Unraveling VoIP
VoIP.
When said out loud, it sounds like a cartoon-like robotic noise. In reality, VoIP is a modern-day technology that is transforming how businesses handle incoming communications, store voicemails, improve the customer experience, and company communication flow as a whole.
What is a VoIP?
VoIP stands for Voice over Internet Protocol. Basically, it’s a technology that sends voice calls as little nuggets of data through IP networks, rather than analog signals through a regular telephone copper network. Because of their digital makeup, VoIP calls have more versatility. In addition, you can still use your old analog devices on a new VoIP system by adding small adaptors. And with most digital systems, your cell phone, special IP phone, or computer become an extension to your desk phone.
“Ahead” in the Clouds
Telephone calls used to be controlled by manual switchboards - an actual human being would intercept your call to identify who you wanted to speak to, and then connect you to that person via a pegboard (patch cable) type system. Eventually, this process would be automated and phone calls could move as fast as it took to punch in someone’s number.
Now, VoIP is here to accelerate calls even further by storing and processing your phone system’s calls and activity in the cloud. On-premise solutions still exist, but most still use the internet as a transport layer. VoIP, on the other hand, is cloud-based and, other than the necessary phones and adapters, requires no other on-premise hardware (unless you need additional functionality, like SD-Wan or automatic call failover in case of Internet outages.)
With VoIP, you can customize a person’s journey through your phone system. Do you want your office phone to “follow you” to your cell phone? How about if “press 1 for help” sent your customers to an urgent repair line? Maybe you need to connect a network of remote workers to your office hub, or receive calls while you’re out of the country, or even give employees their own login codes to a shared phone. A VoIP system can achieve all of this, and more.
Imagine this…
A call comes into your main number. Before you’re even aware of the call, the VoIP system listens for a fax tone. If detected, it will forward an eFax to an email address of your choosing. If no fax is detected, the call is cross-referenced against your business schedule (hours of operation, holidays, etc.). When a call falls outside of these parameters, it’s sent to a pre-recorded informational message and/or voicemail box.
On the flip side, if it passes the schedule test, the caller is greeted with your IVR. The IVR is the main greeting of your phone system. Callers are prompted to press numbers for a directory that you pre-selected - 1 for sales, 2 for billing, etc.
And if that wasn’t interesting enough…
Your desk phone, computer, and cell phone have the ability to all ring at the same time. If you were to answer your desk call via a VoIP application on your cell phone, it would appear to the caller as if you’re answering them from your desk! If you can’t answer the call via any of these entry points, then the caller will be redirected to your office voicemail which you can check from the VoIP app, your desk phone, or sound clip embedded in an email.
Seem too good to be true?
It’s not. And if you think obtaining a VoIP system is expensive and full of pricey add-ons, it doesn’t have to be. You can get a fairly priced VoIP system with comprehensive customer service, hardware leasing, and easy-to-use application without hidden costs or surprises. In many cases, you can also see significant savings on your monthly phone bill.
We look to find the best solutions for our clients and take their requirements seriously in all aspects of their businesses. VoIP is no exception. After evaluating multiple VoIP vendors, we have partnered with Jive in order to bring our clients the best bang for their buck when it comes to a new phone system.
If you’re ready to dive further into the world of VoIPs, watch the short video below and then contact CFP Systems at 484-284-1234 to find out how a VoIP could improve your business communications and streamline interactions with customers.
What is a VoIP?
VoIP stands for Voice over Internet Protocol. Basically, it’s a technology that sends voice calls as little nuggets of data through IP networks, rather than analog signals through a regular telephone copper network. Because of their digital makeup, VoIP calls have more versatility. In addition, you can still use your old analog devices on a new VoIP system by adding small adaptors. And with most digital systems, your cell phone, special IP phone, or computer become an extension to your desk phone.
“Ahead” in the Clouds
Telephone calls used to be controlled by manual switchboards - an actual human being would intercept your call to identify who you wanted to speak to, and then connect you to that person via a pegboard (patch cable) type system. Eventually, this process would be automated and phone calls could move as fast as it took to punch in someone’s number.
Now, VoIP is here to accelerate calls even further by storing and processing your phone system’s calls and activity in the cloud. On-premise solutions still exist, but most still use the internet as a transport layer. VoIP, on the other hand, is cloud-based and, other than the necessary phones and adapters, requires no other on-premise hardware (unless you need additional functionality, like SD-Wan or automatic call failover in case of Internet outages.)
With VoIP, you can customize a person’s journey through your phone system. Do you want your office phone to “follow you” to your cell phone? How about if “press 1 for help” sent your customers to an urgent repair line? Maybe you need to connect a network of remote workers to your office hub, or receive calls while you’re out of the country, or even give employees their own login codes to a shared phone. A VoIP system can achieve all of this, and more.
Imagine this…
A call comes into your main number. Before you’re even aware of the call, the VoIP system listens for a fax tone. If detected, it will forward an eFax to an email address of your choosing. If no fax is detected, the call is cross-referenced against your business schedule (hours of operation, holidays, etc.). When a call falls outside of these parameters, it’s sent to a pre-recorded informational message and/or voicemail box.
On the flip side, if it passes the schedule test, the caller is greeted with your IVR. The IVR is the main greeting of your phone system. Callers are prompted to press numbers for a directory that you pre-selected - 1 for sales, 2 for billing, etc.
And if that wasn’t interesting enough…
Your desk phone, computer, and cell phone have the ability to all ring at the same time. If you were to answer your desk call via a VoIP application on your cell phone, it would appear to the caller as if you’re answering them from your desk! If you can’t answer the call via any of these entry points, then the caller will be redirected to your office voicemail which you can check from the VoIP app, your desk phone, or sound clip embedded in an email.
Seem too good to be true?
It’s not. And if you think obtaining a VoIP system is expensive and full of pricey add-ons, it doesn’t have to be. You can get a fairly priced VoIP system with comprehensive customer service, hardware leasing, and easy-to-use application without hidden costs or surprises. In many cases, you can also see significant savings on your monthly phone bill.
We look to find the best solutions for our clients and take their requirements seriously in all aspects of their businesses. VoIP is no exception. After evaluating multiple VoIP vendors, we have partnered with Jive in order to bring our clients the best bang for their buck when it comes to a new phone system.
If you’re ready to dive further into the world of VoIPs, watch the short video below and then contact CFP Systems at 484-284-1234 to find out how a VoIP could improve your business communications and streamline interactions with customers.