What is VoIP?

Voice over IP (VoIP) is a technology for carrying telephone calls over IP networks (such as the Internet) that involves digitising and packetising voice streams. VoIP-based telephony will facilitate the adoption of advanced voice and data solutions that incorporate video conferencing, application sharing, multichannel contact handling, on-demand speech recording, unified messaging, unified directories and more.

Ten types of VoIP solution that could benefit your organisation

1. Use VoIP Desktop software packages (such as Skype) to eliminate inter company calling costs and reduce mobile, long distance and international calling costs.
2. Switch to VoIP-enabled telephone systems (or IP-PBXs) to enable a range of new feature-rich applications and capabilities.
3. Move to a single 'converged' IP voice and data network to reduce physical network costs and simplify network administration
4. Connect VoIP gateways to your internal phone network to eliminate inter company calling costs
5. Gain geographical independence (and be able to answer calls wherever you happen to be) using 'single number' VoIP services
6. Switch to feature-rich 'hosted' VoIP services and eliminate the need to invest in new phone systems, software upgrades and system maintenance
7. Expand the ways you interact with customers and colleagues by adding collaborative VoIP services such as video, web collaboration etc
8. Cut the cost and improve the performance of your converged IP network with network performance products and services
9. Make your converged IP network more secure with network security products and services
10. Gain greater control over your communications with the latest generation of VoIP handsets