What Role Does Your Internet Connection Play in Your VoIP Network?

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We live in a time when technology is evolving every other day. What was trending last month might become obsolete today—and that’s hardly an understatement!

Speaking of obsolete, gone are the days when desk phones were the primary means of communication for businesses. And for good reason; not only did they add to your bills, but they also caused distortion, delays, and a bevy of other issues.

Communication took a giant leap with the inception of the World Wide Web. What took days and weeks back in the day can now be executed in a single click.

Much credit has to be attributed to the Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) for these advancements. In this post, we’ll talk about the importance of a good internet connection and its role in enhancing the effectiveness of your VoIP.

How does VoIP benefit your business at large?

The right kind of communication technology can take your business to a whole other level. It helps you build contacts, improve client services, facilitate customer feedback, and reduce human effort. Businesses these days don’t necessarily operate in the same area as their clients. To maintain contact with stakeholders who are in remote areas and to keep up two-way communication, VoIP emerged as a viable solution in contrast with desk phones.

VoIP transmits audio files in packets through an IP and enables you to carry out seamless telephonic conversations over the internet. Moreover, VoIP also facilitates video conferencing.

In addition, if your business operates on the go, you can take your VoIP service along for the ride. This means you don’t have to endlessly call the phone company to get your address changed if you’re traveling. In short, there are no physical limitations when it comes to VoIP.

All of these features benefit companies in previously unimaginable ways. They can hold uninterrupted video meetings with clients and carry most of their communications out online without paying hefty phone bills.

At the same time, there is no need for companies to send out faxes and letters—a great way to save on time, effort, and paper! Since VoIP is compatible with phone systems too, you can also contact colleagues who are traveling and don’t necessarily have access to a desktop or a laptop. This way, VoIP has not just made it easy for companies to do business, but also to stay ahead of their competition.

Hardware vs. Wi-Fi based VoIP solutions

You can choose which medium you want your VoIP network to operate on. If you’ve invested in VoIP hardware, your desk phone will be connected to a special VoIP adapter. This adapter is also connected to the internet from the other end.

The specific hardware required for this to take place only needs to be installed with the sender, not the receiver. The VoIP adapter converts your voice signal into a digital signal, which is transmitted via the IP in the form of data packets and then converted back.

Wi-Fi based VoIP, on the other hand, is much more convenient and advanced. There is no need for you to bother about hardware, since the system is cloud-based. In addition, Wi-Fi based VoIP is far more versatile. It allows you to carry out video conferencing, for instance, and that too without any additional charges. All you’ll need a VoIP provider and an internet provider. Although you have to pay to avail VoIP services, you’ll still end up saving a lot more than you did with hardware based VoIP or a conventional desk phone.

Wi-Fi based VoIP also facilitates remote contact. You don’t always have to be physically present in the office to avail the benefits of the system. The good news is that all of these features will be covered by whatever fees the provider charges you.

Wi-Fi based VoIP has another benefit over the hardware system; it can be accessed through a cell phone as well. This greatly reduces the hassle of always carrying a laptop.

Does your internet connection matter?

Since VoIP data transmission is wireless, the speed of the internet determines the connectivity. There are other factors too, but the internet connection takes the lead. The monthly amount that you pay your internet service provider also indirectly affects the overall cost of the process.

Other than the cost and connectivity, even the voice quality is hugely dependent on the internet connection. The more devices that are dependent on the same connection, the less effective the network. This is why you need to carefully examine the infrastructure of your network before signing up for a VoIP service for your business. If you feel like the bandwidth won’t appropriately support the VoIP, you might have to upgrade it.

Other than that, you also need to prepare your network for deployment. For this, you’ll first have to make a note of the number of calls you’ll be making every month and the number of people you’ll be taking on board for video conferencing. You can carry out the speed and performance tests using online tools. If you’re not the sure about the bandwidth you’ll need, get in touch with your internet service provider and they’ll guide you accordingly.

Some of the most common VoIP service providers that provide unparalleled custom services are RingCentral, Vonage, DialPad, 8×8, Ooma, and Grasshopper. If you’re confused about the one which will be ideal for your business needs, you can always head to the website of Top5 Business VoIP for a quick comparison. No matter what the size of your business, we will help you choose the one which enables you to save some money and fits your needs.