We all know how frustrating it can be searching for a new solution in a company and you’re just met by a library of new terms and abbreviations. Because of this the terms VoIP and IP-telephony usually get mixed up or think they mean the same thing? But is that really true?
Not really, but VoIP is a part of IP-telephony.
VoIP
VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) or internet telephony allows users to communicate over internet instead of the traditional network, otherwise called PSTN. And to be able to make internet calls you of course need a speedy connection (via cable or DSL modem), and you need a phone or microphone, and depending on what type of service; software or a VoIP router. VoIP is also available on certain mobile units that have wireless access. Calls to other wiht the same VoIP service are oftentimes free, while calls to other networks may add cots. With VoIP you still need a PBX to distribute calls in a company, but it travels over internet.
VoIP phones can offer companies lots of abilities compared to a regular telephony service. Monthly costs can greatly decrease and it’s possible to call from wherever you are as long as you have access to a computer and internet connection. The latest phones also include a range of useful functions without any extra costs, which makes VoIP a growing technology for communication with and within companies.
IP telephony
IP telephony stands for Internet Protocol telephony, and includes all types of technology that uses internet protocol to connect. IP telephony is built on VoIP technology and includes a range of useful software functions on the computer to successively replace PSTN (the old network system). IP phones, often called VoIP phones, SIP phones or softphone – are designed for VoIP, and are connected to the data network instead of the phone network. IP telephony is rather the company term for VoIP. And on a more technical level, IP telephony can be described as the whole company solution behind digital communication.
VoIP is a type o IP telephony
This may sound confusing since the word telephony means phones, we can discern that internet protocol phones (IP phones) have to do with the digital side of telecommunication. This is done via the internet protocol “Voice over Internet Protocol” (VoIP).
You transfer your voice over internet and the protocol defines how your voice will travel over the network. Think of IP phones as the whole concept and VoIP as a way to transfer the calls. An IP telephony system can be an IP PBX that has VoIP.
IP telephony is a way to digitalize a phone system to make use of internet no matter what hardware or program is connected to it. The whole purpose with IP telephony is to increase productivity, something that has been a great result from IP telephones that have been implemented in many companies. VoIP is in turn a digital transport medium to transfer calls.
The difference between the two is subtle and may sometimes get mixed up, it’s easily done.
Cost efficient for consumers
There are several ways to make cost efficient calls over internet. As a consumer you can download applications that are free to your phone or tablet to call over internet. A few examples of these include; Skype, Viber, Facebook Messenger, Google Voice och WhatsApp.
IP telephony for companies
We offer flexible telephony solutions for IP telephony for companies. With our PBX solution you can easily see your colleague’s statuses, connect calls and get access to a company’s phone book. Our solution makes it possible for companies to be as flexible as they want because you’re able to bring an IP phone wherever you are, as long as you have access to internet. This is very practical if your switching places in the office or if the company is moving.
The benefits with IP telephony
- Better business results and happier customers – IP telephony allows you to integrate your entire telephony system with plenty of useful business applications such as your CRM system. This allows employees and customers to communicate in a seamless way.
- Flexible solution – IP telephony allows companies to be flexible. You can bring an IP phone abroad or wherever you want as long as you have an internet connection. This facilitates companies moving or if you have employees that travel a lot.
- More than just a voice service – It’s possible to hold conference calls and video calls which makes it easy for companies to maintain a modern standard. IP telephones eliminate hardware and software by packaging an entire solution.
- Installation and maintenance – IP systems don’t require any extensive maintenance or installation and can be done in-house by a network engineer or a business partner. The system also doesn’t require any in-office developed updates.
Want to learn more?
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