Pros and Cons of VoIP

What to know when considering the move to VoIP

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the technology behind VoIP was already becoming a commonplace feature in the lives of many of us. For more than a decade, we had used Skype to connect with loved ones and coworkers and many others were already becoming acquainted with Zoom. As the world withdrew from its office buildings during the COVID-19 pandemic, the advantages of VoIP services over traditional phone calls went from “marginal” to “indispensable.” As businesses navigate our new remote reality, many are wondering if it isn’t time to completely replace their traditional phones systems with VoIP solution. 

VoIP has become a mature, reliable technology that is more flexible, capable and cost-effective than traditional phone services. As a result, the decision for many businesses has been an easy one. However, as with any such change, there are always tradeoffs, and for some businesses with unique circumstances, it may not be time to switch to VoIP just yet. We will look at some of the pros and cons of VoIP systems below, before making a couple of recommendations based on what your company needs. 

Before we do that however, let’s just quickly review what VoIP is. 

What is VoIP?

Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) is a technology that allows you to make telephone calls over the internet, rather than through traditional telephone lines. While this technology has been around for a while, it has become increasingly popular as more and more people work remotely, and businesses are look for ways to save money on their communication bills. If you have ever called someone over Skype, Zoom, Microsoft Teams, or WhatsApp, you have used a version of VoIP. 

What are the advantages of a VoIP phone service?

1. Capability

With modern service providers, you can simply port your existing phone number (or numbers) to a VoIP number. Your clients will never even know you switched; calls will continue to come into your business as before. You can continue to utilize call forwarding, extensions, voice messaging, and all of the other services that you currently use. On a good broadband internet connection, the call quality and reliability will meet or exceed that of standard phone lines. 

2. Flexibility and Scalability

Since VoIP is not dependent on phone lines and other physical infrastructure, you can easily add and remove lines to your system. All you need in order to add additional lines is an internet capable device and an internet connection – be it a phone, laptop, or tablet. Since VoIP is not dependent on a physical location, this means that your system is portable and flexible. You can set up your office wherever you please – a huge plus in these virtual times. 

3. Cost

The cost savings of VoIP alone are enough for most businesses to make the switch. Most businesses can expect to pay roughly half for a VoIP phones service compared to a traditional phone system. Most plans offer completely unlimited calling for local, long-distance, or international; your cost will be the same no matter where you call or how often. For companies that currently call outside of their geographic region with frequency, these savings alone can be quite significant. 

What are the Disadvantages of VoIP phone services?

1. Dependent on Internet

The quality and stability of VoIP phone calls depend on the strength and reliability of your internet connection. Modern broadband speeds available in most areas are usually more than adequate to support VoIP phone services. However, if your business is located in an area with a spotty or slow connection speeds, VoIP calls may be garbled or even dropped. In addition, since the calls are dependent on the internet, they are also dependent on electricity. 

2. Unfamiliarity

Let’s face it. Once most of us have become accustomed to a particular way of doing business, that has a certain value to us. Those companies that have used the same service provider and the same phones for many years might be hesitant to switch to a new technology or provider. That hesitation can even extend to technologies that have minimal learning curves (like VoIP). In this arena, VoIP has the tremendous advantage of being nearly undetectable to end users – if you wish to use a traditional-style phone like you always have, you can certainly do that with VoIP. However, just the idea of switching to an “unknown” technology can still be a hurdle for many businesses. 

3. Choosing a Service Provider

The VoIP industry surpassed a market size of $40 billion in 2022 and is projected to surpass $100 billion over the next decade. As with any industry with such dramatic growth, the potential earnings have spawned a plethora of start-up service providers. Although many VoIP providers already have 10+ years of service under their belts and provide top-notch service, others are sacrificing the quality of their product in order to keep prices low and entice new customers. In such a market space, it can often be a challenge to identify a good provider at a good price point without some guidance from IT experts. 

Is it time for your business to make the switch to VoIP?

In general, the answer is an easy one – Yes. 

For the vast majority of businesses, the combination of capability, flexibility, cost, and quality means that the positives vastly outweigh the negatives. However, there are a few exceptions to this recommendation. The following businesses may need to consider a traditional phone service over VoIP. 

• Businesses that provide essential services during natural disasters or other such emergencies 
• Businesses that experience frequent electrical utility outages 
• Businesses that have spotty or unreliable internet connections 

If you are ready to switch to VoIP or at least consider the possibility, and you do not want to make the decision alone, just let us know. NOC Technology has a wealth of experience in the transition from traditional to VoIP phone systems. We can help you identify the best service for your company, migrate from your existing system, and provide ongoing service to keep your system running at its potential.