What is VoIP?

VoIP stands for Voice over Internet Protocol and is a way of making phone calls over the internet. Instead of traditional telephone lines, VoIP uses the internet to send and receive audio signals allowing real-time communication using a computer, smartphone, or other mobile devices.

VoIP apps have become increasingly popular for business and personal use due to their cost-effectiveness and convenience. The voice quality, however, can vary depending on the internet connection quality and other factors.

Benefits of VoIP Optimization

VoIP optimization can help small businesses improve their communication systems in several ways. By optimizing their VoIP systems, companies can reduce latency, the amount of time it takes for a signal to travel from one point to another. This can result in better audio quality, and fewer dropped calls. Optimizing your VoIP system can help you save money on bandwidth costs, as you won’t need to use as much data to make calls.

Tips for Optimizing Your VoIP System

There are several steps small businesses can take to optimize their VoIP systems. First, ensuring that your internet connection is reliable and fast enough to support VoIP calls is important. Your VoIP call quality depends on the speed and quality of your internet connection, so it’s essential to ensure you have a good connection. 

Besides VoIP software and basic hardware, there are several strategies businesses can use to optimize their VoIP systems. Setting up a VoIP network isn’t plug-and-play; you should consult a VoIP service provider before making any changes.

Network Bandwidth Management

The first step in optimizing your voice system is ensuring that your internet connection is fast and reliable enough to support VoIP calls. The bandwidth requirements for real-time communications depend on the number of concurrent calls and the codec used. This means having an adequate upload and download internet speed and a low latency rate. Faster speeds mean better sound quality and fewer dropped calls. If you’re unsure if your internet connection is up to the task, you can use a speed test to check. 

Please note that depending on the amount and type of VoIP connection, you may need to upgrade your internet connection or ethernet network or purchase additional bandwidth. If your WiFi infrastructure isn’t up to the task, you may need to invest in a business-class router or access point.

Quality of Hardware

In addition to network bandwidth management, it’s important to check the quality of your hardware, such as phones, headsets, and microphones, to make sure they are up-to-date and working properly.

The Importance of using quality headsets and VoIP phones cannot be overstated. Cheap headsets and phones can lead to poor VoIP call quality, which can have a negative impact on customer experience.

Utilizing Quality of Service (QoS)

By utilizing Quality of Service (QoS) settings on a business router, you can prioritize VoIP traffic over other network traffic, like when you need to download large files or stream video. This helps reduce latency and jittery voice communication, leading to better call quality. Some other QoS features include packet prioritization, bandwidth allocation, and traffic shaping.

Utilizing VoIP Monitoring Tools

Network performance monitoring tools can also monitor VoIP performance and identify call quality issues. These tools can help businesses quickly identify and address problems before they become major issues. Failure to monitor your VoIP system can lead to poor call quality, which can have a negative impact on customer experience.

Implementing Traffic Shaping Policies

Businesses can implement different types of traffic-shaping rules to control the amount of bandwidth allocated to specific applications and devices. The first type of traffic-shaping rule is a bandwidth limit, which limits the amount of bandwidth used by a specific application or device. The second type of traffic-shaping rule is a priority rule, which gives certain applications and devices priority over others.

By implementing these types of traffic-shaping rules, businesses can ensure that their VoIP system has enough resources to function properly and is given priority over other applications and devices.

This helps to ensure that VoIP calls are not impacted by competing traffic on the network and that they have access to the necessary resources for optimal performance. 

Video Call Quality

Over the past couple of years, more and more handsets have been equipped with video call capabilities. This is a great way to gain a competitive edge, allowing for more personalized customer interactions.

However, video calls require more bandwidth than audio-only calls and can be subject to latency issues if the network is not optimized correctly. To ensure that video calls are of high quality, businesses should make sure that their internet connection is fast and reliable enough to support video calls. Also, before buying your IP phones, ensure they are compatible with the video call features you need.

