Sharing information such as phone calls, SMS text messages, call recordings, and even faxes over a long distance is known as telephony. What started with the first telephone call in 1876 has evolved into web-based, unified communications that large and small businesses worldwide rely on every day.
What is Telephony?
Telephone technology functionality has rapidly evolved in recent years, and new advanced features like call forwarding, caller ID, call routing, conference calling, and mobile apps have improved call quality and the customer experience.
Telephony refers to the technology that allows people to communicate and share information across a long distance. What started as a traditional landline and physical telephone device has evolved with the help of cloud computing into Voice-over Internet Protocol (VoIP), also known as internet telephony.
Traditional business phone service relies on a series of wires and cables to transform voice sound waves into electronic signaling. Older copper wires and more modern fiber-optic cables move the voice signals to their destination.
Internet telephony, commonly referred to as VoIP, allows users to make calls, leave voicemails and even host video conferencing over the internet using their mobile phones or other mobile devices. Instead of relying on analog phone signals sent over a landline, this type of business phone system can convert voice into a digital signal, which is then transmitted from one recipient to another over the internet.
Types of VoIP Service
IP PBX is a traditional business phone system that uses the internet to move voice data from one IP address to another. IP PBX is also known as a switchboard, as it utilizes a contact center. PBX systems use Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) to route calls; a VoIP system uses LAN or WAN data to make and receive calls. Both hardware-based and software systems are available.
Hosted VoIP uses the network to convert and transmit voice calls. Single cloud-based phone service is provided to businesses with this system, eliminating the need to use and maintain multiple on-premises servers. This service provider requires less hardware and provides more calling capabilities than a PBX system alternative.
Any software update or new configuration can be done remotely, rather than a designated VoIP provider scheduling a time to work on your office phone system. In addition, hosted VoIP communication systems are compatible with all devices, meaning they will work with the IP phones, laptops, smartphones, mobile devices, and desktops your small business provides to your employees.
How Do Telephony Solutions Help Your Business Needs?
With an increase in remote working, integrating a telephony solutions communication system with the business communication tools your company relies on every day is crucial for continued success. Realtime audio and video communication allow your team to collaborate better with easy access to instant messaging, video calling, screen sharing, and video conferencing. VoIP solutions can ultimately help your team meet deadlines and increase productivity.
Investing in a telephone system can help your company save money. Long-distance calls made over a traditional public switched telephone network can be costly, with some providers charging as much as $1 per minute. Internet-based communications are a fraction of this cost, many being completely toll-free. Internet-based communication systems also require less on-premises physical equipment than older PBX systems requiring costly maintenance. Complex servers are usually not needed, as many popular communication systems only require a connection to an IP network and a strong internet connection.
There are many options for VoIP internet connection phone systems on the market. One of the most popular solutions is RingCentral. These cost-effective approaches to an office telephone system often work with Microsoft and Apple products, two of the most common computer brands used by large and small businesses throughout the country. Unlike other business phone systems, RingCentral provides its users with a designated phone number that can be used from laptops and mobile devices.
About STEADfast
In addition to offering Telephony Solutions for businesses, STEADfast also offers bandwidth and connectivity, technology management, cloud services, and more.