What is IP Telephony

• VoIP refers to a way to carry phone calls over an IP data network, whether on the Internet or your own internal network. A primary attraction of VoIP is its ability to help reduce expenses because telephone calls travel over the data network rather than the phone company’s network
  
• IP telephony encompasses the full suite of VoIP enabled services, including the interconnection of phones for communications; related services such as billing and dialing plans; and basic features such as conferencing, transfer, forward, and hold. These services might previously have been provided by a PBX.
  
• IP communications includes business applications that enhance communications to enable features such as unified messaging, integrated contact centers, and rich-media conferencing with voice, data, and video.
  
• Unified communications takes IP communications to a step further by using such technologies as Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) and presence along with mobility solutions to unify and simplify all forms of communications, independent of locations, time, or device.

To ensure security and quality, many companies are switching from the traditional phone system to an IP system. By switching to this new technology, companies use their internal network to allow for more control over the quality and security of their phone lines.

What’s in it for me?

What is in it for me? How does a Voice Over IP solution help my company to be more profitable, competitive, and productive? Every business owner has to ask these questions to determine value, whether they are considering a Voice Over IP implementation or determining how much to spend on office furniture. Expenses need to be validated and they need to have benefits that outweigh the costs. Communication is one of the most important aspects of business. The days of working from a cubicle are long gone. Employees work from home, the air, the road, even the local coffee shop. As with most changes, complications tend to arise, and they need to be addressed. The most common complications include:

• Communication caused delay and disruption
• Communication complexity affects long-term productivity, business communications process reform, and financial performance.
• Decision-support outcomes suffer from inability to access and collaborate effectively with primary players
• Resources are underused or misallocated because of the complexity of communication.

By implementing a solution that addresses these pain points, you are setting yourself and your business up for great success. You are giving yourself the needed edge to stay ahead of the competition. You are allowing your employees to work in a way that is enhances their abilities to be productive and profitable. The speed with which you can complete your work will increase your company efficiency and allow for you to handle even more. Increasing your efficiency will ultimately lead to an increase in profitability, and that is why you are in business.  Take a look at the following benefits of IP Telephony and ask yourself if any of these services could help your business.

• Video conferencing
• Integrated voice and web conferencing
• Mobile IP soft phones
• Voicemail
• Database access and queries
• Customer information.

Implementing a Unified Communications solution will save you time and money, ultimiately increasing productivity and profitability.