VoIP is short for Voice over Internet Protocol. VoIP is used as a general term for methods of communicating by voice over the Internet or other computer networks.
Other terms used for VoIP:
* IP telephony
* Internet telephony
* Voice over broadband
* Broadband telephony
* Broadband phone
For VoIP over the internet you need an internet connection, a handest and/or headset and a voip service provider.
I tend to divide VoIP between two types:
1) VoIP for individuals. Individuals tend to be after very cheap or free calling. Popular services for individual VoIP users are: Skype; Google Talk; Windows Live Messenger; Vonage; Truphone; fring.
2) VoIP for business. Businesses have different needs compared to individuals:
* One contact number
* Multi-user
* Multi-site
* Scalable
* Sound quality
* Call reliability
What are the benefits of VoIP to business?
* Starts with low call costs
* Free calls between users
* Very low cost international calls
* Highly flexible system
* Location independent
* Improved company image
* Cheap to set up & low monthly cost
* No need for expensive PBX box & support contract
* No need for expensive ISDN lines from BT
Here are some examples of how my clients have used VoIP in their businesses:
1) C-Level – has a UK telephone number which is routed abroad as he out of the country a lot;
2) Upstream Connections – has many foreign telephone numbers routed to a call centre here;
3) ExElement – has an office in Brighton, and one employee in the West Country who is still part of the call centre system;
4) Kixis Design – saved money by getting rid of a BT line by Porting their number to our VoIP service.
This article is a summary of a presentation I gave at a seminar in January, the full slide show is available to view here:
