VoIP, also known as Internet telephony or ‘voice over IP’, is a way of making phone calls without using a traditional analogue phone line. It stands for ‘Voice over Internet Protocol’ and, as the name may suggest, it’s the system of making a phone call over the Internet rather than using a landline or mobile network. This system works by using voice signals and turning them into digital signals, then using your broadband line to send them as data – essentially the same concept of speaking to someone in another location, but via the Internet. So if it’s such a similar idea, just why is VoIP becoming such a big player for business across the world?

There are many benefits of using VoIP. It’s cheaper than normal phone lines once it has been set up, and could even mean that you pay nothing at all when you make a phone call – though this depends on the distance and which country you're calling. In some cases, you can spend hours on a telephone conference for free!

Cost:The initial setup and ongoing costs are generally less for operating a VoIP system than a more traditional phone system. As VoIP works off your internet connection, there is no need for a traditional phone line. This means that you only need to deal with one account, one bill, for both internet and phone.

Accessibility:A VoIP phone system is distinctly different from a traditional phone system. Distance or location makes no difference to a VoIP system, whether you are calling your head office on the other side of the country or making a call to the other side of the world. As long as you both have an internet connection, communication is possible.

Flexibility:Unlike a PBX (Private Box Exchange) a VoIP network has a great deal of flexibility. With a private, internal phone network, you are limited to how many phones can be added to the system by the number of lines available within the system.

Voice Quality:If you have a reliable internet connection with good bandwidth, you should experience voice quality that is the equal of, if not better than, a traditional phone connection.

Extra /Less Expensive Features:Traditional phone services have a selection of extra features for which you usually pay more. VoIP is different. It comes with a wide selection of extra features like call forwarding, call waiting, voicemail, caller ID, three-way calling and more.