Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP): Hosted or On-site?

Voice over Internet Protocol (Voice over IP or VoIP) is a technology that lets you make phone calls over an IP data network, whether on the Internet or on your organization’s internal IT network.

In other words, it’s a phone system that is transmitted over the Internet instead of the phone company’s network.

Many businesses have taken advantage of this technology because it is often more reliable than classic phone lines, and it’s a cheaper option.

If you’ve never heard of VoIP before, you’ve probably heard of a popular, free version of the technology—Skype.

Why Skype is the Wrong Choice for Most Businesses

Skype lets users place phone calls over the Internet to other Skype users. Users also have the option to participate in video chats.

It’s a great technology for family video chats and friendly phone calls, but it has no place in business. Skype is often unreliable, and you are required to pay for phone calls you make to non-Skype phones. Over time, those charges can really add up.

Your clients need to be able to reach you, and Skype just doesn’t provide that kind of reliable service.

So, What are My Options?

If you’d like to setup a VoIP phone system in your office (and we highly suggest you do), you basically have two options: on-site or hosted.

On-site

An on-site VoIP system requires an in-house server to run the phone system software. The software provides the virtual environment for your incoming and outgoing calls, and voicemail. The server is connected to the Internet and listens for calls on Session Initial Protocol (SIP) lines. A third party hosts these SIP lines. They receive the initial call, send it to your server, and—voila—your phone rings.

The downside: If you lose power or Internet access, you’re only as good as your backup battery and Internet service. Basically, you’re at the mercy of the telephone poles that carry your services.

Hosted

Hosted solutions take the on-site server out of the equation. The hosting company manages the SIP lines, accepts calls into their data system where your virtual phone system is hosted, and sends the calls over the Internet directly to your desktop VoIP phone.

We recommend the hosted VoIP solution because it takes voice communications—an essential component of business—out of the office and provides real-time continuity. Hosted providers have everything needed to keep your phone lines up and running—backup generators, multiple Internet lines, and a trained staff.

Find Your Solution

AMRCON has partnered with VoiceNEXT right here in New Jersey to bring you a fully integrated VoIP hosted solution of the highest quality.

We highly recommend a consultation with their exceptionally qualified staff. We manage the data and systems; they manage the voice communications. It’s a match made in, well, New Jersey. Contact us to learn more.