A Quick Guide on How to Choose the Best VoIP Service Provider

Business phones are transforming and advancing every single day. The latest technology used in business phone solutions is VoIP or voice-over-Internet protocol, and businesses are swiftly shifting from traditional phone systems to advanced VoIP phone solutions. The problem that most businesses face is related to choosing the right service provider. This blog post discusses the concept of VoIP and its benefits, and lastly, we will also go through some essential tips on selecting the best service provider.

Concept of VoIP and its benefits

What Is Voip?

VoIP or Voice over Internet Protocol is a term that describes Internet phone services. This is an advanced version and completely different from the traditional phones and landline phones that we have been using till now. VoIP-based office phone systems use high-speed Internet connections or Wi-Fi to take and make calls. This concept comes with a massive list of benefits, and some are listed below.

• Lower Costs
• Increased Accessibility
• Complete Portability
• Higher Scalability
• Advanced Features For Small And Large Teams
• Clearer Voice Quality
• Supports Multitasking
• More Flexibility With Softphones 

VoIP-based office phone systems use high-speed Internet – Ariatech

Businesses can enjoy a lot of flexibility and freedom by opting for VoIP-based telephone systems. It has made it easy for every business of any size to save money from business phone solutions. Perhaps the most impressive feature of VoIP-based telephone systems is that it is ideal for small companies as well and scaled as per the company’s growth. Amidst this, it is essential to choose the right service provider because not doing this can become a severe challenge for any company. This service provider is responsible for providing the much-needed Internet connection or bandwidth to power all VoIP-based office phone systems. Any power outage or Internet disconnection will influence the telephone systems, and this is another essential factor to determine while choosing the VoIP service provider.

How To Choose The Best Service Provider For Voip Telephone Systems?

A huge list of service providers is available to select the best VoIP service provider. This makes selection more complicated and complex as every company claims to be the best. It is recommended not to rely upon the least expensive service provider as there will surely be compromise on the quality. A quick checklist is presented here to help you choose the best service provider.

Select the best VoIP service provider – Ariatech

Cost Of Local And International Calls

Experts recommend considering the cost of local and international calls while shortlisting service providers for VoIP telephone systems. You must understand that service providers have different plans for outward international calls, and while selecting, you must consider the geographic location of your customers and choose a service provider based on this.

Features Offered In Voip Plans

It is equally important to consider the features of the VoIP plan while selecting a service provider. Ideally, you should focus only on service providers offering features that your business needs the most. But at the same time, there is nothing bad in choosing a service provider that provides the most features at the lowest prices.

What Benefits Do I Receive By Switching To VoIP Technology

Business communication was revolutionised with the advent of VoIP technology and DECT handsets. They both combine to let businesses realise that business communication can be more efficient, better and more cost-effective.

What Is The Definition Of Voip Technology?

VoIP is the short form of the term ‘Voice Over Internet Protocol’, and it is also known as ‘voice over IP’ or ‘IP telephony’ technology. This technology delivers voice and media such as text, SMSs, voice and video calls with the help of the Internet.

Technology delivers voice and media

How Does Voip Work?

When you use VoIP on your digital and VoIP phone handsets, they run through the Internet, and the voice is encoded into digital data. This digital data is transferred to the other end of the call and then, again, recoded into voice signals. This process of encoding and decoding is done with the help of codecs. Codecs can encode voice data into digital signals and transfer them through the Internet, and when these signals reach the destination, the codec again transfers those signals into analogue voice data.

How Are Voip Calls Made?

To make calls using VoIP technology, you will require dect handsets at least or digital handsets or VoIP phone handsets. With the help of analogue telephone devices, these calls can be made very easily using VoIP technology services.

Require Dect handsets at least – Ariatech

Digital Ip Phones

To use VoIP technology to its best, you can bring Internet Protocol phones into use that resemble regular phones that we use at our offices and homes. The only difference is that they are made for VoIP-based communication. Hence, they will not connect to your wall socket using a phone cable.

What Are Softphones?

Softphone is a name given to software that loads on your device to allow it to use VoIP services. This device could be your computer, your laptop, your tablet or even your smartphone. The benefit is that since they use the Internet to make phone calls, the expenditure related to this is surprisingly low. You will need VOIP software and some features in your phone like a microphone, speaker, sound card, camera and a good Internet connection.

Use the Internet to make phone calls – Ariatech

What Are The Advantages Of Voip Technology?

Australian business owners can get several advantages by replacing their old business communication solutions with VoIP services and debt handsets.

•          VoIP technology is loaded with features offered for free and some at cost as well.

