Internet or VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) phones have been around for many years. However, the advent of messenger apps and voice chats might make you think they’ve gone the way of the dinosaurs. Hardly so; VoIP phones have made their mark in businesses and large corporations and are continued to be used this very day. Modern Internet phones have very distinct advantages and a few workable flaws.
The Good
1. Call Costs
International call charges are virtually non-existent with VoIP phones. Every domestic call is free, and international calls get charged at a lower rate or sometimes not at all, depending on your VoIP package. Companies that regularly communicate with foreign suppliers, clients, and partners will usually opt for a VoIP phone system. Unstable connections and poor audio quality or reception are a thing of the past as modern Internet phones perform better than their standard counterparts.
2. Equipment Costs
Standard phone lines require phones and handsets as well as copper wiring. They take up a lot of desk space and contribute to an office’s overall clutter. VoIP phones use a computer’s existing connection to the Internet instead of a physical line. A headset replaces a handset, or the call can be routed to a smartphone.
3. Conference Calls
VoIP phones can connect multiple people from several parts of the world through video calls, conference calls, or a combination of the two. Modern Internet phones have advanced software that can adapt to the needs of businesses and corporations, especially when it comes to communicating with several people at once. Conference calls can be used to contact employees telecommuting from home to give them the week’s tasks and projects or for brainstorming a new project.
4. Automated Features
VoIP phones have a multitude of computerized features like call forwarding, call transfer, group alerts, call queuing, and many others. They also feature virtual attendants that interact with the caller, redirecting calls, or answering pre-programmed questions. Virtual attendants are neutral, they never have a bad day, and they never make mistakes.
5. Flexibility
VoIP systems are incredibly mobile and expandable. Changing locations is as easy as unplugging and connecting to a different site, and expansion requires minimal resources. A company can freely move locations or hire more people without hampering the system.
The Bad
1. Connection Required
An Internet phone requires a link to the Internet. While this might have been a disadvantage decades ago, most phone lines come equipped with an integrated connection to the telco’s Internet servers. There might be problems during power outages, but these too are very rare nowadays.
2. Latency and Data Loss
Connecting to another country comes with a bit of latency. There might be pauses between responses, and a few words might be garbled in transmission. However, special routers can eliminate data loss, and the high-speed Internet has reduced latency to less than a quarter of a second.
Internet phones have outclassed their standard cousins. They are more versatile, more efficient, and more affordable, and both individuals and large corporations can get their money’s worth.