Choosing the Right Equipment and Software

Choosing the right VoIP equipment and software is essential for businesses to get the most out of their VoIP solutions. Companies must consider scalability, compatibility with existing systems, and cost when selecting VoIP equipment and software. That’s why we use 3CX! The UI is easy to navigate making the user experience better, and their softphone app is amazing. Businesses should also look for solutions with features such as encryption and authentication to help ensure secure communications over the network. If they have the right tools in place, businesses can ensure that their VoIP systems are running optimally and provide reliable service to their users.

Businesses should also consider the user experience when selecting VoIP equipment and software. Solutions should be easy to use and provide features such as voice recognition, video conferencing, and call forwarding to ensure that users can make the most of their VoIP systems. Additionally, businesses should look for solutions compatible with various devices and platforms to maximize their investment. By considering these considerations, companies can ensure they have the right VoIP solution in place for their needs.

Businesses should also consider the devices their employees use when selecting VoIP equipment and software. Different devices can have additional requirements in terms of bandwidth, latency, and other factors that need to be taken into account when optimizing VoIP performance. Companies should look for solutions that offer features such as call recording and analytics to help them better understand how their VoIP systems are being used and identify areas for improvement. Choosing the right VoIP equipment and software is essential, and by doing so, businesses can ensure they are getting the most out of their investment.

Utilizing Cloud-Based Solutions

Cloud-based VoIP solutions can offer businesses several advantages when optimizing their VoIP performance. Cloud-based solutions are often more cost-effective than on-premise solutions. They can be scaled up or down as needed, allowing businesses to adjust their VoIP resources according to their needs. Did we mention, cloud-based solutions are typically more reliable and secure than on-premise solutions, making them an excellent choice for businesses that must ensure their VoIP systems are always available and secure?

Taking Advantage of Automation Features

VoIP automation features can help businesses optimize their VoIP performance by automating tasks such as call routing, call forwarding, and voicemail management. Automation features can also be used to monitor the performance of VoIP systems and identify areas for improvement. Automation features can also ensure that VoIP calls are routed efficiently and that users have access to the resources they need for optimal performance. By taking advantage of automation features, businesses can ensure their VoIP systems are running optimally and providing reliable service to their users.

VoIP Optimization Challenges 

Some common issues when Optimizing Business VoIP systems include:

1. Poor internet connection: If your internet connection is slow or unreliable, it can lead to poor call quality and dropped calls.

2. Outdated hardware: If you’re using outdated hardware, such as headsets or microphones, it can cause audio issues and reduce the overall quality of your VoIP calls.

3. Lack of Quality of Service (quality of service) router: Without a quality of service router, your VoIP traffic may be competing with other types of data for bandwidth, which can lead to poor call quality.

Some other common VoIP issues are latency, jittery voice communication, and voice packet loss. Latency is the time it takes for a signal to travel from one point to another. Jitter is the variation in latency over time. Voice packet loss occurs when data packets are lost or corrupted during transmission. If you experience a voice packet loss issue, you should check your router settings and make sure that VoIP traffic is being prioritized over other types of data. These issues can cause poor call quality and should be addressed as soon as possible. 

If you’re using a wireless network, you should also make sure that your router is up-to-date and secure. Wireless networks can be vulnerable to interference from other wireless devices, which can cause poor call quality. Using a wireless network should not be a problem if everything is configured correctly.

Wrapping Up

In conclusion, businesses must carefully consider their needs when selecting a VoIP provider, equipment, and software. By considering factors such as scalability, compatibility with existing systems, user experience, and mobile device requirements, businesses can ensure they have the right tools for optimal performance. Furthermore, utilizing cloud-based solutions and taking advantage of automation features can help companies to optimize their VoIP performance and provide reliable service to their users.

This is where our VoIP Guide enters the scene. All VoIP services have their pros and cons, but it’s very worth it if you run any business these days, both for security reasons and for all of the features you get!

When it comes to telecommuting, almost 50% of the workforce is now operating remotely and using remote VoIP. This has led to an increase in work and jobs while decreasing the need to file for unemployment. Simultaneously, it’s made it a lot easier for people to find remote workers who can do the same job as those onsite. While there are many software applications and web apps that can help with things like time management and even data backup solutions, there must be open communication between teams.

How is a Remote VoIP Phone Service Helpful?