•          VoIP technology can be used with your existing phone systems as well.

•          This will help you save money on your phone bills.

•          VoIP technology is more flexible than traditional PSTN phone systems.

•          It is the best NBN-friendly option available in the market.

Different Business Phone Systems and Their Unique Features

If you own a business, it would be mandatory for you to invest in reasonable quality business phone solutions. These phones are more than just a necessity to allow you to communicate internally and with clients and other people from any part of the globe. Several factors are there to consider when choosing the right phone system for your business. The most important of them all is the types available in the markets. There are several of them, and they have unique prepositions, characteristics and features. Before you decide on the correct type of phone, let us quickly review the most popular styles that people consider for their businesses.

Virtual phone system

This office phone system is ideal for small businesses where staff is mostly off-site. It allows companies to stay connected with remote workers via mobiles or home phones. It has an extensive call-forwarding feature where all incoming calls can be transferred to the employee’s cell phone or home phone. The biggest pro of this phone system is that it allows remote workers access to telephone system features regardless of where they are.

Traditional Landline System

This version of business phone solutions is ideal for bigger corporations that have adequate budgets to invest in these systems. Apart from the fund, an entire IT team is also needed to maintain these landline systems. They are supported by local or regional phone companies. It runs on traditional copper wiring, and private branch exchange is used to create multiple extensions and provide some essential features like call forwarding and call directories.

It has been a time-tested and highly reliable solution that businesses have been using for decades.

Voip Phone System

VoIP or voice-over-Internet protocol telephone systems are practical for smaller companies that need highly advanced business phone solutions at very affordable rates. This technology has evolved enormously, and currently, it is also ideal for business, where remote employees have to be contacted every now and then. They run on Internet connections, and there are no copper wires involved. It has some advanced features like automated attendance and secure cloud computer integration, and most importantly, it is significantly cheaper as compared to other telephone systems discussed here.

On-Premise Voip System

This system is highly functional, and you can control your business communication system completely. It is better suited for businesses with regulatory requirements. The IT staff at your office would be responsible for its maintenance, repairs, updates and efficient operations.

The Most Common Types of Cyber Threats for Small Business Owners

Compared to a decade ago, people today take cyber threats more seriously and are always proactive about handling them. The reason is that with these cyber-attacks, people and software attempt to maliciously steal your data or cause disruption in your business functioning. 

It is because of these reasons that the popularity of cyber security software has increased incredibly, and people are making them a priority when it comes to handling or managing a server or a network. There are different types of cyber threats for small businesses, and in this post here, we go through the most commonly seen threats from phishing.

Phishing

This attack usually targets users directly through email or other forms of communication like text messaging. In this type of attack, the attacker disguises himself as a trusted contact and attempts to victimise you by sharing your personal data, such as passwords and OTP’s. Small businesses can use checkpoint software to make sure that phishing attempts and phishing scams are diminished right in the beginning.

Watering Holes

Till around five years back, this was not the most common type of cyber-attack, but its use has increased incredibly over the past some years. In this attack, the cybercriminal targets a specific group of individuals or businesses that share the same interest. They will infect one website that is visited the most by those individuals or companies, and here also, social engineering is very effectively used.

Drive By Downloads

According to the cyber security software solutions vendors, this cyber-attack occurs when a user downloads software into the computer. This software is malicious, and once it is in your computer, it will perform the following –

Spy on activity, such as recording keystrokes to capture passwords

Hijack the device by exploiting security flaws

Infect the device by downloading even more software or files that ultimately render the device useless.

This cyber-attack is more effective when the operating system is not updated, and small business owners ignore the security patches of the software.

Advantages That Premium Phone Systems Come With For Small Offices

When it comes to choosing phone systems for small offices, business owners have two options to choose from. One of them is premium phone systems that are advantageous in several ways as compared to the regular phone system. Of course, they are more expensive, but they can enhance the efficiency and productivity of any office on a significant basis. They are the best phone systems available in the market and come with new and exciting features that are not found in an ordinary phone system. Let us go through some of these features and advantages in this write-up.

Several ways as compared to the regular phone system, Ariatech

Use of the Internet

With premium office phone systems, Internet usage becomes very easy, and when the Internet is used as compared to analogue lines, the expenses related to business communication is reduced, and the quality of communication improves various times. They don’t use wiring, and it is straightforward to use them with the help of the Internet or Voice Over Internet Protocol technology. The sound quality is of the highest quality, with no lags or voice cracking occurring at all.

