Business VoIP Articles & White Papers :

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Our Business VoIP articles and white papers are split into three sections. This section is dedicated to Business VoIP. These articles explain what business VoIP is, the benefits business VoIP have to offer and some of the underlying technologies that make business VoIP the communication medium of the future. Our Residential VoIP and Broadband sections can be accessed via the links below.

1. Residential VoIP Phone Service Related Articles

2. Broadband High Speed Internet Articles

Business VoIP Phone Service Articles and White Papers

1. Business VoIP Service - WhichVoIP.com Guide
   This guide explains what Business VoIP service is - the different options you have regarding Business VoIP infrastructure, the benefits of a Business VoIP service and an overview of the vast VoIP features you can expect from a Business VoIP service provider ........




2. The Case for Hosted VoIP - What Micro Businesses Need to Know
   For micro businesses interested in Business VoIP service, our view is that hosted VoIP is the best solution. In a hosted model, the business only needs to make a nominal investment in telephone sets that are compatible with VoIP, and does not have to worry about operating, maintaining or upgrading their network to support VoIP. It really offers the best of both worlds by being a cost effective way to get PBX-caliber features without the risk or challenges of managing their network. The only real trade-off is giving up control and ownership over the telephony system, but for micro businesses, there is usually little at stake in the first place........




3. What SMBs Should Know About Deploying a Hosted PBX Phone Solution
   Hosted PBX phone solutions are revolutionizing how small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) serve their customers, grow their business, and support their employees. Delivering the same enterprise level, professional phone system capabilities large businesses use at a much lower cost, hosted PBX is helping SMBs save money while putting their customer services on par with much larger organizations.




4. Benefits of a Business VoIP Class Telephony Solution
   Communications is a critical factor in a business, be it a small home-based one or a large-scale enterprise. Business phone service today is not just an alternative to the traditional phone service but has features that will help strengthen and secure business communications.




5. Business VoIP - Truly Revolutionary?
   Business VoIP is being hailed as the next telecommunications revolution and there is no denying that the business phone service has become the strongest influence in the telecommunications industry today. It would be worthwhile to see whether business VoIP truly meets all the expectations and what the future may hold for it.




6. Business VoIP - Right for You?
   Business VoIP services are already being hailed as the rightful successors to the traditional phone services. Most large enterprises have already integrated VoIP into their networks and with more sophisticated, affordable VoIP solutions in the market, small and medium businesses too are planning to start using business VoIP phones. This is probably the best time for any organization to take a look at the costs and benefits of business VoIP service and determine if it is right for them.




7. Business VoIP for SMB's
   The true value of any VoIP solution is not just in the cost savings in domestic and international calls that it delivers but more in the improved employee productivity and efficiency that it manages to achieve. Through better integration of business communications, one can set up a virtual office of sorts, ensuring better use of employee time and better return on a company’s resources. VoIP solutions can prove beneficial for medium and even for a small business phone system.




8. Business VoIP - How to find the Best VoIP Provider
   Recently, businesses have been going in for integration of VoIP services into their networks in a big way. This is not merely because of the cost savings in calls that VoIP achieves but the overall increase in productivity and efficiency that a converged data and voice network manages to bring about. Every business now is looking at how best to migrate to VoIP networks and which service provider would provide them with the best VoIP services.




9. Business VoIP - A guide to VoIP gateways
   The VoIP solution is being heralded as the next big thing in the telecommunications industry and all businesses are eager to see what kind of benefits, in terms of cost savings and increased employee productivity, a VoIP based network can bring. There has been a mushrooming of Business VoIP Service providers that provides various VoIP services to small and medium businesses as well as large enterprises. One of the key elements of the VoIP business is a simple but practical device known as a VoIP gateway.




10. Business VoIP - Finding the right VoIP business system
    All businesses today are looking to integrate Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) into their communications setup. The driving technology behind this popularity is the broadband Internet, which every modern office now possesses. In fact, with a good broadband Internet connection, sound quality is found to be at least as good as a cell phone and at times even better than that of a landline.




11. Business VoIP - How reliable is business VoIP for large enterprises?
    When you are a large enterprise, cost savings in voice calls does have a positive impact on your profitability but what is even more critical to consider, is having a reliable and clear telephone connection especially if you offer a lot of telephonic support to your customers. Many big businesses are making the move to VoIP networks but it has been slow in coming.