Some people use their home phones and cellular phones, but there are many security risks involved in this—both for the companies and employers in some cases. Using a cell phone for business purposes may cause fraudulent calls and other security risks. One such security risk is conversation hijacking, and this is a dangerous thing for the company. So how can you avoid that? Well, first off – it’s using a dedicated VoIP provider to handle internet phone calls with remote team members. We’re going to look at a few of the critical benefits that remote VoIP can do in hiring and managing teams and employees.

#1 – It Keeps Communication Open

Remote VoIP solutions help you to keep the lines of communication open. Your team, customers, and even family will be able to get a hold of you with a simple click of a button.

Having open communication is the key to success. It builds long-lasting relationships between clients (or employers) and their employees/workers. Not long ago, the self-employment rate grew almost 8 percent – higher than the national average growth per year that was expected. With more people working online, there are many voice “apps” that can be used, but these all continuously have high-security risks.

Remote VoIP solutions allow you to work anywhere the internet takes you. You are making the entire world your office.

Prominent leaders such as Google Voice and Skype can become a massive headache, and employers need to know what’s going on. In the past, remote work didn’t have all of this technological advancement, and therefore it was hard for customers to trust their workers with numerous tasks. But since the later part of the 2000s into the 2010s, it has become much more manageable.

#2 – Workers Don’t Have to Work at Home Anymore

With remote VoIP solutions, your employees can work anywhere in the world as long as they have an internet connection.

Many remote employees have mobile devices and laptops. Believe it or not, they won’t be limited to only taking calls when they are home. Even with applications like Microsoft Office 365, users can get free versions on their phones to continue to work on their projects while on the go. Even virtual assistants and support reps can take calls when they’re traveling!

#3 – It Saves Businesses Money

Who doesn’t like to save money? With remote VoIP, you’ll be able to save buckets of cash to reinvest in your business!

Remote VoIP services are cheaper to provide than having to pay for a separate phone line via landline or even a phone plan. By operating from home (or on personal devices), employees can work anywhere, clock hours with mobile apps, and use remote VoIP phone lines to dedicate their time to work no matter where they are. This means that even if your employee went on their lunch break (from noon to 1 PM), they can still work and take calls, have teleconferences, and all on a lower dime than if they had to do things with regular voice services.

#4 – VoIP is More Secure for Employees and Employers

Security should be your top priority, whether it be your network or telecom system. Lucky for you, remote VoIP software, like 3CX, are incredibly secure.

Did you know that posting your phone number on a resume site could be dangerous because of hackers? Hackers are now hijacking people’s phone numbers for personal gain. Even posting your company’s telephone number on the internet could lead to a sticky situation. Therefore, by having a professional remote VoIP solution installed in your workplace, you can rest assured that nobody can easily hijack your telephone lines or mobile phones. It’s like having a virtual machine installed on your workplace computer instead of a direct OS.

Having a VoIP service installed also allows you to have prompt security and monitoring features. This helps employers know by call logs whether their phones are being used in ways they shouldn’t be.

#5 – Voice Over Internet Protocol Offers Productivity

Who says working from home can’t be productive? With remote VoIP solutions, your team can be even more productive while working anywhere in the world.

Along with letting things be more flexible and even lower turnover rates, it’s essential to know that with VoIP phones, businesses can get more productivity from their team members. When a remote team has the proper tools in place, they will produce more for the company they are working for.

#6 – Be Prepared in Times of Emergency

You never know what’s going to happen, and being prepared could save your business. If you had remote VoIP solutions before the recent pandemic hit, all your employees could have started working from home without missing a beat.

VoIP Guide Pros and Cons

Since the days that high-speed internet came about (primarily cable internet, then other forms), VoIP has been around. Places like Time Warner and RoadRunner Internet offered VoIP by giving users “home phone lines” with their cable services. But it has evolved since then almost tenfold, and now you can even use Wi-Fi applications on PCs and even mobile phones to make calls these days. There are also select phone systems that can have VoIP systems like 3CX installed onto them. But what are the real advantages of a VoIP phone system versus the other methods of communication?

The Pros

VoIP phones have gotten a complete overhaul in the past few years, and many of them look futuristic and have advanced functionality.

