Beginner’s Guide to Hosted VoIP

With more and more businesses moving their communications solutions into the Cloud, and the deadline for the 2025 PSTN switch-off fast approaching, Hosted VoIP is becoming the go-to solution for telephony. But what exactly is Hosted VoIP Telephony?

Today, the term VoIP, or Voice over Internet Protocol, refers to an IP telephony solution that allows you to make voice calls over an internet connection. A VoIP solution works by taking analogue voice signals, converting them into digital signals and sending them as data over a means of internet access.

Why choose Hosted VoIP?

One of the first things to consider when choosing a phone system is longevity. As you may know, the PSTN will be switched off in 2025, meaning you will no longer be able to place calls using traditional copper landlines. Hosted VoIP is the replacement solution for traditional telephony, so investing now means future-proofing your business.

The future of voice communications is easy to set up with little to no hardware, all you need is a reliable internet connection, a Hosted VoIP licence and an IP phone. Some Hosted VoIP providers also offer Soft Client applications which they allow to be available on mobile devices, meaning you can make calls using a Hosted VoIP solution from anywhere, at any time, making agile working even easier.

You’ll also be saving on costs with Hosted VoIP. Unlike WLR, there is no capital expenditure when it comes to set up, so all you need to pay is a fixed monthly fee. Costs per minute are also reduced, plus, with no hardware, you won’t need to budget for equipment maintenance.

Is it secure?

Each Hosted VoIP Platform provider will offer differing levels of security dependent on the data centres – where the platform is hosted, locations, their resilience and the level of data encryption.

As data is carried over an internet connection, its security is also governed by how secure that connection is, and any internet security protocols and firewalls that are in place to guard against unauthorised access to the platform infrastructure.

Some VoIP platforms offer additional security with business continuity and disaster recovery built in. In addition, you are protected from any potential disasters such as flooding or fire as there is no hardware at risk.

Are there any drawbacks to Hosted VoIP?

No solution is perfect, but the benefits of Hosted VoIP far outweigh the negatives.

As Hosted VoIP is run over the internet, call quality is governed by the quality of the connection. However, with the increase in fibre product availability across the UK and the upcoming launch of new connectivity solutions, designed to support IP services, all businesses will have access to recommended solutions with Quality of Service (QoS) so no one should have to worry about poor or reduced call quality.

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