Expenses related to business communication is reduced

Use It Anywhere

Another feature of these premium-quality telephone systems is that they run on wireless technology also. This means that you can use them anywhere as compared to traditional phone systems that lack the feature of mobility. There are different software and apps available for smartphones that can make the user connect to the office network using a high-speed Internet connection. This is followed by another fact that the portability of these phones is of the next level.

Phone systems that lack the feature of mobility, Ariatech

The Feature of Scalability

One more advantage of these premium phone systems for small officers is that they are highly scalable. For any office, this is nothing short of a boon because when required, they can increase the number of handsets, and when not needed, they can be decreased as well. It means that the cost involved in increasing the number of phone systems will not be there at all. 

Apart from this, using premium quality phone systems means you will not have to face problems like physical installations, maintenance and looking after these phone systems. Also, the cost of usage remains steady contrary to productivity, which always stays on the higher side.

Types of VoIP Phone Handsets and Their Uses

The invention of the telephone emerged as a landmark in human history, and the advent of VoIP technology transformed the way we use the phone till now. Businesses are switching to VoIP technology faster than ever as it offers a wide range of benefits and has features that are not seen in any other communication technology till now. Here is a small blog post showing some crucial information to help you choose the light VoIP system for your business.

What Is A Voip Phone System?

The term VoIP stands for voice over internet protocol, and it is a technology developed as an alternative to expensive and tough-to-handle analogue phone systems. Signal delivery is the fundamental difference between these two modes of communication, and in VoIP phone handsets, the Internet is used to transfer the call with improved sound quality, better connectivity and significantly lesser price.

Photo:- Voip phone System for technology, Ariatech

Types Of Voip Phones

Different business phone systems can be used using VoIP technology, and they are all put into main categories called hard phones and softphones.

Hard Phones

All physical devices that are run using VoIP technology fall under this category of hard phones. They don’t differ from traditional stationery phones that we find at your homes and offices. The only difference is that VoIP phone handsets are Internet-enabled using Wi-Fi or an Ethernet connection.

VoIP stands for voice over internet protocol

Soft Phones

Next up, we have softphones, which are the apps that we can use on our phones and laptops, tablets etc., to connect to any device that is connected to the Internet. This makes business communication much more effortless, and VoIP calls can be made at no cost. Different software are there to enable you to make VoIP calls and enjoy all the features available in VoIP technology.

Voip Phone Features

Any standard hard VoIP phone will have all these features that are found in a standard telephone. Apart from this, they will have several other features as well, like call on hold, call transfer, quick dial assignments, Bluetooth, and others to simplify the business communication process.

VoIP phone handsets are Internet-enabled

How Is VoIP Technology Used In Modern-Day Offices and Homes?

VoIP is a technology, and VoIP phones are physical devices that allow you to use this technology to communicate. This could be anything like your mobile phone or the phone on your office table. It is a simplified and economical option used for communication that has several exciting features like call transfer, call hold, conference calls and so on.

Voip Phones

Currently, there is a wide variety of VoIP phones available in the markets, and there are IP handsets, ipecs handsets, as well as digital handsets available with advanced features to help you in using this technology to its best.

What Is A Voip Phone?

Phones used in VoIP technology are designed to convert sound into digital data. This data can be transferred via an Internet connection to the receiver, and when it reaches there, these digital packets are again converted into analogue signals and so on. There are mainly two types of IP phones currently prevailing in the markets. One of them is hardware-based, while the next is software-based.

Types of Ip Phones

The hardware-based phones can be further split into categories like office desk phones, cordless phones, and reception phones and all have their unique set of features. Then, there are software-based phones, also known as softphones. They are applications installed on a mobile device or computer. They have all the functionalities in the hardware phone, but the difference is that they are more affordable, free of physical desk space and can be moved wherever you want. To use softphones, mainly a headset and microphone, are required to make and receive calls.

Headsets

To use VoIP technology, some essential products are required, and the most important of them is the headsets. The benefit of these Dect headsets is that you get both hands free to work on the computer. Along with digital handsets, a wide range of headsets are available in the market. There is also an option of getting wired or cordless headsets with Bluetooth technology. For seamless performance, experts recommend wired headsets as they are more affordable and reliable.

How VoIP Technology Helps Businesses Grow Exponentially?

A robust business communication system is the spinal cord of any business, as it helps in several things. The sales department requires these communication systems to make and receive calls, and then the marketing department needs them for inter-departmental communication and so on. The fact is that every department of any company is incomplete without these business communication solutions and precisely VoIP phone handsets.

Experience because VoIP phone handsets

What Is Voip Calling Technology?