• VoIP costs less than landline phone services.
• You have more flexibility, portable options, accessible features, and can scale your VoIP service more.
• You can choose free packages for minimal users & use them or get more features with some of the premium packages that you can’t get.
• Voice quality is often clearer.
• You can multitask more with VoIP phones and services, and you can have more flexibility with things such as voicemails, call filtering, monitoring, and more.

The Cons

Just like with cell service, E911 isn’t even close to perfect, but it’ll get close if that counts for anything.

• VoIP Needs a steady internet connection that’s ALWAYS reliable.
• If you have high latency (ping speeds) and jitter, you will have issues with connectivity or have high wait times and voice delays.
• You can’t track or locate VoIP calls for emergency phone calls (some systems don’t even allow you to call 911).

Fortunately, the Cons can be Avoided Usually.

If you have a good service provider and a team of professionals who can help install and upgrade your systems to the top-of-the-line quality you need in cables, high-speed internet, and jitter buffering, you can get the most out of your systems. Most VoIP providers can also install and set up a perfect quality PBX system at a reasonable price. Of course, they do cost money, but it’s more of a hardware issue.

This VoIP phone system has 3CX WebMeeting installed that lets you video-conference anywhere you have an internet connection.

Things like 3CX systems and operating software cost much less than others out there on the market today. And many of them even have features to help you hold video calls and teleconferences with ease, provide you with several extensions, and can give you the best service possible with almost no downtime. You can even use VoIP to accept phone calls, voicemails, emails, and faxes too!

Why waste time standing around the fax machine waiting for a fax when you can use 3CX to send and receive faxes?

How can you do that? We urge all of our customers to invest in remote solutions because you never know when something like a pandemic or a natural disaster will happen. Most of our customers have separate laptops and the 3cx app on their phones, which gives them the freedom to work anywhere.

What We Think

Naturally, as a managed service provider ourselves, we highly recommend using the phones that we can set you up with and provide. But with all of that aside, just using VoIP alone can enhance and increase your business for lower costs, and give you features that are incomparable to landlines and having to buy all of the hardware required to do everything you can with a landline. Therefore, if you make the switch, you’ll not only prosper with your small (or large) business, but you’ll also make things easier for yourself, be up to speed in the world, and have an edge that can even increase your success over competitors. What’s wrong with that?

With all of the benefits that a company can get by using voice services, it’s no surprise that companies everywhere worldwide and even in the United States are starting to switch to this method. Some people are using VoIP by connecting their smart devices like watches, doorbells, and more. If you’re wondering what type of services or equipment you can have, Infinity DataTel can provide and adequately set up any smart device in the Phoenix (and surrounding) areas.

They’ve released versions allowing companies to use the Cloud-based VoIP or a dedicated PBX server, Linux, and even Windows to host 3CX software. However, each version comes with its bugs and problems. Therefore, knowing that you’re well prepared to tackle them in certain situations or avoid the issue overall by having the right OS is essential.

Everything’s in the Cloud These Days

3CX offers secure Cloud-based solutions for businesses of all sizes.

In recent years, your software solutions, customer support, and even your VoIP are not strangers to “the Cloud.” Of course, there’s no such thing as one dedicated cloud for everything,  but 3CX knows that many users want to have this option to use valuable tools and save hardware and software space in their place of business.

There are good and bad things about having cloud hosting in any shape or form, though – and most of it comes with data security. You don’t have control of a cloud-based server’s data – they do. However, if you’re not worried about it (since most of these servers are super secure), you can go for it and have your VoIP provider set you up.

Dedicated PBX Servers

Some businesses run their 3CX software on a dedicated VoIP server to achieve maximum performance.

These servers may have Windows Server or even Linux as their base kernel, but they’re more or less running the dedicated 3CX software as a micro-operating system of its own in many cases. These are a trendy choice among numerous companies because the VoIP servers and software are hosted on a dedicated machine that shares and are usually throttled up to get the best of the network’s bandwidth. Separate devices can often be put onto their network if you’re worried about sharing bandwidth, so your local internal networks don’t suffer in terms of speed.