12. Business VoIP - Looking at the real value of business VoIP
    Many businesses are now migrating towards VoIP networks because they recognize the significant value that a VoIP phone service offers. However, different businesses measure the value offered in different terms. Some see it in the cost savings and the advantages that a converged network has to offer. For others, the true value lies not just in cheap VoIP but more in the way it changes business productivity.




13. Business VoIP - Staying connected with your broadband phone
    Many small and medium businesses today are rapidly moving towards a VoIP implementation and studies have shown that telecom spending for traditional services has been decreasing while those of the internet phone service are on rise. One of the main reasons for this growth in popularity has been that using the broadband phones, employees can seamlessly connect over mobiles, collaborate with other members of their team and stay in touch with customers, suppliers and coworkers – irrespective of where they are situated geographically. Thus, your broadband phone truly has the power to ensure you stay connected at all times.




14. Business VoIP - VoIP Requirements List
    Phone services for small businesses have evolved a great deal through the years. At one time, small businesses were forced to get a long distance carrier. They would then spend hundreds of dollars a month on long distance phone calls. The internet, along with VoIP, helped change that.




15. Business VoIP - The Advantages of Hosted IP PBX
    Businesses on a tight budget often wonder what they can do in order to compete with the larger businesses. In the business world, the smaller business can easily get phased out if he does not have the money or expertise to stay on top with the competition. Those businesses that are looking for a way to compete but have a small to medium sized budget can use the same technology as the big businesses by using a hosted IP PBX.




16. Business VoIP - VoIP Phone System: The Special Features
    Small businesses often cannot budget for extra features with the services they purchase. After all, they have to stay within their budget, and that budget is often tight. However, a VoIP phone system gives small business a lot of unique extra features while still staying at a low price.




17. Business VoIP - Hosted PBX Features
    Hosted PBX is known for its list of rich features. The service has many great features businesses can take advantage of, which is why businesses are turning to the service.




18. Business VoIP - PBX Vs. VoIP
    Internet phone calls are on the rise. Businesses know they can save a great deal of money with internet phone calls, and because of that, they are exploring VoIP phone systems as an alternative to a PBX. These two phone systems share many of the same qualities, but it is important to understand that even with all of the similarities, there are some striking differences as well.




19. Business VoIP - How VoIP can Reduce Call Center Costs
    Maintaining a customer-centric business organization has become an essential component of staying competitive. Besides product differentiation and quality, one of the most important elements of success is how a business interacts with its customers. Within that realm, an efficient call center goes a long way towards creating a customer-friendly environment.




20. Business VoIP - What is a Hosted PBX Anyway?
    A PBX, or Public Branch eXchange, is the hardware that is used to route incoming phone calls to multiple extensions. When a company moves to a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) platform to enjoy the flexibility and cost advantages afforded by that technology, the old PBX must be replaced with an IP PBX, or alternately, a hosted PBX.




21. Business VoIP - Implementing a Business VoIP Solution
    Businesses looking to gain a cost advantage, as well as additional communications features, are turning to business VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) solutions. This technology is not limited to businesses of any particular size; larger enterprise businesses routinely roll out major, multi-site business VoIP implementations and smaller businesses use it as well, to take advantage of the enormous cost savings and access to high-end features that would not otherwise be available. Even small office/home office (SOHO) environments can use this technology to great advantage.




22. Business VoIP - What is SIP Trunking?
    SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) is the protocol used by VoIP (Voice over Internet Telephony) systems to manage the VoIP phone calls. Because VoIP calls work differently from ordinary circuit-switched phone calls, different protocols are used to accomplish basic tasks such as establishing and terminating phone calls. SIP trunking is the method used when the VoIP network has to communicate with the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN).




23. Business VoIP - Benefits of SIP Trunking
    SIP trunking is the heart of what makes your VoIP system talk to the outside world, or the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN). There are alternatives, including using a hosted VoIP environment, and deploying PRIs (Primary Rate Interfaces), or of course, just using the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) and not using VoIP at all. However, VoIP delivers so many advantages in terms of cost and extra features, many enterprises are finding it to be an essential component of their telecommunications environment. As such, SIP trunking is often a major consideration when an on-premises VoIP deployment is made.




24. Business VoIP - How VoIP can Create Virtual Offices
    Web 2.0 innovations and Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) have given way to a new virtual world of business. No longer chained to brick and mortar, small and midsize businesses are creating virtual offices that allow them to collaborate across great distances, and operate on a more level playing field with much larger organizations.




