Ever since VoIP disrupted the telecom sector, things have never been the same. In today’s fast track world everyone is familiar with this technology. Maybe not by name, but certainly with the use of it. By using VoIP with a capable Internet connection, you can call anyone, anywhere in the world, without paying your network service provider for the call. Starting to sound familiar, right?
Today, VoIP is the dominant force in telecoms and continues to grow in influence. VoIP is becoming more and more valued by the companies requiring communications, which basically includes every company in existence today.
It is predicted that the VoIP market will grow by 12% between 2019 and 2025. All thanks to its low cost, decentralization and extensive capacity. It is clear that VoIP is adapting to the cosmopolitan era that Immanuel Kant philosophized about. It is clear – VoIP advancement continues to strengthen its position in the global market.
In this article we will explore how VoIP changed telecommunications and what the future of VoIP looks like.
What is VoIP?
VoIP technology uses a broadband Internet connection to make calls instead of using a traditional telephone line. With VoIP systems, you can make calls directly from a computer, IP phone or a smartphone using an app. This service can be provided through a cloud system or through an on-premises solution.
The person responsible for transforming the telecommunications industry through the creation of VoIP technology is Dr. Marian Rogers Croak. In her career, Dr. Marian Croak has been recognized as the inventor of Voice over Internet Protocol. She has been awarded over 200 patents, almost half of which are in VoIP.
This technology is so innovative that it radically changes the way traditional telephone systems work. It also provides an opportunity to look at business communications differently. The use of VoIP technology is also becoming more and more popular among people in their day to day lives.
How VoIP changed the telecommunications industry?
VoIP changed telecommunications by providing a cheaper and more efficient alternative to traditional telephone services. With VoIP, organizations can build an advanced network of multifunctional and Internet-enabled office phones.
Let us take a glimpse of the impact of VoIP on telecommunications.
Cost effective
VoIP is cost-effective, because it only an Internet connection for voice communications. Calls are much cheaper when using VoIP, especially in reference to long distance calls made to destinations outside the local area or country of the user. Therefore, the geographical distance is of little importance when it comes to VoIP. Another instance where VoIP is cost-effective, is that hosted VoIP services require no hardware. Everything is provided in the cloud, which implies that in the case of unforeseen events, hosted VoIP solutions will, or at least should, have fallback facilities where you can define what needs to happen with an incoming call if your device is not online. The end result is that you get the benefit of ultimate redundancy when using hosted VoIP.
Mobility
Modern business is no longer limited to one physical location. Many companies have multiple facilities, and an increasing number of employees are encouraged to work remotely. VoIP telephony is highly suited to this modern, mobile work style. The use of VoIP in conjunction with mobile applications ensures that employees are never separated from customers and their potential needs. Employees can easily make business calls by personal phone, home phone and even from a hotel. In summary, using VoIP is a major advantage when employees work outside the office.
Easy to set-up
The design of IP telephony allows for relatively simple installation, configuration and maintenance. There is no need to play around with wires and cables, users simply attach their phone to the Internet line. Without the complicated hardware needs, a VoIPsystem will be up and running smoothly and efficiently in no time.
Read an article on how to set-up VoIP for your office here.
Scalability
Scalability is one of the greatest benefits of VoIP. It makes it very easy to add users, new features and change subscription plans. No additional hardware needs to be installed for these updates. Just by increasing your subscription plan, you can simply install appropriate software on a new device, and it is ready for use.
Additional Features
VoIP systems offer users much more than just voice calls. The leading VoIP systems on the market are best characterized as unified communications products, providing voice calls, instant messaging and video conferencing through a single system. Another outstanding feature of VoIP is the ability to integrate with other software solutions. Taking all of this into account, it is clear that a VoIP system can be vital to many business operations.
The future of VoIP
Since VoIP changed the telecommunications industry, and started offering many benefits such as advanced features, the ability to integrate voice calls with other business services and the scalability of this technology, it gave the old telecommunications system a run for its money. With this happening, the legacy telecom systems will eventually come to an end, and traditional telephony will be completely replaced by VoIP. Regulators, telecoms companies and end users have already decided and they all agree that VoIP is the most promising telephony solution for the future.
The biggest engine of VoIP growth will be the continuous improvements in network infrastructure and services, especially mobile applications. Numerous businesses connect their mobile devices to their office network to make VoIP calls on the go.
Moreover, due to the Internet of Things (IoT), VoIP may be able to cement its position at the top of the market. This concept is changing the way we approach modern technology in disciplines that are very different from VoIP. Every VoIP device should be used not only for sending voice or video packets, but also for other purposes, one of them being the ability for devices to communicate with each other. And this is where IoT and VoIP meet, and looking to the future of VoIP, it could be based on IoT. Many manufacturers now see VoIP hotspots as the basis for smarter solutions that can share information and improve consumers’ lives.
Because most SIP devices are connected to the Internet, the prospects for VoIP endpoints working in conjunction with IoT are almost limitless. There are so many options for VoIP devices to automatically control everything on a network in a facility using real-time data, including factors such as lighting, communication flows, maintenance, and more.
Conclusion
The largest increase in VoIP usage occurred during the coronavirus pandemic, which has forced many businesses to switch from working in an office to working from home. And, since it’s advent, VoIP changed telecommunications beyond expectations. With the constant improvement in Internet infrastructure, the use of VoIP will only become even more prevalent, and include larger and better-quality services in its already long list. The astonishing possibilities of united IoT and VoIP services is also promptly gaining recognition, and will undoubtedly play an important role in our lives in the future.
