SolveYourProblem eLearning Series
VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol)

Is VoIP Audio Quality Good?
by Jeff Cohen

VoIP was not known for great quality when it first appeared on the market. Thanks to technological advances VoIP has been holding their own against telephone heavyweights for quite some time in the area of voice quality. To get the most out of your VoIP connection you will need to invest in an up-to-date computer. If your computer is running on a slow processor or a very old operating system, your computer may not be equipped to handle VoIP and producing the high quality audio needed to have a great conversation. You should always check with your VoIP provider and see what their computer requirements are before signing up. You should make sure that your computer is fully prepared to adequately handle a VoIP connection.

Another step in producing great audio quality and VoIP is your soundboard. If you have a shabby soundboard and speakers, you will not experience the full range of VoIP. Your computer should be well equipped before considering taking the dive and unplugging your telephone wires.

VoIP operates by transmitting audio as data (in the form of Packets) across the Internet. The Packets can be transmitted to another computer or to a standard PSTN phone. If it is transmitted to a PSTN phone, the packet will be reassembled for the other hearer. All of this takes place in the blink of an eye and produces a conversation comparable to other service providers.

For VoIP to produce great quality audio, you will need to make sure that you have a High Speed Internet connection. This can be either DSL or Cable Modem, but VoIP will have conflicting issues with Dial Up. When you subscribe to your VoIP subscriber, you will be given software to install upon your computer. This will also include audio Codecs. Audio Codecs will enable your VoIP with high quality audio and great sound capabilities. There is no reason to believe that you cannot have excellent sound with VoIP.

VoIP is providing customers with not only great audio, but also with great features that are usually only provided for a fee with standard telephone service providers. Features such as Voicemail, Call waiting, Call forwarding, Caller Id, and Call Transferring are typically included free of charge with your VoIP package.

Many small businesses are opting to use VoIP for their telecommunication business needs due to the fact that VoIP offers great quality for a lower price. Small businesses are recognizing that the ability to handle all of their data, voice, and web applications with one service is of incredible benefit to the productivity of their company. The ability to interact with customers in real time, while utilizing E-mail, audio, and web applications is well worth the switch to VoIP.

Call centers are also taking advantage of VoIP services. In the early years of telemarketing history, call centers were comprised of one central office where hundreds, if not thousands, of employees gathered together to handle customer service calls. Now, by utilizing VoIP, call centers can exist anywhere worldwide. Many business owners are now outsourcing their business overseas, and with VoIP technology, agents can be hired around the globe, and in different time zones, allowing companies to have cost effective labor, that works 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

There are other benefits for small businesses incorporating VoIP service. It is a great way for mobile employees to stay connected to their main offices and they can take advantage of the affordable rates. Mobile employees can also benefit from the fact that VoIP can be used anywhere there is a High Speed Internet connection. That means that if an employee travels a lot, they can receive business calls on their current work number via their laptop. This is an incredible savings not only of dollars, but of valuable business calls that may other wise be lost.

All in all, VoIP has increased to a viable alternative to traditional landline phone service. The quality has developed to the point that VoIP is a viable competitor against major telephone companies. As products and services continue to develop, we can only expect that VoIP will increase in quality, service, and standards. People value the nature of VoIP for its flexibility; cost effectiveness, ability to increase business productivity, and overall simplicity of design.

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