VoIP: VoIP FAQs

Why/how is VoIP different from traditional phone service?
VoIP is the delivery of voice information using the Internet. VoIP sends voice information in a digital form in packets rather than in the traditional circuit-committed protocols of the public switched telephone network (PSTN).

How reliable is VoIP?
VoIP is as reliable as your ISP (Internet Service Provider). Just as traditional phone lines are as reliable as the phone company that owns them, the network lines are as effective as the ISP that maintains them.

How secure is VoIP?
VoIP is as secure as traditional phone service. With encryption, VoIP calls can be even more secure than those placed over traditional phone lines.

What are the bandwidth requirements for VoIP?
A broadband connection is required to successfully use VoIP. The more bandwidth you have, the greater number of simultaneous calls you can make and receive.

Do I need specific hardware to utilize an IP phone?
In order to use an IP phone, it is necessary to have a PBX (Private Branch Exchange) that is capable of registering an IP phone.

If my current PBX is not VoIP enabled, how is it possible for me to use VoIP?
If an existing PBX does not have VoIP capabilities, it does not mean you need to purchase a new phone system. There is a third party device that converts analog signals from the PBX to IP.

What mobility advantages does VoIP have?
Due to the IP nature of VoIP, one can take their IP phone anywhere and plug into a different IP location which registers back to the user’s PBX. This feature allows VoIP users to take their extensions with them as they travel.

If my ISP goes down, do I lose my phone service? Is there a way to avoid this?
With anything, it is best not to put all of your eggs in one basket. We recommend keeping a few POTS (Plain Old Telephone Service) lines to avoid situations that would cause your business to be without phone service.

Is the quality of VoIP audio comparable to the quality of traditional phone service?
The audio codecs that have been developed have greatly improved the capabilities of IP communication, exceeding the quality of POTS lines.