We all are aware that we are using VoIP technology on day to day basis, but we have never tried to enter into the details. According to experts, VoIP technology uses the Internet to transmit audio and video signals in the form of digital packets. The result is a fast, clear and better calling experience because VoIP phone handsets are connected to the Internet. This allows them to call and even send faxes for free or at a very insignificant cost. VoIP technology mainly involves –

• Picking up an analogue signal (user’s voice) Turning it into digital audio 
• Encoding it as digital packets 
• Transmitting it over the Internet 

How Does Voip Technology Improve Business Communication?

This is a big question and most of are aware that this happens, but “how” is the bigger question. Let us have a look at some ways how VoIP technology improves business communication.

Photo:- VoIP technology improves business communication, Ariatech

Encourages Remote Working

The first benefit of this technology is that it encourages remote working, and with this technology, employees can log in from anywhere in the world with the help of a good quality bandwidth Internet connection. With unified communications, these people can also send files, images, audio, videos, documents, etc. and manage chats, reply to emails and so on.

Photo:- video conferencing solution , Ariatech

Allows Portable Arrangements

To use VoIP phone handsets, the only important thing is a good quality Internet connection, and if you have it, you can use these handsets to make and receive calls. There are also features like follow-me and find-me, and they ensure that irrespective of where you are, the call is forwarded to the handset that you are carrying right now if the main call stays answered.

The Best Communication Solutions and Their Advantages

Often business owners, due to lack of knowledge, invest in multiple office communication solutions and after wasting money on then, find that none of them is effective. Experts say that this decision should not be taken in hurry and in fact, only after you have considered some important things like the type of business, the budget, the size and so on. Once you have done this, the next task would be of understanding different kinds of communication solutions and you can do this very easily with the help of this blog post here.

Photo:- multiple office communication solutions, Ariatech

Why You Need An Enterprise Communication System

The answer is very simple that to stay in constant touch with clients, to stay ahead of competitors and to stay connected to office employees all the time, there is a need of enterprise communication solutions. Depending upon the needs, any business can use one, two, or even multiple solutions, but it is advised to use only those that are useful for the business irrespective of their expenses.

The Benefits Of Investing In An Enterprise Communication System Include:

• Boosting productivity
• Strengthening collaboration
• Breaking down information silos
• Being able to integrate systems with new digital tools
• Creating a digital workplace
• Managing employees’ expectations, you will provide appropriate digital tools
• Increased flexibility in communications
• Accessibility, no matter where employees are located
• Can easily be accessed if employees work remotely
• Reduced costs compared to traditional telephony
• Less administration and maintenance requirements
• Use voice, video, instant messaging, video conference calls, visual voicemail, all on one simple and easy to use platform.

Photo:- video conference calls, Ariatech

Here are the basic details of different kinds of communication solutions, digital handsets and even video conferencing software.

Cloud-Based Enterprise Communication Solutions

• Allow organisations to host their infrastructure “in the cloud”
• The entire data can be backed up and protected

Unified Communications as a Service (Ucaas)

• In this type of system, all the communications done via any medium like digital handsets can be streamlined via cloud delivery.
• You can easily unify your communication tools like voice, video, SMSs and chat in a more mobile way.

Usefulness of Cloud Phone Systems for SMEs

In the past some years, cloud based phone systems for small offices have emerged as the most economical and future-proof solution for them. Rightly do because these systems are economical, they are scalable and most importantly, they come with all the features needed by a small business to run their office smoothly. The most common features you will find in these systems are –

• Call Forwarding
• Call Routing
• Auto Attendant
• IVR
• Call analytics
• CRM Integration
• Voicemail to Email
• Video conferencing
• Numbers Porting
• Click-to-call

With all these features present, there could be no chance at all that office phone systems will fail to deliver what is expected the most from them. These cloud based telephone systems will improve team productivity with their enhanced features and then, they will also enable businesses to provide the highest grade customer services to their clients and customers. The features listed above can be termed as “a key factor” that would define the smoothness and efficiency of a business phone systems and its overall functioning. When used well, they will surely help you get a competitive advantage over your competitors and help you create as well as implement a successful sales strategy.

Let us have a brief overview of some top features of these phone systems for small offices.

Call Forwarding

• Allows you to forward calls from your office phone, ensuring that you never miss a call
• Allows you to solve faster customers’ problems

Call Routing

• Used for optimising incoming calls and ensures that the right person handles incoming customer’s inquiry
• It enhances customer engagement and loyalty

Auto Attendant

• Simplifies and speeds up call flow management
• Allows you to skip live receptionist
• In-bound call are automatically routed to the right agent
• Allows you to move faster through the call flow
• Auto-attendant includes hold-on music and pre-recorded messages