| Voice over IP providers are offering services without | | | | Voicemail and faxes are accessible through any |
| which many businesses cannot function. The | | | | phone or internet connection and can all be sent to |
| introduction of telephones and later the internet had an | | | | one inbox as emails or a voicemail. Multiple calls can be |
| incredible effect on the methods used by businesses | | | | managed, as well as functions such as call forwarding, |
| to communicate and function. | | | | call barring, incoming line monitoring, online call analysis, |
| No longer a slave to postal services and long waits for | | | | and three way conferencing. |
| information, business owners have been able to | | | | Hosted VoIP Benefits |
| stretch their companies to the maximum running | | | | The benefits of using hosted VoIP in business include |
| capacity thanks to superfast internet, incredibly quick | | | | cheaper rates, better user flexibility and control, better |
| access to information and immediate communication | | | | functionality and reliability and dedicated technical |
| with clients. | | | | support. |
| Distance is no longer a problem for businesses, but | | | | Hosted VoIP offers free calls between sites plus |
| other communication challenges have arisen. These | | | | reduced line rental and calls to normal lines. This saves |
| include increasing costs, bad service providers and | | | | any business a great deal on their communication |
| unreliable, unsecure technology that have caused | | | | budget, as staff can make calls within the company |
| businesses to look for other ways of communicating | | | | for free and with cheaper line rental. Maintenance and |
| instead of utilising regular telephone lines. | | | | support is free for subscribers and if either is required, |
| Hosted VoIP (voice over internet protocol) has | | | | it does not require a call out fee or continued support |
| become a highly popular business communication | | | | charges. Detailed call reports and online billing is |
| solution. This is due to prolific high speed internet | | | | available. |
| connections and the opportunities this has created for | | | | Hosted VoIP allows businesses to have access to fully |
| improved business communication. Hosted VoIP is an | | | | integrated extension dialling, allowing employees to |
| internet based telecommunications system, mostly | | | | leave the office and still be contactable via the hosted |
| dependent on software instead of hardware and | | | | VoIP network. The phone and its features follow |
| offers features such as calling, voice mail, fax and | | | | subscribers allowing out of office communication to |
| email. | | | | function without major costs. These extensions are |
| How does it work and what are the features? | | | | adjustable and controlled over software using the |
| Hosted VoIP functions through a platform run by the | | | | internet, and adjustments can be made easily online. |
| service provider. An application server controls phone | | | | For those businesses that are hesitant to switch from |
| systems via the internet by digitizing voice signals and | | | | a traditional PBX phone to a hosted VoIP system, the |
| sending them through a high speed internet connection. | | | | fact that many hosted VoIP systems offer traditional |
| After this, the call is sent to the platform where the | | | | PBX functionality, as well as the advanced user |
| signal is switched to PSTN (public switched telephone | | | | features of VoIP should be recognised. Users can add |
| network) or to another VoIP terminal, such as another | | | | and subtract lines as needed as a hosted VoIP |
| VoIP phone. | | | | system is fully scalable. Hosted VoIP offers a fully |
| Using a hosted VoIP system comes with many | | | | resilient and secure carrier class service with |
| features which outweigh regular telephone lines. | | | | dedicated technical support and maintenance available |
| Specialised for business, VoIP is a communication tool | | | | 24 hours a day, seven days a week. |
| of the future. Using VoIP lowers costs dramatically | | | | Voice over IP has become a major benefit for |
| between sites with some providers offering free calls | | | | business communication. Owing to the incredible |
| between sites. As the systems rely heavily on | | | | features and benefits available from voice over IP |
| software, the control tools are usually online tools | | | | providers, all business enterprises, whether small or |
| which are user-friendly and do not need any training to | | | | large, are able to benefit from the increased |
| operate. These tools allow users to stipulate when, | | | | functionality, control and lowered costs of VoIP. Voice |
| where and from whom they receive calls from | | | | over IP providers are a pivotal feature in |
| phones that can be programmed to function off-site if | | | | telecommunications that can propel a business |
| necessary. | | | | enterprise into the future of communication. |