{"id":905,"date":"2013-12-26T18:13:49","date_gmt":"2013-12-26T18:13:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.poly.com\/?p=905"},"modified":"2013-12-26T18:13:49","modified_gmt":"2013-12-26T18:13:49","slug":"why-voip-may-be-the-right-call-for-your-small-business","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.poly.com\/why-voip-may-be-the-right-call-for-your-small-business\/","title":{"rendered":"Why making the switch to VoIP may be right for your small business"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"smb-tech-trends\"<\/a>Looking for a wise investment for the New Year? You might want to consider switching your telephone system to VoIP if you haven\u2019t already. VoIP, which stands for Voice over Internet Protocol, can enhance the phone experience for your callers, boost your team\u2019s productivity, and save your small business money over a legacy plain old telephone service (POTS).<\/p>\n

Unlike POTS also known as Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) — a wired system that relies on circuit switching — VoIP converts voice signals into digital packets and sends them over an IP network. In addition to calling land lines or cell phones, with VoIP you also can make calls right over the computer using a headset.<\/a><\/p>\n

VoIP can save your small business communication costs\u2014anywhere from 20 to 40 percent depending on your service provider – in a number of ways. First, you don\u2019t have to install new phone lines, since VoIP equipment hooks directly into your existing broadband network. \u00a0In terms of installation you can choose between a Virtual PBX (also called a hosted PBX) or on premise IP PBX.<\/a><\/p>\n

Enjoy optional phone features <\/strong><\/p>\n

\"voip<\/a>VoIP not only provides standard phone features such as voicemail, caller ID, three-way conferencing and call forwarding; it offers a host of advanced functions. With automated attendant, your phone service can greet callers, screen calls and through the use of voice prompts route them to the appropriate person on your team. Find me\/Follow me routes unanswered calls to a series of phone numbers you choose \u2013 desk, cell or home phone or all of them \u2013 until the user answers or the caller chooses to leave a voice message.<\/p>\n

With unified messaging, voice messages can be converted to text to be delivered in your email in-box. You also can elect to have messages converted to a WAV file as an attachment to an email so you can listen to them. Many of the VoIP systems also provide integrated web and video conferencing<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Improve productivity and efficiency<\/strong><\/p>\n

In addition to cost advantages, VoIP can help your small business improve productivity and efficiency through:<\/p>\n