Pros and Cons of Choosing Cloud Based VoIP Service

Businesses rely on telephone systems for many things. They use telephones to facilitate communication with customers, partners, vendors and employees. But the kind of telephone systems used today in most businesses is far from traditional. Phone systems have been transferred to the cloud for a variety of reasons.

Given the amount of money required to invest in hardware used in traditional telephone systems as well as the cost of maintenance, many businesses have turned to cloud based solutions. We will look at the pros and cons of cloud based VoIP service to help you determine if it is appropriate for your business.

Advantages of VoIP

Low initial cost: Compared to traditional phone systems where you have to buy the hardware and software and also cater for installation and maintenance costs, cloud based phone systems are cheaper because you only pay for what you need. The cost of delivering, maintaining the system is passed down to the provider.

Access to sophisticated features: A small business can benefit from a host of features that it can take advantage of to stay competitive. VoIP solutions make some of these features very affordable for small businesses. 

Portability: With a VoIP Phone system, you are not restricted to using a device at a specific location. The VoIP phone has its own in-built address and it can be operated anywhere so long as there is an internet connection. Wherever your service provider is based, the VoIP phone doesn’t restrict you to the office setting.

Convenience: The best VoIP service UK will also provide a web interface that enables clients to login and make calls from wherever they are. This is actually a very practical phone system especially for businesses that have employees who work remotely. The employees can travel and still make their calls using a convenient service.

Flexible: When it comes to a VoIP system, you are not limited to use a phone. You may use a computer application that can offer the same service. The good thing is that, companies that offer VoIP systems will also provide IT support services UK so you don’t have to spend an extra amount of money or time on managing the phone systems.

Disadvantages of VoIP

VoIP technology is great but it also comes with some major weaknesses. One of the major concerns is on the sound quality. VoIP systems can provide proper sound quality but only when you invest in proper equipment as well as have a strong internet connection. Over the years, manufacturers have reduced bandwidth requirements for VoIP systems to address latency issues. 

The other issue lies in the compatibility of different VoIP systems. Calls may not go through if the two parties are using different software. If you use the system to make calls, you may not be able to place or receive calls through the system unless the computer is turned on and the software is running. The system requires the internet to be available and reliable so in case of power loss, you may not be able to make or receive calls.