25. Business VoIP - Business Phone Calls
    Communication is the lifeblood of any business, and this usually centers around having full-featured telephone access at multiple locations, along with features like conferencing, virtual PBXes and "follow me" functionality so you can travel around the country and still get your local calls. The problem is that as businesses grow and avail themselves of more features and additional lines, the price escalates. Businesses of all sizes, as well as ordinary consumers, can reduce their overall phone expenses by taking advantage of numerous free services. Free phone calls are widely available, legitimate, and can help cut down your monthly bill.




26. Business VoIP - Want to give the impression you are a multi-million dollar company?
    When that fancy espresso maker you bought breaks down, and you call the customer service department, you'll usually get an automated voice that will guide you to the appropriate solution to your problem. That automated voice is called the "auto attendant." There was some resistance to the auto attendant model at first, and still today, some people still become frustrated and shout, "I want to talk to a human being!" But, for the most part, the auto attendant has become accepted as a normal business practice.




27. Business VoIP - What are your VoIP requirements?
    The advantages of Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) have not been lost on consumers and business users. Competition in this area has increased significantly, and VoIP services are available today from both the major telecom carriers as well as from innovative startups. But before selecting a carrier, the first thing you have to do, whether you are a home user or business user, is to compile a VoIP requirements list.




28. Business VoIP - Growth of VoIP
    The advantages of Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) have not been lost on consumers and business users. Competition in this area has increased significantly, and VoIP services are available today from both the major telecom carriers as well as from innovative startups. But before selecting a carrier, the first thing you have to do, whether you are a home user or business user, is to compile a VoIP requirements list.




29. Business VoIP - What is Unified Communications?
    The state of modern communications has advanced rapidly over the past two decades, to incorporate tools and mechanisms that would never have been dreamt of by the early innovators in the 19th century. The next such innovation is going to be unified communications. The concept is elegantly simple; it merely unifies all forms of electronic communications into a single interface. In other words, through the unified communications umbrella, one would be able to initiate and receive phone calls, emails, chats, faxes, and other types of communication, without having to launch separate programs on separate devices.




30. Business VoIP - What is Converged Networks?
    Voice, video and data traffic traditionally required separate networks. While data traveled over an IP connection, voice was sent over copper wire through a circuit-switched network of the phone company. Today, converged networks have become possible, so that multiple types of traffic can travel securely and without any degradation of quality, all over the same network.




31. Business VoIP - Do you have the need for conference calls?
    SOHO businesses and small companies frequently find themselves in the position of needing advanced services traditionally considered to be the domain of the larger enterprise. The good news is that today, they can have them. One such service is conference calls.




32. Business VoIP - What is a VoIP Phone?
    Using Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) carries with it several advantages in terms of lower cost and greater features, but to take full advantage of all it has to offer, you must use a VoIP phone, or use an adapter that plugs into your regular phone. A VoIP phone plugs directly into your broadband modem, and works and looks just like an ordinary telephone.




33. Business VoIP - What is wholesale VoIP?
    Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) has revolutionized the telecommunications industry, and has made it possible for many new players to enter the marketplace. The availability of wholesale VoIP gives service providers an excellent opportunity to get into the business, without having to endure the high infrastructure costs that would otherwise be required.




34. Business VoIP - What is Managed VoIP?
    Business clients of all sizes are flocking to VoIP solutions to take advantage of the rich collection of features available, as well as to keep telephony costs down. There are two ways for a company to go about deploying VoIP. Larger enterprises may do better to install and manage their own IP PBX system in-house, although many SMB operations benefit from using the services of either a managed VoIP provider, or a hosted solution.




35. Business VoIP - Where is this hosted PBX anyway?
    Hosted PBX offerings have become very attractive, especially to smaller businesses that may not have the personnel or resources to install and manage the equipment in-house. This brings up the question though, of where the equipment is physically located. The business is receiving services, they have a working phone system with multiple extensions, but there is no central PBX on site. Where is it?




36. Business VoIP - Business phone systems - Why do I need IP phones and what features do I need.htm?
    Hosted PBX offerings have become very attractive, especially to smaller businesses that may not have the personnel or resources to install and manage the equipment in-house. This brings up the question though, of where the equipment is physically located. The business is receiving services, they have a working phone system with multiple extensions, but there is no central PBX on site. Where is it?




