IP Phone Systems In The Cloud Explained - What Is It And How Does It Work?

An IP phone system in the cloud - or a hosted telephone system - is able to give you all the functionality that you would expect of a digital phone. It generally includes such things as call routing and auto attendant, but there are generally a host of other features included that make it possible for you to change everything about the way you work. Best of all, the costs of these systems is far lower than regular land line telephones. An IP phone system in the cloud is located remotely. This means a secure data center looks after the system. This is what the cloud is, meaning you don't have to have physical space in your business or office to store the data center. Through VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol), they give you all the features you would expect from a regular telephone line and more. Management of the system is done through a web interface.

What Is Voice Over Internet Protocol?

Through VoIP, two main types of communication are merged into one. The two communication types are data and voice. They are put together through a single cable. In essence, VoIP means that you are able to use the infrastructure connecting you to the internet to make telephone calls as well, rather than having a line for your telephone and a line for your internet. Do be aware that you will need a good internet connection in order to be able to use IP phone systems in the cloud. How Does VoIP Work? As stated, the cable that you are likely to already have on your computer to connect to the internet can be used to connect you to telephones as well. What happens when you use the telephone is that your voice becomes a set of data packets. These packets travel along the network and are delivered at their destination. Because VoIP uses the same technology as regular broadband, it doesn't matter where you are calling from or to.

Benefits of IP Phone Systems in the Cloud

The benefits of these systems are massive. You will find you conduct your business in a more efficient manner and that you will save huge amounts of money on your communications budget. It also allows you greater flexibility, which reduces costs even further. The system is driven by software, which means a good provider will always make sure you have access to the latest, updated technology. This means that if any new features or new functionality are added, you will have access to it straight away. IP telephone systems in the cloud grow with you. As your business expands, so does the system and this is done in a very easy manner. In essence, you will be able to work in a far more flexible way, link different sites together (generally with free telephone calls) and it is very easy to manage. Best of all, you can generally link the system to your mobile telephone network as well, and your telephone costs are fixed, so you can easily manage your budget.

It is possible for you to use the network infrastructure you already have in place to hook up the IP phone systems in the cloud. This would be a great cost saving exercise, since you won't need to have cables installed. However, even if you have to fully upgrade your system, the costs are still relatively low and you should see a return on investment because of the network access you will gain. One of the greatest things about this system is that it also promotes home working. Most companies already have some possibilities of accessing at least email away from the office, but by using IP phone systems on the cloud, you can even make telephone calls when you are away from the network. This is incredibly useful for field employees as well. All your workers will have a single telephone number that they can literally take with them. A good provider will also allow you to make telephone calls within your network for free and many also offer other free phone calls, including national and international. Best of all, if your business has locations across the globe, they can all hook into the network and telephone each other for free. It is also very easy to manage the system itself. You can make changes to the network and provide or remove access from any location, so long as you have the right access codes. This is how the system can truly grow with your business.