VoIP FAQ – Covering The Basics

There are so many brands and businesses across the UK that could benefit enormously by making the switch to VoIP. According to the experts at The VoIP Shop however, most are held back by a simple lack of understanding as to how VoIP systems work and the kinds of benefits they bring.

So in order to clarify a few of the most important basics, here’s a quick FAQ with answers from the UK’s leading VoIP experts:

Question – In Layman’s Terms, What is VoIP?

The idea of VoIP may sound complex on the surface, but it is in fact remarkably simple. In short, VoIP refers to a system that uses Internet connections instead of standard telephone lines for making calls. Rather than having a separate phone line, the telephones are connected instead to the office’s existing Internet connections via a computer. If there are already computers in place and a working Internet connection, this is all that’s needed to get up and running.

Question – What’s the Point of VoIP?

In terms of benefits, the biggest and most immediate is that of costs. First of all, the fact that there’s no need to have any standard telephone lines installed means there’s no installation costs or ongoing line-rental to worry about. On top of this, VoIP calls and services are exponentially cheaper to use than those of standard phone companies and carriers. It’s a bit like comparing a call made via Skype to one made using a mobile telephone – with VoIP the savings come thick and fast from day one.

Question – Is it Worthwhile for Small Businesses?

In a word, yes. It’s often assumed that only the biggest businesses and those with the most employees will benefit from VoIP, though in reality this really isn’t the case at all. In fact, no matter what line of work you are in or how small your business may be, if you rely on telephone communications to get by, you’d be better off with VoIP. Small businesses in particular stand to benefit from the incredible affordability and flexibility of VoIP, with the added quality and rich array of features serving as added bonuses.

Question – Is VoIP Difficult to Set Up?

Quite to the contrary, VoIP is in fact probably one of the simplest systems to set up any office is ever likely to come across. As already mentioned, if you already have computers with Internet connections set up, adding a VoIP device is as easy as plugging in a mouse. It’s then just case of installing or downloading the provider-specific software and getting started.

Question – Are VoIP Systems Difficult to Operate?

You’d be forgiven for thinking so, but the answer is no. These days, the whole system is usually controlled by way of an ultra-simple point and click interface that’s pretty obvious from the first time you load it up. As such, there’s rarely any need for additional training or guidance – even for those who may not be quite as tech-savvy as others.

Question – Will I Have to Sign Up for a Long-Term Contract?

This all depends on which provider you go for, but more often than not there’s generally no need to either pay hefty sums for services in advance or bind yourself to a fixed long-term contract. In the instances where contracts do apply however, chances are you’ll be able to modify and alter your package as and when required without having to pay unfair admin fees and charges. Which means that no matter what happens within your business – good or bad – you’ll be able to continually tailor your package to suit.

Question – How Are Calls Charged?

This again will vary in accordance with the provider you go with – some offer all-inclusive packages for a set monthly fee, while others will charge by the minute. In the case of the latter however it’s still extremely difficult to run up the kinds of bills you might be used to. After all, when you’re looking at rates as low as 1p per minute to call from the UK to Australia, high bills are likely to be a non-entity.

Question – Can I Use VoIP Without a Computer?

In a word, yes. VoIP devices don’t necessarily need a computer in order to operate – many can be connected directly to an Internet connection either via a VoIP adapter or directly by a cable if they have an in-built adapter. So, if you plan to use VoIP where computers are either unavailable or not always switched on, it’s perfectly simple to do so.