What Type of Phone Does Your VoIP System Require?

As its name suggests, VoIP lets you make phone calls over the internet. It can be a wireless means of communication that’s not only cost-effective but convenient and is designed to augment the communication mechanisms of small and medium-sized businesses. But what are the hardware requirements of VoIP? What sort of phone handset do you […]

As its name suggests, VoIP lets you make phone calls over the internet. It can be a wireless means of communication that’s not only cost-effective but convenient and is designed to augment the communication mechanisms of small and medium-sized businesses.

But what are the hardware requirements of VoIP? What sort of phone handset do you need? This is a question that plagues small business owners who hate the idea of abandoning familiar handsets for the alien devices they think VoIP requires.

But the technology is far more versatile than you presume, compatible with options such as the following:

Ordinary Phones

Ordinary PTSN phones are not the same as VoIP phones. VoIP Phones use the internet to connect users. Conventional phones, on the other hand, depend on copper wires to transmit information. While most VoIP service providers offer VoIP phones, it is possible to integrate your PSTN handsets into your VoIP system.

The process isn’t straightforward. You can’t just plug an ordinary phone into a router. You need an ATA Box, a device that will turn the analogue signals from your phone into digital information that can be transmitted over your internet connection.

As a business owner, you don’t need to know how ATA Boxes work. You just have to understand that the devices will enable you to access the capabilities of a VoIP phone system using ordinary handsets. This should put most of you who hate the idea of abandoning your traditional communication hardware at ease.

VoIP Phones

Some handsets are specifically designed to work with VoIP. Some people call them IP Phones. Others prefer the term ‘SIP Phones’. We have plenty of VoIP phones in stock specifically because they are far superior to conventional handsets.

They come with an LCD display that simplifies the process of accessing all your phone system’s functions such as voicemail, video calling, and call forwarding. They also have Network and PC ports that will multiply your connectivity options, not to mention enhanced data security.

That being said, you can still use them like ordinary phones. You don’t have to worry about losing the functionality of your legacy handset.

Software

Some people call these ‘softphones’ but the term refers to a phone program installed on a computer. It’s just software that creates a phone interface on your screen. As you might have guessed, it gives you a keypad for dialling numbers along with numerous other functions, and all you require to make it work is the internet.

Softphones are attractive because they are cheap. In fact, you can get this software for free. However, softphones can be unreliable ― which is why you rarely find large companies using them. Skype is one example of a softphone and anyone that has used it knows how poor the connections can get.

IP Handsets are another type of phone you can use. However, they must be connected to a computer and they work in tandem with softphones. They are not worth mentioning because of how expensive and complicated they tend to be.

You can also use smartphones. The average smartphone or tablet has access to a litany of softphone applications. So you have a number of options at your disposal. However, you can only communicate with people when the softphone application is open.

VoIP Phones, ordinary softphones, and legacy handsets do not have this limitation.

To find out more about our services, please call us free on 0800 332 266 or contact our sales department at hello@voiper.co.uk