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What is Voice over IP?

Voice over Internet Protocol, or VoIP, is a term used to describe the transmission of telephone calls using a data network, rather than over traditional phone lines.  It is a simple concept, but one that is having a very significant impact on the world of business communications.

VoIP is itself enabled by a much broader technological evolution, namely the convergence of multiple forms of communication, including voice, video and data, into a single network.  This transformation is creating a revolution in the way communications works, and it has the potential to offer major benefits to your business.  It can help your company grow by broadening your communications capabilities, it can save you money on your telecommunications costs, and it can enable more productivity, mobility and flexibility in your workforce.

Many small and medium sized businesses (SMBs) around the world are already benefiting from the advantages of VoIP systems, many of which are well suited to these kinds of organizations.  Here are some examples of why VoIP is making a major impact on business communications for SMBs: 

• It provides the ability to use an integrated voice and data network at a lower cost than the separate parts.
• It offers the SMBs communications capabilities on a par with the largest of companies.
• It can open the door to new services and applications that can drive additional revenue and help cope with expansions in customer demand.
• It can lead to increased employee productivity by giving employees a more flexible means of communicating and allowing more mobility, while increasing the flow of information.

There are different ways for SMBs to take advantage of the benefits from VoIP.  An upgrade to an existing phone system, when available, can allow VoIP communications between different locations, without any major disruption to the infrastructure in each office.  Alternatively, a new VoIP system can be purchased to replace an old phone switch and open up new capabilities.  Yet another option is to pay monthly for a Service Provider to provide a hosted VoIP system, without buying any capital equipment at all.  All of these will be discussed in more detail in later sections.

However, some companies have found that there are complexities or difficulties that get in the way of them maximizing the impact of the new technology.  Lack of good advice, a misconceived plan or a deployment by inexperienced personnel can all led to problems.

So there are many potential benefits, many choices and many decisions.  This independent guide, as well as the tools available to support it, will help you understand why you should consider VoIP based systems, how best to leverage them in your company, and how to ensure that you make the right choices for a successful deployment.

The keys to a successful transition to a VoIP based network start with a clear understanding of the business case behind it and an implementation plan that best fits the company’s overall objectives.  This Guide will explain in business language what you will need to do to be ready to choose and implement a VoIP system.  It will make you aware of the potential pitfalls that can impair the success of the project and provide guidance on how to avoid them.

Using this Guide and the resources that support it, will prepare you for a successful VoIP deployment that will improve your company's communications capabilities and help the business achieve its objectives.