It’s an acronym that stands for Voice over Internet Protocol, also known as IP telephony. It’s a phone service which makes and receive calls via your computer network instead of using traditional telephones lines. It’s becoming more popular in businesses because of its many features, but it’s still not used to its full potential by many small businesses and home offices.

One reason that a lot of people don’t get into the modern phone systems is because they’re intimidated by the pricing. But there are plenty of affordable options out there, and if you’re smart you’ll look at them before jumping on the “how’s” bandwagon. Here are some options you should look at.

First, you can try a hosted PBX. With a hosted PBX, you don’t buy a dedicated IP phone system from a VoIP provider. Instead, your hosting company serves as the provider and you get the internet protocol address from them. The drawback is that the hosted option doesn’t provide as many features as an independent one would, and this might be enough to turn some people away.

Second, you can use hosted pbx with VoIP. The advantages are similar to the hosted pbx option. You don’t buy a dedicated IP phone system. Instead, your hosting provider acts as the provider, providing you an interface to your network and voice features. Like the hosted pbx option, you have access to a wide range of features.

Then, there’s the traditional VoIP phone service.

When you talk to a person on the phone, you talk via your computer to a receiver. This is how the traditional phones work, but with voice over internet protocol, voice is sent directly to the computer. Some advantages of this option include fewer dropped calls and a more personal connection.

Third, there are RTP (Real-time Transport Protocol) and SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) solutions. RTP is used in RTP/SIP based telephony applications. SIP is a protocol designed for real-time data exchange over the internet. SIP uses internet protocols to establish a session and determines which party has initiated the call.

Finally, there are IVR (Integrated Voice Response) solutions. IVR applications provide automated answering capability. The IVR uses a toll-free number and a number sequence to automate an on-site call center. This type of IVR solution is usually deployed using hosted PBX systems and call forwarding.

These are just some of the providers that are available to you when you look for a VoIP phone system. Different providers allow you to decide the size and scope of your calling needs. With many companies offering these services at affordable rates, it makes sense to compare options to find the right one for you. Start by looking at what each provider can offer you in terms of features and price. This will help you determine which provider and product are best for your business phone system needs.

For businesses that use a variety of devices, consider hosted IP pbx.

Many telecom solutions providers to offer hosted IP pbx programs through which you can manage voicemail, calendaring, call recording, conferencing and others. Hosted IP box allows you to manage your calls with ease. Features include call recording, voicemail, calendaring, call forwarding and others. You can easily forward calls from your mobile phone or your laptop to the conference call interface of the hosted IP pbx. Providers like National Internet Telephone Association (NITA) and ISDN offer hosted IP telephony solutions.

Hosted pbx solutions also give you the ability to customize your communications experience. For instance, you can use advanced features like auto attendant, call forwarding, call transfer, music on hold and more. A hosted IP pbx platform makes it easy to manage your telecommunications needs and streamline your business.

Most providers allow you to select either the local or the toll-free area code. Some providers allow you to select from several different extensions. If you are looking for a high quality phone service, you will need to select the area code where you will receive your calls. Many providers allow you to select unlimited area codes and some even provide the ability to select a different area code if you move. Switching your local area code to a toll-free area code is very popular as it allows you to enjoy a seamless transition.

• Businesses need to take advantage of new technology if they want to compete in today’s market.
• VoIP Phone Service gives you scalable solutions that will allow you to manage communications effectively.
• With a scalable IP telephone system, you will be able to expand your business in any way.
• These communications solutions are designed to help you improve productivity, lower costs, increase efficiency and minimize expenses.