easy as possible for them.
• Call routing – If you’ve ever worried about missing an important phone call, call routing will have you breathing a long sigh of relief. With this feature, an incoming call will be transferred to multiple devices of your choice. So if your office desk phone rings when you’re not there, that same call will then ring on your mobile, home phone, iPad and other devices before going to voicemail.
• Better conference calls – With VoIP and a high speed Internet connection, you can include an unlimited number of people on conference calls. And even better, you can also use video conferencing so you can see your colleagues or clients in person.

Interested in learning more about how VoIP can work for your business? Call us today.

Over the past few years VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) has become a growing trend for most businesses due to its advantages regarding costs, speed, and flexibility. Companies have adopted VoIP when conducting interviews or holding online conferences. Regardless of its efficiency, however, VoIP is still susceptible to security breaches and data theft. An attacker can record business conversations and have them decrypted to obtain crucial business or personal information. Read on to find out more about precautions you can take to protect your VoIP system from unwanted audiences.

Encryptions and Passwords

In most cases your VoIP system might not be using any encryption to protect the conversation from prying eyes and ears. It is prudent to set up encryption that will ensure privacy and repel third parties from eavesdropping on your calls. An attacker would have to break encryptions in order to listen in.

Keep in mind that strong passwords will decrease the risk of the call being intercepted. Once you start using VoIP, immediately change the default password to a strong one. For security purposes, if you’re an administrator you should never use default passwords.

Review your Hosted Services

Many VoIP service applications run on commercial server operating systems from an external party. Ask the host provider about which services are enabled and which are disabled. You should only enable the ones you need. Treat this with the same care as you would normally devote to encryptions and password security.

VoIP Firewalls and Security Layers

Deploying a firewall specially designed for VoIP traffic can help protect your system. The firewall limits types of traffic and closes the session once the call disconnects, therefore shutting down the gates to possible abuses. It also identifies unusual calling patterns and watches out for signs of attack.

But using a firewall alone is not enough. Applying security layers around the server is a way to improve authentication and add protection when users exchange messages. Consider adding endpoint security as an additional layer for authorization by blocking devices until they pass security checks.

Implement Strict Security with Users

Security matters in the workplace, and employees shouldn’t take it lightly. Establish ground rules when using VoIP. Assign each user with appropriate access in a restrictive manner, depending on their needs. Ask users to report any abnormal signs of threats. Also, be on the lookout for strange activities within your VoIP system and try to familiarize users with the techniques data thieves use to attack VoIP connections.

Concerned about your VoIP security status? Get in touch with us and see how we can help.