The convenience of a house or office phone line doesn’t necessarily need to involve surrendering your hard-earned money to a telecommunications provider. You can keep your coins while enjoying free long-distance calling. Well, a Voice over IP uses your internet connection to link your home or office phone system to a VoIP provider who then connects your phone calls with the telephone grid. VoIP has a clear voice quality, better portability, higher scalability, and involves lower costs compared to the traditional landline. Switching from landline to VoIP shouldn’t be a hassle. Here are a few key steps to help you make the switch:
Get ready
In the past, moving from a traditional landline to a VoIP system required more than a dozen steps. Fortunately, with increased technological advancements and the introduction of cloud PBX solutions, things are less complicated. That said, you need to ensure that you have the necessary infrastructure and training before beginning.
Assess the strength of your internet connection
Nothing would be more frustrating than your VoIP relying on slow internet. For better reliability and operation of VoIP, you need to have a fast and stable internet connection. Fiber optic connections work best, although the DSL internet connection works fine. You can conduct a speed test to test how fast your connection is. Ideally, you require a wired broadband connection with at least 100 kbps per Line. If your internet is not fast enough, upgrade it before shifting to VoIP.
Organize your network infrastructure
You may have a fast and stable internet connection. But without the proper network hardware, you may not be up to the task. VoIP technology serves best when the wiring is direct to the router or switch. So, if you use multiple routers, you may need to make some changes. Consider using ethernet cables to link phones to the network switch, then connect the network switches to the router.
That setup will allow for better network performance. Consider using multiple network switches and a Virtual LAN (VLAN) set up for an office environment. VLAN does an excellent job strategically segmenting the network using MAC addresses. That helps reduce network congestion, improving VoIP performance. You need to ensure that the network switch you decide to use can handle VoIP traffic.
Select a reliable provider
You have the best internet service, impressive phones, and exceptional network infrastructure. That is still no guarantee that you will have good call quality. The VoIP provider you choose to work with will determine seamless your VoIP experience will be. It is also best to seek help from experts that have experience with residential VoIP infrastructure. Find a provider that assures you of security, reliability, and impressive call quality. Also, choose a provider that prioritizes top-notch customer service. That way, you know that they will listen to your concerns any time an issue pops up.
Get VoIP hardware
High-quality VoIP hardware allows you to enjoy the best from the new VoIP setup. If you still want to retain the desk phone set up, consider getting VoIP phones. To enjoy the hands-free option, you can get VoIP headsets. If you do not wish to get rid of your former analog phone and PBX setup, you can retrofit using a VoIP adapter.
Final remarks
That’s it! Remember, switching to a more modern phone infrastructure will save you on cost and improve quality. If you own a business, ensure you help your staff get familiar with the new systems for a smooth transition. Offer training programs to help them handle the VoIP hardware and software smoothly. It is easier to switch to a new system if all the team or family members know how it operates.
