Voip For Small Businesses: Why Small Businesses Are So Interested In VOIP..

Voice over IP (VoIP) is gaining in popularity among the small business community which includes small office/home office (SOHO). A recent survey shows that small business owners and managers are increasingly interested in VOIP as a communications tool.

What is the attraction? First and foremost the cost of using VoIP is vastly cheaper than using conventional landlines. A second attraction is their voice and data systems are easier to manage.

The survey suggests that small businesses are buying two types of Voice over IP service: IP PBX bundles which are hosted and converged voice and data services, also called IP trunking services.

The survey was based on a hypothetical business that owned no PBX; the majority of the responses that were received were for hosted IP PBX services.

In a hosted solution, the IP PBX server is based in the provider's office or data center, not on the customer's premises. The PBX functions such as messaging, hunt groups, call forwarding and find me/follow me happen at the IP PBX server in the provider's premises. Broadband service and local and long-distance voice services are also bundled in.

The small business usually buys new IP phones, taking full advantage of the IP PBX functionality.

A converged voice and data service is a less expensive option and consists of data service, local and long-distance service, and a few modest IP PBX features. The customer continues using its existing phones network and the PBX functionality of the phones remains the same. If, however, the original phones are replaced with IP phones, some trunking providers may be able to deliver some IP PBX features through their networks.

If your company uses several phones or has a PBX or phone switch, changing to a VoIP solution will definitely lower your business expenses.