Technology is moving faster and faster every day. We can send a text to our partner confirming lunch plans while the boss is droning on about the dismal sales figures. We can IM someone in China while we are compiling international marking plans. We can make a wireless call at the speed of light, and now, we can make a phone call right at our desk. I know, you think that you have been doing that all along, but there have been improvements and advances in even that realm now.
Cost Attractiveness Of VoIP
Making a phone call was once a matter of turning cranks, waiting for human operators to make the right, very limited connections and then waiting for the right party to get to the other line. The phone company automated and phone operators were out of jobs. Phones soon found their way into nearly every home. When cellular or wireless service became the norm and landlines started disappearing, especially in areas where reliable, clear cell phone service is the norm rather than the exception.
But, even with all of the competition between traditional and cell phone service, the costs are still fairly high and people started looking for ways to lower their communication costs. That was the cue for the VoIP softphone to enter into the fray and start vying for consumers eager for a price break.
Early Adoption Of VoIP
Early VoIP technology was not attractive to both business people and individuals. Voice quality was poor and the voice routing equipment does not guarantee QoS (Quality of Service). VoIP softphones are of limited choice and functionality.
The original VoIP customers were the large companies that do a lot of overseas conferencing or that have outsourced their collection and direct to consumer calling. Hooking their call centers up to us IP services was cheaper than trying to maintain the ever-changing rates of oversea calling with a traditional landline based phone system. Initial outlay for equipment and training was still better than waiting for the next billing cycle to renegotiate for a better rate through the phone companies. Deregulation, mergers and battles with the public utilities commissions in various parts of the country made the IP systems even more attractive.
Emerging VoIP Lifestyle
Over years VoIP technology has evolved and mature products are readily available at low cost. Quality of voice is comparable to direct telephone connection. Most importantly, QoS of VoIP is almost on par with other voice communications.
Smaller businesses started switching over to VoIP system after the larger companies worked out some of the customary, initial bugs and soon the systems were being targeted toward everyday client for personal communication use. The size of the client does not matter; the general set up is basically the same – a broadband connection, the downloadable softphone into any PC or portable platform for use. The softphone is easy to install and understand and soon everyone from major companies to the average man on the street can be using the voice over IP system to make high quality, low cost phone calls.