37. Business VoIP - Replacing your IP PBX with a hosted VoIP solution—Why do it?
    An IP PBX is just like an ordinary PBX, except that it handles VoIP calls and usually can deliver additional features. It is a piece of on-premises equipment, which like an ordinary PBX, requires some skill to install and maintain. The on-premises solution may well be best for larger enterprises which have the in-house talent to take care of it, and the cash to support the initial capital expenditure. The advantage of in-house of course, is that you retain greater control, and can respond immediately to situations.




38. Business VoIP - Negotiating for a hosted VoIP service—Money saving tips
    You've reviewed all the options: managed VoIP, on-premises VoIP, and hosted VoIP service, and you've settled on the hosted VoIP service since it presents the best options and cost structure for your particular organization. Now, the next step is to get the most for your money.




39. Small business VoIP—Which VoIP solution is best?
    Small business survival depends not only on providing a good service or product, it also depends on operating with as few expenses as possible. That is even more critical today, during a recessionary economy. Small business VoIP solutions today are offering small companies two opportunities: First, to have access to high-end features that were once available only to larger enterprises, and second, to enjoy a lower cost structure for telephony.




40. Business VoIP - On-premise IP PBX—Guide to upgrading from legacy PBX system
    A larger organization may find it more beneficial to deploy an on-premise IP PBX system as opposed to a hosted or managed solution. Assuming that you have the in-house IT talent to install and maintain the equipment, then this may be the best option. Although in the long run, your company will undoubtedly enjoy a significant cost advantage, do be prepared for some up-front capital expenditures and some manpower costs.




41. Business VoIP - SIP Trunking Benefits
    If you are using Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), then you are already enjoying some cost advantages over using the ordinary Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), not to mention some excellent feature sets. A VoIP network that is used to communicate only internally doesn't need anything else, but almost every company needs to make outside calls—and so there must be a mechanism to allow your VoIP network to connect with the PSTN. This is where SIP trunking comes in. It is a type of interface that allows you to leverage the advantages of VoIP, while still being able to make calls to any number, anywhere in the world, just as if you were on the PSTN.




42. Business VoIP - SIP Trunking vs. PRIs
    SIP trunking (Session Initiation Protocol) and PRIs (Primary Rate Interfaces) are both methods used to connect a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) network to the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN). This connection, or interface, is necessary to allow a VoIP phone system to work just the same as an ordinary PSTN phone system, and be able to make calls to any phone—regardless of whether the call recipient is on the VoIP network.




43. Business VoIP - SIP Trunking Quality of Service
    SIP trunking delivers many advantages, most notably, a big advantage in cost and provisioning time. Quality of service (QoS) however, must be taken into account. Given the right circumstances, SIP trunking can deliver equal quality to a PRI (Primary Rate Interface) connection.




44. Business VoIP - Small Business VoIP Cost Savings
    Small businesses with five or fewer employees are really the unseen majority of American commerce. These small operators employ millions of people collectively, and thanks to newer innovations in technology and the Internet, they are better able to flourish than they have ever been. The critical key to success for these smallest of businesses is a new level of communication, made possible by affordable technologies such as business VoIP and hosted PBX.




45. Business VoIP - Medium Business VoIP Cost Savings
    Medium sized businesses with between five and 50 employees are facing enormous challenges in today's stagnating economy. Companies in this category are starting to see an increased need to lay off staff, and are seeing decreased levels of business. Service providers for example, are seeing their average deal size diminish as clients redefine their own needs to suit a lower budget; retailers are facing lower consumer spending; and manufacturers are seeing a slow marketplace.




46. Business VoIP - Large Business VoIP Cost Savings
    Large businesses with over 50 employees have an opportunity to enjoy a tremendous cost savings that impacts the bottom line in a very real way. Telecommunications typically represents a major cost center for these larger companies, in terms of capital expenditures, maintenance, and personnel. Starting with an audit of present telecommunications functions that are available and equipment that is already on-premises, an enterprise business can make positive changes to deliver both cost savings and increased functionality.




47. Business VoIP - Replacing your Hosted VoIP Solution with an IP PBX: Why do it?
    A hosted VoIP solution may deliver the same features and functions as an in-house IP PBX, but each solution caters to a vastly different audience. One is not better than the other, and the decision on which one to use will be based on a very different set of needs.




