The world is upgrading from traditional systems to new age technology with a major shift towards VoIP. Business across the world is moving towards VoIP phone systems for their communication needs. But there is still a significant percentage of businesses relying on traditional telephony and resisting the migration to VoIP. Many still find it difficult to understand and calculate the real benefits of making this shift. This blog post explores the differences, advantages and disadvantages of traditional telephony and VoIP.
- Understanding Traditional Telephony:
Traditional telephony is a system that uses copper wire circuits to transmit voice signals from one phone to another. It uses Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) and Plain Old Telephone Service (POTs) lines for communication. The system uses circuit-switching technology to create a pathway between two phones which stay exclusive throughout the call. Traditional telephony systems are expensive and limited in capacity. It is not easy to add additional lines or features without paying a large sum or rewiring the entire system.
- Understanding VoIP:
VoIP is the technology that allows voice communication to be transmitted over the internet rather than cables. It converts voice into packets of data, transmitting and receiving it over the internet. VoIP offers more features than traditional telephony such as unified messaging, call forwarding, video conferencing and much more. VoIP is much cheaper than traditional telephony. Businesses can save anywhere from 20-40% on their phone bill by switching to VoIP.
- Advantages of VoIP over Traditional Telephony:
VoIP offers several benefits over traditional telephony systems. Firstly, VoIP is much cheaper due to its use of the internet for transmission, meaning long distance calls are effectively free. Secondly, VoIP offers added features like call recording, conference calling and voice typing which are not available in traditional telephony systems. Thirdly, VoIP systems allow businesses to have a virtual presence, enabling them to have a local phone number whilst operating remotely. The flexibility offered by VoIP cannot be easily matched by traditional telephony.
- Advantages of Traditional Telephony over VoIP:
Traditional telephony systems can sometimes be more reliable than VoIP. Because traditional telephony uses a dedicated circuit line, communication is not affected by internet speed or reliability issues. Additionally, traditional telephony systems still offer better call quality in general than VoIP. Lastly, traditional telephony systems do not require high speed internet unlike VoIP systems, which can be a deciding factor for businesses operating in remote areas.
- Final Verdict:
Both traditional telephony and VoIP have their advantages and disadvantages. Choosing the right system for a business requires careful consideration of budget, business needs and reliability. VoIP provides a variety of features at lower costs and more flexibility for businesses. However, traditional telephony’s reliability and call quality cannot be easily matched. Both systems have their selling points and it is in the business’s best interest to determine which system will serve them better in the long run.
Both VoIP and traditional telephony have their advantages and are capable of meeting business needs in their own way. However, VoIP is the best choice for businesses that require flexibility, cost savings and advanced features, as well as businesses that plan to have remote employees or operate in different locations. On the other hand, traditional telephony is the best choice for businesses that require constant reliability and require high quality, consistent voice calls. Therefore, businesses should carefully consider their needs before making their decision. The world has moved ahead with technology, and the choice is now yours, traditional telephony or modern VoIP?