In the telecom industry, setting goals is critical. Unfortunately, most people never come close to realizing their goals. University of Scranton researchers reports that a shocking 92 percent of people never meet their New Year’s resolutions. So, why do so many people fail in their aims? Why are goals important at all? If you’re part of the telecom industry, then you know how competitive it is. It’s easy to drift for years, almost mindlessly following directions from your superiors. Feeling frustrated is expected. Telecommunications used to excite you. Now, it just feels like you’re adrift. Your frustration may stem from not defining what you want in life. Without reflection about where you want to go, it’s impossible for you to achieve your goal. That is if you even have a goal in mind. Why Goals Matter Goals give you drive and direction. They provide you with motivation and a sense of…
Without a doubt, the new generation of VoIP Softphones has revolutionized the industry by allowing real-time, high-quality free calls to be carried out across devices. Furthermore, voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) has become a vital tool for many businesses and companies. With that in mind, this is an in-depth comparison between some of the most notable VoIP softphones available today. 1. Call.Center Call.center is compatible with various operating systems, call.center is definitely one of the most multifaceted VoIP Softphones available right now. Using a single SIP line across various desktop and mobile devices, this app allows you to seamlessly take VoIP calls no matter where or when. In addition to having a variety of useful functionalities, this app aims at simplifying the configuration, management and secure deployment of your VoIP services. Due to its compatibility with various operating systems and devices, it may be somewhat difficult to install and configure.…
Softphones have become very popular across the world due to its cost-effectiveness, the multiple features offered by the software and the ability of the device to offer unified communications, including voice, video, instant messaging and fixed-mobile convergence. The 6 Benefits of Using Softphones: Cost of softphones Softphones are inexpensive and many products are available free of charge. In addition, softphones allow expensive desk and SIP phones to be replaced, and the cost of maintaining this hardware is no longer a consideration. Any upgrades to the softphone are generally free-of-charge and are easily installed without requiring expensive technical assistance. Save on calls In general, VoIP-to-VoIP calls are completely free. International and long-distance rates are much lower when using a VoIP softphone versus traditional telephony, so those making regular or frequent calls out-of-state or country can effect significant cost savings. Also, traditional landlines require a high general operating fee in order to…
When using a cloud PBX, customers have access to advanced features and enterprise-level functionality, while enjoying reduced infrastructure costs and minimized system administration concerns. However, you should diligently compare providers to ensure that you do not subscribe to a service that does not fit your needs and goals. This article lists some points to consider before committing to any hosted PBX phone service provider and should assist you in choosing a service that meets your communication needs. Are my feature set requirements satisfied? Before you start looking for a provider, you must compile a list of features that are essential to your business model and operational requirements, and also consider what features you might need in the future. In many cases, the cloud PBX provider charges for a specific set of features, or bills on a per-feature basis. Therefore, it may be useful to differentiate between “must have” features, and…
One of the main benefits of business VoIP is that it offers a much wider selection of features compared to the traditional phone network. Since VoIP technology has no physical limitation or hardware necessary to start a new feature like PSTN does, it can deliver the best low-cost enterprise features with a fraction of the hassle. But it’s no surprise that with so many features available, some really good ones can go unnoticed or are simply underused by most users. The best example of these features is Virtual Numbers, a unique and powerful tool that not all businesses understand how much it can benefit them in the long term. So what exactly is a Virtual Number? Also known as DID (Direct Inward Dialing), a Virtual number is a telephone number that is not directly associated to a telephone line and can be assigned to any device such as a hardware…
Are you part of the VoIP industry or just interested in the subject? Are you wondering what the VoIP market is up to? Do you want to keep your strategy ahead of the game? Are you concerned about the future of cloud communications? If so, you should start attending VoIP events and conferences, after all, it is the best way for you to stay up-to-date with the latest VoIP news, innovations, trends, and at the same time engage in high-quality networking. There are hundreds of telecom conferences around the world, but here are our top must-attend VoIP events: IT EXPO This event was first held 18 years ago and it is still one of the industry’s most important annual starting points. With its content and participants continuously evolving with the marketplace, is it one of the only VoIP events dedicated to solutions that drive communications transformation for the enterprise mid-market,…
Few have contributed as greatly to the open-source world of VoIP and telecommunications as Mark Spencer. Faced with financial obstacles, he did what any good leader would and built his own solution that has since then benefitted businesses around the world. His open-source framework Asterisk has been able to disrupt the status quo of PBX or Private Branch Exchange, systems while giving business owners a way to inexpensively manage their telecommunications. Education and Beginnings Mark Spencer wasn’t a man who came out of nowhere and built this innovative program. He was enrolled at Auburn University as a computer engineer when the entrepreneurial spirit first hit him. While still a student and finishing up his degree, Spencer decided it was time to put his education to the test and found his own business. This culminated in Linux Support Systems, a company started in 1999 with the original aim of supplying Linux support…
Telecommunication has changed significantly since Alexander Graham Bell’s created the first practical telephone model in 1876. While there have been changes in design, function, features and much more, few can argue that there are any changes bigger than the move to VoIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) technology. This new invention has not only produced the emerging VoIP market, but it is also leading to the take over of traditional phone systems. Who is the man behind VoIP? None of this would be possible without Alon Cohen. Born in Israel in 1962, his multiple patents have both created and improved on Internet telecommunications. Let’s look into who Alon Cohen is, how he developed this technology and how it has changed the face of phones and audio communications forever. Beginnings Creating the VoIP industry was not on Alon Cohen’s mind when he first started learning about technology. In fact, it wasn’t even the…
With the rate at which the VoIP industry is expanding, there is no doubt that everyone has heard of the term softphone in recent years. Even though most people might not even know what it is, they are certainly aware of the word. They might even be using one already without realizing it. So What is a Softphone Exactly? A softphone (software telephone) is a software program for making phone calls over the Internet using a computer, tablet or smartphone rather than using dedicated hardware. It is often designed to look and behave like a traditional telephone, with a display panel and buttons for the user to interact with, much like a standard phone interface. Most softphones work in conjunction with a headset and microphone that is connected to the computer. Softphone applications can be downloaded from a wide variety of providers and are available for a range of operating systems such as Windows,…
Call centers are at the front line of customer service and are expected to run at peak efficiency while maintaining a high call volume. There are many challenges in managing and operating a call center, one of them being securing inbound calling services that meet both current and future needs. Voice support serves as the backbone for the call center, and it is short-sighted for a brand to risk their reputation by exposing consumers to a substandard voice product. Management is constantly concerned with basic communication issues. Are callers getting a busy signal? Are calls being dropped? Is the voice quality satisfactory? At the same time, the concurrent call requirements have to be managed, to ensure sufficient capacity without wasting money on excess channels. Furthermore, in recent years, organizations have seen their customer base contact them not only through more media channels but also from diverse locations around the globe.…