48. Business VoIP - What is Collaboration and how is it Supplemented by VoIP?
    The new era of web 2.0 has given us a new way of doing business. We are in the era of collaboration, sharing of data and information, and "virtual business" that allows individuals across great distances to work together on a project as if they were in the same room. Business VoIP, along with simple Web 2.0 tools such as wikis, whiteboards, B2B marketplaces, and web conferencing have made this all possible. And what's more, this collaboration is easy to achieve, inexpensive, and available to even the smallest of businesses.




49. Business VoIP - What is Web Conferencing and how is it Supplemented by VoIP?
    Face-to-face business meetings that required airline travel and overnight stays have given way to Web conferencing, and to great advantage. Old-style face-to-face business conferences are costly, and often impractical, especially for smaller businesses on a tight budget. Web conferencing and business VoIP both play a large role in facilitating this major shift.




50. Business VoIP - What is Tele-Conferencing and is VoIP Required?
    By simple definition, tele-conferencing is nothing more than a phone conversation. Not to be confused with Web conferencing, tele-conferencing does not necessarily include the advanced features of a Web conference, such as shared data, whiteboards, and video. However, the reasons for its existence are the same. The new model of doing business is one of diversity, where companies are no longer contained within a single physical building.




51. How to Implement a Video Conferencing Solution for Business VoIP
    Do you really want to see what your telecommuting remote workers look like at 9:00 in the morning? Assuming that this is a desirable goal, then video conferencing provides a solution. The most basic video conferencing can occur with a broadband Internet connection, a chat program and a webcam, although this is useful mostly for occasional chats for personal use. For business-quality video conferencing, a more sophisticated set-up is called for.




52. What are the Best Video Conferencing Solutions and is VoIP Required?
    Video conferencing has come a long way since the science fiction-like dream of videophones first hit the comic books. We do not yet have Dick Tracy wristwatch videophones, but in reality, that may not be too far off. Video conferencing has become mainstream, the technology is solid and robust, and based on international standards. Furthermore, it is not expensive to install and maintain, and is available to even small businesses and individuals.




53. What are the Best Audio Conferencing Options for VoIP?
    Business VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) has made audio conferencing easier than it has ever been. Of course, audio conferencing has long been available over the standard public switched telephone network (PSTN), but on a limited basis, usually at substantial additional cost, and sometimes requiring third-party assistance to complete.




54. Hosted PBX Providers Audio Conferencing Option Should you use it?
    Audio conferencing today has become a very common feature. Once available only to larger businesses, this service—which was once costly—can now be enjoyed by even the smallest businesses on the tightest budget.




55. Hosted call center solutions
    Maintaining a fully-staffed and fully-equipped call center for a large organization requires a lot of careful planning, trained personnel, and good equipment. In the end however, the return on investment is evident. An efficient call center delivers significant returns in terms of increased sales.




56. Basic Business Phone System Features
    Business phones come in all shapes and sizes, and even small, home-based businesses will often employ a separate, dedicated business line with features above and beyond what is available on a standard home line. With the availability of VoIP, IP PBX and hosted PBX technologies, today it is much easier for even a small business to enjoy high-end telephony features.




57. What is a Virtual PBX?
    The concept of the "virtual office" has become very popular in recent years, and has been made possible primarily through the availability of VoIP and IP PBX systems. To carry the concept of the virtual office even further, the on-premises IP PBX is replaced with a virtual PBX, which does not require any physical equipment to be maintained on-premises. Instead, the actual PBX technology is hosted in a third-party location.




58. Understanding VoIP Security
    Before the implementation of VoIP, security for telephone calls was never a high priority. To prevent eavesdropping, a business executive simply went into a private room. Electronic eavesdropping was always possible of course, but required physical access to the wires. This sort of snooping was difficult to carry out and the risk of getting caught was high. It did happen, of course—but it was infrequent.




59. Business VoIP for Car Dealerships
    A car dealership relies heavily on its telephone system. As a customer-driven, sales-oriented organization, it is vitally important for the car dealership to have available lines open at all times, to minimize customer wait time, and to make sure that callers can reach their destination without any difficulty. The features available in most business VoIP systems are very well-suited to the car dealership environment.




60. Free Calls to USA
    Communication is perhaps the most important aspect which defines a human being, and interaction with others is an imperative. The advent of telephone communication made this a living reality, as people from different corners of the globe talked to each other and distance became irrelevant. The development of the Internet and subsequently, VoIP technology has added another dimension to the way people talk to each other everywhere. Making free calls has become the norm, as there are services today with nominal or no charges at all for international calls to most countries. This has enabled people from all over the world to make free calls to the USA.

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