The VoIP Race - New Technology in Communication

The VoIP Race - New Technology in Communication

by Rosie Grace Brooks

VoIP or Voice over IP, communications and service providers are situated an industry with a furious growth rate and positive trends, paving the future for business, corporate, social and scientific communication. VoIP usage in the USA is expected to have soared from just over one billion Dollars in revenue in 2004 to almost twenty billion Dollars by 2009. VoIP services are relatively new to the market prompting an incredible boost in its usage and sales. Although it would seem that the change from regular phones to VoIP phones and services is predominant in large enterprises and the small to medium enterprises, as well as domestic settings are sticking with the traditional telephone services available, VoIP is still taking over the world.

The VoIP Race
With the influx of demand on VoIP services, communication carriers and suppliers are taking up the trend and converting to these services, offering customers the best in VoIP technology whilst being teamed with an existing carrier. However, an issue affecting the service providers' business is the usage of VoIP. Many companies are installing it simply for the extra benefits and complex applications such as voice mail and relying on traditional telephones as means for direct communications instead of converting their entire PBX to VoIP. Most people are happy with regular telephones and high bills - something new is somewhat frightening to them. With these perceptions and "fears" of new technology such as VoIP, the industry will not progress as quickly as it should.

Due to the race for better prices, more features and lowest costs, the marketing features surrounding VoIP companies comes at quite a price, leading fees to increase. The cycle is a vicious one and the only provider able to combat this problem is the provider who focuses on their features being better than the rest. Small business enterprises will benefit greatly from the better features available from competing companies.

Times are a-changing!
The fearful perception of VoIP is a huge downfall for businesses still relying on old methods. The out dated methods of communication simply do not offer the advantages a VoIP PBX can. Many small businesses are fearful of moving to this technology because the technology is advanced and relatively unknown to employees and leaders of the companies. However, VoIP providers today have managed to escape the confusion and fear labelled to their services through clever changes. For example, some providers allow calls to be made through the normal phones over PSTN until clients are ready to receive calls using VoIP.

Users and observers not "in the know" may be under the misconception that VoIP is only concerned with phone calls using the internet. VoIP is not simply "talking over the internet." Features such as voice mail that is accessible over any phone or internet connection, Call Forwarding; CLI; Hunt Groups; Call Barring; Call Restriction; 3-way Conferencing; Music and Message on-hold email, fax, multiple connectivity, easy access to user features settings and much more.

Smart Communication
Many communication companies are catching on to the benefits of joining forces with VoIP service providers, incorporating good value for money deals whilst expanding both companies customer base. This amalgamation of companies allows cheaper calls and services to subscribers in the sphere of customers of both companies.

The VoIP generation is growing. Despite some fears from the public as to the technical side of the services, the growth of VoIP in the communications market, especially in corporations and businesses, is becoming greater and greater.