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Self-Installed VOIP for Small Business
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VOIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) is the fastest growing area of IT related business communications for both office and business mobilecalls. VOIP services are available from small applications for consumer use, to the most sophisticated systems that have replaced PBX systems and provide a huge range of extra options. VOIP communications are the ultimate solution for business. VOIP communications allow us to transfer files, make calls and more importantly, make video calls for communications. Video calls are an excellent tool for business. Having closer relationships with your clients and providers can greatly improve your business. Video calling is fast becoming the norm for business and personal communications. Many people are not even using standard mobile or phone calls because they have become accustomed to video calling. If you are in small business, you may not want to pay the higher cost of sophisticated VOIP business phone systems, but want the benefits of VOIP call savings and technologies. Here is a look at how to install and use VOIP for your business without spending much. In essence, you save money by avoiding the costs of hardware for your system.
- Application Choice. Skype is the single most popular application for VOIP communications. Skype to Skype calls are completely free. The number of Skype users has exceeded the number of Facebook users for a long time. Skype was recently sold to Microsoft for a whopping 8.9 billion dollars. The advantage of Skype is that it users peer-to-peer communication technologies. This means as the number of users has increased, the quality of calls has also greatly increased. Skype should be your base-line standard for any VOIP application. There are a number of solutions available with Skype, depending on your business size. Without trying to push Skype too much, it has to be said it is the world’s most popular application. The application is free, calling costs are incredibly cheap, and purchasing a telephone number is instantaneous. If you are looking for the most secure applications, you want to go beyond Skype and look for a provider that has dedicated servers to manage and control calls and communications. Installation is easy and per normal, and setup the features of the application you wish. Even the most simple and free applications have voice mail.
- Internet Connection. If your small business is not using an internet plan that gives you a large amount of data transfer, you will probably want to increase it. While VOIP communications do not use as much bandwidth as many other activities on the internet, such as downloading news and video, it is better to have a plan that gives you the most amount of data at the cheapest price. In my experience, VOIP always works better with land-based internet or satellite connections compared with 3G wifi, although call quality is improving. You will need your computer on, and your internet connected at all times once you are using VOIP.
- Phone Number Considerations. One of the biggest advantages of having a VOIP phone number is you can choose the location of the number. Again, Skype makes this very easy. If you have a lot of customers in HK, for example, you can purchase your number in HK while you are in Australia. This means those people calling your VOIP number will only pay a local call when calling from HK. You can have multiple numbers on the same account and application.
It is easy enough to use VOIP communications on your standard laptop with microphone, video camera and speakers. You can choose to a headset or other tools. There are even inexpensive handset devices that are very similar to a standard telephone for as little as a few dollars if you want.
Related articles
- Demo: Start a VoIP business fast & on the cheap with VoipSwitch (venturebeat.com)
- Microsoft and Skype – What is the Connection? (famousbloggers.net)
18 Responses to Self-Installed VOIP for Small Business
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VOIP will soon be as essential for business as the Internet is itself.
With Skype allowing the video calls and making face-to-face conversations possible even with people who are in the other continents, potentials for growth of the business are unmeasurable.
This is the future and it starts now.
Quote: “VOIP always works better with land-based internet or satellite connections compared 3G wifi …”
Are you sure about that? All satellite connections have a huge latency problems. I am aware that 3G has latency problems also. But even larger than satellite connections?
We set up a similar set up for a small business work at home client. Nice job with the explanation and graphic.
Another alternative (that is cloud-based) would be Google Voice. You can pick your own number, forward it to another phone, or connect it with another of VOIP programs. I’ve used it before and I think it should be considered if someone is looking for an alternative to Skype.
Thanks!
Mike
We’ve been happily using Vonage VoIP with a similar setup for small business for about 5 or 6 years now. We even have a toll free number. Being able to have phone numbers in multiple area codes is also a big plus.
Great post, highly infromative too.
As its very much that VOIP is best for small businees as we can do lotd of important work with the help of this.
Thus, thank a lot for sharing such an important post.
Great read, thanks. Came across your post whilst searching for how to set up VoIP for my business
I would always choose a physical handset/base unit which plugs into the router directly, than use software on a pc for VOIP. The strain on the CPU when using skype is awesome.
Nothing kills a pc faster than using skype.
We used this for our business, it’s a hosted PBX through 8×8, but so many people offer it. We have extensions, remote extensions on the same ring group, we can transfer calls between physical locations, and a lot more features. We pay about $240 a month for 6 extensions.
have it all in only one…multitasking!:)
I work in VoIP business development. One thing that I have noticed when it comes to business deployment of VoIP is that the quality of service is almost entirely dependent upon the internet service provider (ISP). I found out today, in fact, that Verizon has a connection reset function on their DSL accounts that actually cuts long duration connections in order to cut down on torrent downloads. As you can imagine, this can cut off long phone conversations and bring grief to a VoIP customer. Typically we are finding that if we supply a data T1 and the hosted PBX phone service we can cut out many of these types of issues. What is even more amazing is that we have 3.8 (out of 4.0) mean opinion (MOS) call quality on a hosted PBX model using a dedicated data T1 across the public internet without utilizing any sort of long-haul QoS.
All in all, it really comes down to who your internet provider is and the expectations that were given to you pre and post sale. No, VoIP, will not guarantee 100% uptime, but really, neither can POTS (Plain Old Telephone System). With a business class VoIP softswitch I can give triple 9 reliability. All rates, savings, and features aside, can your local POTS provider guarantee that?
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I am using Magic Jack because I think it’s the cheapest…not really the best quality but livable. I’ve used Skype before but the calls were to choppy.
VOIP is definitely becoming commonplace these days. So many individuals use it in their home, myself included, and any budget conscious company has already made the switch to VOIP, or will be very shortly. I used to work for a major bank, and when they switched to VOIP, they saved millions per year. It almost makes too much sense.
Great information but as of now…as a newbie..I think skype is good for me. BTW I also would love to install this SVOIP(Self installed voip) for my business and try how can I make use of this effectively.
Very helpful information. Thank you for sharing. This will be definitely be on my To Do List!
I used to work for a major bank, and when they switched to VOIP, they saved millions per year. It almost makes too much sense.
Installing a VOIP in a small business may be a viable idea that offers the much needed cost savings in communication with clients. I agree a large majority of Executives utilize skype and video calls more then the traditional expensive sources of communication.