If you are satisfied with paying in excess of 9 to 12 times more than you need to for your business’s phone systems, you shouldn’t read any further. Because in this blog we are going to explain what hosted VoIP is, and why 61% of businesses are switching to it in 2022.
What Is Hosted VoIP?
In a nutshell, a hosted VoIP service (Voice-Over Internet Protocol) is an internet-based telephone and communication service. Unlike traditional phone lines, PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network), hosted VoIP transmits voice data over the internet.
Hosted VoIP phone systems replace traditional phone systems with a cloud-based system. Any phone call you make is converted into digital data packets and transmitted to the receiver over the internet.
The servers required to transmit the data are managed by your service provider, and you don’t have to maintain any equipment or infrastructure at the office, all you need is an internet connection.
If you already have a private branch exchange (PBX or hosted PBX) in place, you can still use hosted VoIP with SIP Trunking.
That Sounds Too Good to Be True…How Does Hosted VoIP Work?
Hosted Voice-Over IP uses the same processes and infrastructure used to transfer data over the internet.
Here’s how hosted VoIP works:
- When you make a VoIP call, it gets connected to the internet via your office’s internet connection.
- Your voice is carried over the internet (securely) to off-site hosted VoIP servers.
- The server manages and processes the call and routes it to the appropriate digital destination.
- Recipients can receive calls whether they are using a VoIP service or a landline.
6 Reasons Why Hosted VoIP Is Right for Your Business
The beauty of managed VoIP lies in its simplicity for small business owners. All you need is a stable internet connection, a private IP network and you’re all set up.
Here are a few benefits you can get from hosted VoIP pretty much right away.
1. Maximize Value From Your Business Phone System
You can slash business phone system costs up to a staggering $2,500 per 10 users per month switching from a landline system to a hosted VoIP system. The savings are significant even if you migrate from an IP-based system to a VoIP system.
Cost-effective add-ons such as for unlimited calling, inexpensive international calls, and call routing will also provide greater value compared to traditional phone services.
2. Anywhere, Anytime Availability
Unlike a landline or an IP phone system that’s bound to the office, hosted VoIP solutions “travel” with you. Your employees can make calls from any authorized device, be it the work phone or a smartphone.
For instance, if the phone on the desk goes unanswered, the call can transfer over to the business smartphone, or even to the home phone.
3. Higher Quality International Calls
If your staff makes international calls regularly, hosted VoIP is an absolute no-brainer.
The internet provides much greater bandwidth compared to analog calls, and you may even notice an improvement in latency (the gap between someone speaking and the person at the other end hearing them).
4. Unify Your Communications Channels
With hosted VoIP, you can integrate all communications channels into a single dashboard.
VoIP enables unified communications, facilitating real-time and non-real-time communications across the organization.Hosted VoIP also allows easy integration with business tools, such as CRM, analytics tools, and more.
5. Easy Scalability
One of the biggest reasons why businesses of all sizes are switching over to hosted VoIP is its scalability.
Adding (or removing) capacity is as easy as changing your subscription plan; adding capabilities is as easy as selecting add-ons. There are no upfront costs and you don’t need to invest in expensive infrastructure for your business either.
6. Enhanced Security
No phone system can be entirely secure but hosted VoIP systems provide access to the latest internet security standards.
Data transmitted over the internet is encrypted, making it that much harder to read for cybercriminals. Working with an accredited VoIP provider will mean you remain compliant with data security standards laid down, such as HIPAA, ISO/IEC, and SOC.
7. Ongoing Technical Support
Your hosted VoIP provider will provide technical support and routine maintenance as part of their service plan.
That means you don’t have to hire IT specialists yourself or work with a specialized telephone repair business. Since you don’t need to maintain equipment at your premises for VoIP, there’s no ongoing maintenance to take care of either.
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Is Managed VoIP Right for You?
In all likelihood, switching to a hosted VoIP system is going to help you maximize value, improve quality of service, and improve visibility into productivity. But you need to speak to experienced IT professionals to make an informed decision for your business.
At XL.net, we help businesses like yours boost productivity and maximize value from IT solutions.
Our team will help you:
- Understand if/how a hosted VoIP system can be an improvement over your current system
- Identify providers that meet your needs and those of your industry
- Integrate it with your IT systems
- Provide ongoing support and helpdesk
Talk to us about your communication and connectivity needs.