Windows

3CX software in itself has world-class security features to keep you safe. But if you’re running it on Windows, you may encounter a hiccup now and then.

The 3CX software for Windows is made differently than that in a PBX system. You get a program that uses your system’s hardware and then, ultimately, through a router. The most significant benefit is that it can be run on a Windows system, one of the most popular operating systems in the world. Even more remarkable is that 3CX software can be run on a virtual server, which means additional security.

This call center uses 3CX software to route all their calls in a slick and easy-to-use interface.

However, the biggest downside is that Windows has a ton of security issues itself. Sometimes, Windows Updates installed frequently can restart your system and naturally can cause problems with entire computers. You get a free version for small businesses or slightly more substantial companies. You can get the Small business version of the Pro version, a paid edition that can be upgradeable and have many features. You can handle multiple calls at once, utilize Microsoft Exchange for your company, and even have automatic handset customization. You also get a web portal that allows individual users to set their Yealink phone settings for themselves.

Linux Versions

One thing Linux has going for it when it comes to 3CX software is it’s free.

One of the most significant benefits is the higher security that many people are comfortable with hosting 3CX on a Linux server. For starters, upgrading your system to a server with Linux is extremely easy (all you have to do is install “<Linux BUILD NAME>-server,” and your system upgrades to the server edition for free) compared to Windows. While Windows has server capabilities, to get the most professional services, you have to pay for them. Who doesn’t love free stuff? We certainly know that we like free software and open operating systems!

The Verdict

It all depends on your entire company’s needs regarding what kind of system you want to use your 3CX software on. If you look into it, every single version has its benefits, and your external managed service technician will be able to install it and set it up for you. With 3CX being one of the nation’s leaders of VoIP, it’s no wonder they would release it for availability on literally any machine!

What is 3CX WebMeeting?

Go to Facebook, and you face all sorts of problems, from the choppy video down to just plain terrible quality altogether. Not to mention the horrible audio and video delays users’ experience. Now go to other platforms such as Zoom. You have to download special applications that take up hard drive space and memory on your phone. Not to mention the fact that everything on smartphones these days has a bad habit of continuously running. While it’s sometimes a feasible solution, there are so many bad things that can happen there. And let’s not even talk about how terrible Microsoft Teams is. There are so many flaws, and the lack of features is as awful as it gets!

3CX WebMeeting lets you video conference anywhere you have an internet connection.

Now imagine a completely app-free, open-source web meeting platform that can only require a web browser! What’s even better. Remember the “virtual whiteboard” of yesteryear? What if we brought that back to better help communication and presentations along with web conferencing? And there you have it. 3CX, one of the most innovative open-source VoIP companies, has succeeded in making a fully-fledged browser-based meeting platform that can do it all. 3CX WebMeeting is impressive; check out why below:

With a refreshed UI and numerous improvements under the hood, 3CX WebMeeting has been redesigned to make your remote working experience even smoother.

3CX WebMeeting has been updated with more features than ever before!

• Beefed up infrastructure
  3CX has added more servers to support the steep demand in web meetings while upgrading the WebMeeting platform to increase user capacity and make it faster and more reliable.
• Bandwidth control
  3CX has added a Meeting Stability & Quality slider to determine the bandwidth of the meeting. This is a unique implementation that deals with bandwidth congestion and user limitations. 3CX WebMeeting can now automatically manage and allocate each participant’s bandwidth based on their network conditions.
• More capacity, free!
  Web conferencing seats have been extended for all licenses for a limited time, at no extra cost. Standard Edition – 100 participants, PRO – 250, and Enterprise – 500.
• Sleek new UI
  Video streams are now laid out at a 16:9 aspect ratio and uniform grid arrangement, consistent across all participants. The view for screen-sharing, whiteboard, and polling has also been improved to increase collaboration among peers.
• Improved usability
  For moderators, we have added easily accessible functions, like the ability to mute/unmute participants directly from their video frame and an audio indicator. What is more, iOS users are instantly entered into the meeting room upon opening the URL.
• Ready, set, go
  These new features and improvements are all available in the latest version of WebMeeting.
• Coming soon
  3CX is changing the way shared documents are delivered during a meeting. Files are currently saved in specific individual locations. Physically storing the data closer to customers will allow us to deliver files much faster than before.

