VoIP converts voice data into digital signals and sends these over the internet. In other words, VoIP converts sound waves into digital data which can then be sent in over the internet. VoIP phones differ from traditional landlines, as they don’t rely on a fixed location or copper wires to transmit data.
Keep reading to find out more about how VoIP works, and why VoIP phones are becoming increasingly popular in the UK and worldwide.
What Is VoIP?
VoIP is a form of digital communication, or also commonly called IP telephony or cloud-based telephony. VoIP stands for Voice over Internet Protocol. Unlike a traditional landline network, VoIP phones send and receive calls via the internet. VoIP phone systems can be great for small business and larger companies alike, so long as you find the best provider for the needs of your company.
By 2025, VoIP will become the main use of communication in the UK as all landlines will be switched off. Also, with hybrid working increasing since the Covid Pandemic, the number of people utilising messaging apps and other forms of online communication has risen sharply.
Network providers today are preparing customers to make the switch by 2025, and will completely convert their landline networks into digital infrastructures. However, there are already-existing VoIP providers in the UK who provide affordable and competitive VoIP contracts for both businesses and individuals.
How Do VoIP Phones Work?
But, how exactly does VoIP work step-by-step? Below, find how a VoIP phone generally works:
- A VoIP phone receives digital data from another device and then sends it to a specific address in packets of information.
- The information is then sent to a specific broadband line to a router.
- The packet of data is then received, after travelling through other destinations, to its final destination.
- All of the information will then be put into the correct order.
- The user on the other end will then receive the data as speech.
VoIP can be used on a variety of devices, not just mobile phones, such as laptops, desktops and even tablets. VoIP, generally, is versatile and provides many advantages for users.
Can VoIP Be Hacked?
VoIP systems utilise an internet connection and therefore they can in theory be hacked or affected by nefarious actors. However, your internet security and the IT infrastructure you have in place will weigh on whether or not your VoIP phone system can indeed be hacked.
Usually, VoIP calls will be utilised internally within companies (although this is not always the case) and therefore, with rigorous IT infrastructure in place, these calls should be a little bit more secure than when calling externally. Furthermore, because of the online nature of VoIP calling, other scams may persist such as ID spoofing and denial of service (DoS) attacks.
Samuel Davies of Kallyss.com commented: “No matter what industry you are in and no matter what your company offers, cybersecurity should always be at the forefront of your mind, particularly if you run a business that relies on anything over the internet. By securing your company online, you will be protecting both customers as well as the reputation of your company, which if badly damaged, can be incredibly hard to salvage.”
Why Choose VoIP?
As the inevitable landline switch-off occurs, VoIP will become the primary use of communication in the UK. There are many reasons why VoIP is, and will continue to be, so popular today as a form of digital communication. Some of the many advantages to VoIP are:
- High-quality calls
- Flexibility over location
- Easy to install
- Advanced features available
- Fit for business & personal use
- Little equipment needed to install
- Can be used on various devices
- Providers supply affordable contracts
- Easy to teach employees
- Friendly interface
- Easy to use
- Quick installation
There are also plenty of other advantages to VoIP. For example, businesses can particularly benefit from VoIP as it is easy to teach, use and affordable to install and run. Whether a freelancer, small business or a large corporation – VoIP offers many specific features, unlike landline, for free to help businesses grow.
VoIP has been proven to help increase employee productivity levels and help grow startups through advanced features. Switching to VoIP is also easy, and can be done relatively fast at an inexpensive rate.
What Are the Potential Drawbacks to VoIP?
VoIP, nevertheless, does have some possible drawbacks. Some of the possible downsides to VoIP are:
- VoIP relies on a reliable internet connection
- Poor internet connection could mean lower call quality
- No location tracking for emergency calls
However, luckily, VoIP problems have resulted in solutions being found. For instance, emergency service providers can be given exact locations beforehand in the case of an emergency. VoIP, nonetheless, continues to grow in popularity and will likely see more developments with years to come.
