5 minute read |

5 Common Myths About VoIP – What’s the Reality?

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VOIP | VoIP Services

Countries around the world – and many states in the US – are setting dates for the end of the humble landline. Many people don’t even remember using a landline anymore. All the signs point to VoIP as the future of voice communication. In spite of this momentum, some businesses continue to avoid this new technology. Why this hesitation to join the rest of the world?

It may very well be due to several myths and misconceptions surrounding VoIP. It’s surprising, considering the technology has been around since the 90s. Yet VoIP remains a mystery to some. Let’s take a closer look at a few myths and dispel them, shall we?

Fallacy 1: VoIP Has Bad Audio Quality

If you are one of those who tried out VoIP in the 90s, you probably remember the whole experience. You could barely hear the other person and that was when the call actually went through. You might have heard echoes and background noises or experienced delays. If those memories are keeping you from upgrading, it’s time to take a closer look at VoIP.

The technology is no longer new and untested. Both Internet speeds and VoIP vendors have improved quite a bit, almost beyond recognition. Providers have figured out the reasons for bad audio quality and implement creative strategies to overcome them. Most reputed vendors will offer free trials or demos of their service. Test their system out for yourself to confirm that VoIP can offer crystal clear audio!

Fallacy 2: VoIP Is too Technical for me

It’s not difficult to see why this misconception continues to persist. Start a conversation about VoIP and you’ll quickly drown in a sea of acronyms. This in turn leads many people to think that you need experts or deep technical knowledge to deploy VoIP within the company. Fortunately for you, it’s not the reality at all.

If you opt for hosted VoIP services – as many businesses do – you don’t need to understand more than the basics. The first thing you need to know is that SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) is the industry standard and you need SIP compatible phones to make VoIP calls. The second thing you have to check is that your network is fast and has sufficient bandwidth for VoIP. Your vendor takes care of everything else. Seriously, it really is that simple to get started!

Fallacy 3: VoIP Does Not Have A, B, C Feature

This is another common holdover from the early days of VoIP. There was a time when VoIP systems could not support faxing, integration with other systems, emergency calling and various other legacy features. If your business relies on one of those features, then of course you would not prefer to upgrade. Those days however are long gone.

Today’s VoIP services support digital faxing which is easier and more convenient than the traditional process. The MCC also mandates that VoIP vendors should provide a form of emergency dialing called E911. If there is some feature that your company cannot operate without, rest assured that there will be a way to implement it in VoIP.

Fallacy 4: VoIP Is Insecure Because of the Internet

Quite unsurprisingly, a lot of people are wary of VoIP because it runs over the Internet. Recent news headlines have contributed to this fear as well. But if this is actually true, then sending emails online is just as bad. But businesses continue to use email and cloud services. Why?

The truth is that VoIP is like any other Internet application. It is as secure or insecure as you make it. Hosted vendors implement multiple levels of security tools to make sure your calls are secure and private. Provided you use modern security technologies like firewalls, encryption, proper authentication etc. VoIP can be even more secure than the PSTN.

Fallacy 5: VoIP Is Not for My Business Because XYZ

Many businesses continue to avoid VoIP because they think they don’t need it. Maybe you have compliance requirements from regulators. Some owners think that VoIP is not suitable for a small business. Others feel that they cannot afford an entirely new system. A few people even think that they don’t need VoIP because their existing system works.

It is true that many businesses have compliance requirements, especially if you operate in the health or education sectors. But you can find good vendors who comply with such requirements. VoIP is inexpensive to start with and will reduce your monthly bills as well. It is also suitable for companies of any size because of its flexibility.

The bottom line is that even if your current system works, there will be a future when it will stop. At that point, VoIP will be your only option as the PSTN is not going to be around for long. Isn’t it better to be proactive and switch before that happens?

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Thousands of businesses across the world trust VoIPstudio for all of their most vital business communications. Why not be the next?

Thousands of businesses across the world trust VoIPstudio for all of their most vital business communications. Why not be the next?

Start a free 30 day trial now, no credit card details are needed!