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The Advantages of Voice-over Internet Protocol (VoIP)
16 January 2009

What is Voice-over IP?

“Voice-over Internet Protocol (VoIP, IPA: /v??p/) is a general term for a family of transmission technologies for delivery of voice communications over the Internet or other packet-switched networks. Other terms frequently encountered and synonymous with VoIP are IP telephony and Internet telephony, as well as voice-over broadband, broadband telephony, and broadband phone, when the network connectivity is available over broadband Internet access….”
*http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VoIP

Why should we?
A google search for “the advantages of VoIP” returned a noteworthy 426 000 hits, most of these sites are happy to share their views on the advantages and disadvantages of this growing platform. Using the Internet as the sole reference for reliable information is always a daunting prospect, but in general certain advantages and disadvantages do seem to apply.

The mayor advantage of VoIP lies in its ability to provide a lower cost solution to its client base. These lower cost scenarios are most tangible in businesses environments where international call rates on the PSTN (public switched telephone network) are prohibitive as well as scenarios where inter branch calls are possible using the companies own wide area network (WAN), where these calls could even be free of charge.

VoIP also normally uses the same infrastructure the office Internet line uses, thus offering a reduced cost with fewer lines and lower maintenance costs.
Some features such as caller ID, call waiting, call forwarding, 3-way conferencing and voice mails are normally part of the standard VoIP service in comparison with the PSTN, where these features are optional and paid for extras.

VoIP also opens up a myriad of additional applications in that the same network could also be used to send data, fax and can even be used in video conferencing applications.

Important when considering the purchase of a VoIP solution is that when using VoIP, you still require the services of a VoIP service provider. This provider provides the service of routing the VoIP calls to their destinations as well as connecting the VoIP and PSTN telephony networks. South Africa has a number of VoIP service providers to choose from.

Also noteworthy is the fact that the VoIP network is reliant on power supply, other than PSTN network phones that work even when the power is out, thus requiring an additional investment in terms of backup power.

With our second telecommunication provider eventually becoming active in providing connectivity to the business and public sectors, we should see a decrease in costs associated with access to the Internet, and in this reduction we should see an associated cost benefit in employing VoIP solutions in South Africa.

If one is able to make calls at the same quality, with increased functionality, at a reduced cost, the question quickly will become: Why not?

*References
http://www.voipplanet.com/trends/article.php/3709696
http://news.zdnet.co.uk/communications/0,1000000085,39169076,00.htm
http://www.channelweb.co.uk/crn/analysis/2150288/benefits-ip-telephony-clear