Everything You Need to Know About IP Phones

IP phones are something that was considered to be futuristic technology not too long ago. Almost free calling to any other phone in the world is something that was considered impossible. With the technology for IP phones now being the standard, you can easily use these to keep in touch with friends, family and other associates worldwide for a fraction of the price of normal telecommunications.

What is an IP Phone?

IP in this context is short for VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol), which basically means being able to communicate with others over the internet instead of the normal telephone network. These phones are often inexpensive, perfectly clear sound and a tiny fraction of the cost to use than traditional telephones or cell phones.

What You Need To Know About IP Phones

From a basic, personal use phone all the way through to advanced systems for international businesses, there is an IP phone system for you. If you need wireless IP phones, no problem. Battery powered ones are just as common as phones that need an electrical supply, with some having both as an option for power outages and portability.

It doesn’t really matter what your needs are, if you just want to contact the occasional overseas supplier or if you have a huge network of people all intercommunicating, an IP phone is for you. Saving money is the biggest benefit of using an IP phone, however if you are interested in productivity and efficiency, this is an option you should consider.

IP phones are changing the way everybody uses phones.. Remember when you used to ring somebody and leave a message if they weren’t there? Now instead you can use your IP phone to send them an email with links to information, pdf files or company documents as well as leave them a voice message with instructions on their next task. The address books, Twitter and Facebook connectivity and online accessibility give these phones the hardware they need to be part of any business culture.

Wireless Units, Headsets & Battery Life

Do you have personnel that spend the whole day on the phone? If you are using traditional telecommunications you are literally throwing your money away. Call centers and receptionists are just two types of workers who would benefit hugely from these types of units, saving you money. Wireless headsets with 8 hour + battery life ensure that you have the most competent equipment for your staff to do their job properly. Do you have IT staff or other professionals who are always on the move and always talking? Can you see how these would help productivity?

If you have staff who are on the phone most of the day, on long conference calls, always complaining about unavailability of people or other issues that keep them glued to their office telephone, the benefits of an IP phone with a wireless headset would pay for itself in no time.

Implementing IP Phones in Business

IP phones are used for personal use, but the ones who will benefit the most are businesses. Training is required for IP phones, however they are like the iPad, very intuitive even if you haven’t used much technology before. Most employees today are very familiar with computers and will need minimal training, but it is a good idea to put all employees through a training program which your VoIP provider should have established.

One thing to ensure that your VoIP sets up correctly are the emergency numbers. IP phones use an I.P address instead of a phone number, so it is likely that emergency calls will not get routed to the right place if they are not programmed properly. It is vital to know this whether you are using this technology in a business or privately.

If you have been wondering if there is a solution to the craziness of normal telephone communications (or lack of), IP phones make all communication painless, easy and efficient. Imagine a business without access to the internet or email and having to do everything via post. This is how users of IP phones feel about communicating with old telephones and single line calling.

Why Your Business Needs VoIP Technology

The benefits of using VoIP systems are numerous and far too many to list, but here are just a few of them:

● Incredible cost savings

● Portability without expense

● Social and formal media accessibility

● Cheap conference calls

● A plethora of features such as phone books, Facebook, Twitter and standard call features such as call waiting, dual calling and voicemails

● Transferring of images and documents

● Efficient use of bandwidth

● No geographic boundaries (more savings)

● More and more businesses are jumping onboard

If you are interested in saving money for your business, improving interpersonal communication and the efficiency of your workers, IP phones are where all the industry leaders are going. The days of having a normal cordless phone are now comparable to having to ask the operator for permission to call your friend! Don’t get left behind!

Author Bio -

This guest article is a work of James Andrews from Trans-West Network Solutions, Phoenix, AZ a leader in voice and data integration. Do check out their amazing products that includes Mitel Networks which help companies creating an in-office experience everywhere.