What Else Can WebMeeting Do?

Okay, so we’ve already mentioned that this was a web conferencing interface, so that’s a given. But what exactly can you do with it? Well, it’s a good thing you asked!

• You can attend video conferences with numerous people at one time.
• Share your entire screen and even share documents.
• You can use the messaging component to chat.
• You can do voice-only conference calls.
• Add new users quickly and seamlessly, even during a live session.
• The whole system is scalable so that you can add members with a simple click of the mouse.

3CX WebMeeting easily allows you to share your screen with everyone.

What if I Have WebMeeting Installed On My Yealink Phone?

Thanks to everything that 3CX compatible phones can use, yes – you can use 3CX WebMeeting with your VoIP phones as it already comes with the software in the phone’s OS preinstalled. However, for those who don’t have this VoIP solution at their offices, we highly recommend choosing a managed service provider that can help you with this. Of course, since there are SO many benefits for businesses having VoIP instead of dedicated phone lines), you can use the web conferencing software platform from any Android device or even Windows. All you need to do is use the web platform with the desktop client software or as a web platform using the WebRTC (browser-based) web app.

With Yealink’s new video phones, you can use 3CX WebMeeting without using your computer screen.

Many applications optimized for mobile have fewer features when it comes to their desktop clients, and vice versa for computer-optimized vs. browser conferencing software. What’s even worse, some of them even have time limits that force you and your colleagues to crunch everything into a small bit of time. You don’t have to do this with 3CX WebMeeting – the multiple versions are practically the same.

Our Conclusion

Many of our systems use 3CX software and firmware, as well as 3CX WebMeeting. 3CX has also beefed up its WebMeeting capabilities. The standard license can now support 100 concurrent calls, while the Pro can support 250, and the Enterprise can do 500. That’s AMAZING!

It’s also important that they offer a unique and powerful product that doesn’t have all of the security loopholes that you can find in other web app conferencing and even client-based conferencing. Microsoft Azure even has support with them, and because it’s so versatile, there is no holds barred on just how much you can do with it. What’s even cooler? The whiteboard that everyone can work together on making web conferencing more fun for everyone involved. It’s about time it was brought back to improve interactivity and make conferences less boring!

At the time we’re posting this, 3CX is allowing those who want to get everything 3CX can offer the chance to have a free 3-year membership – even cooler to us! For more information about 3CX WebMeeting, send us a message, and we’ll get you anything you need.

What is Zoom?

Zoom is just a web conferencing app, much like that of GoToMeeting, Skype, and other apps out there these days. The users can record sessions for use later, and Zoom allows for multiple users to collaborate, as well as share screens, files, and much more in one handy video conferencing platform.

The app has a lot of tiers available, ranging from free up to their Enterprise Plans. The plans are based on a monthly fee per host, so it’s an excellent general practice that if you’re a small business, you start with the free plan, and then maybe get the Pro or Business versions. Just make sure that there is only one host on the account with a universal login, and problem solved – no need to have to pay multiple fees for a ton of users/hosts.

What Do You Get with Free?

The Basic plan is its free plan. This plan is compelling compared to most other products out there. You can host a meeting with up to 100 people at once. You can also have unlimited one-on-one meetings, an unlimited number of meetings overall, online support, HD video and voice, view of the active speaker, as well as full-screen and gallery modes to see more than one person at a time. More than one person can share their screen at a time, which is something that platforms like GoToMeeting and others simply can’t do.

There are options to call into the meeting for those who are only able to join by phone, and you can put a virtual background on the screen. The downside? You’re limited to only 40 minutes during a group meeting. But do keep in mind that you can simply restart a meeting and do it all over again, or just be sure to keep meetings under 40 minutes. In terms of most company briefings, this isn’t hard to do.

What About Paid Versions?

The videoconferencing prices range from $15 and $20 per month per host. If you get Business, you have to have at least ten hosts, and Enterprise requires you to have and pay for at least 50 hosts. These versions can get quite expensive, so many small businesses in the Phoenix area can benefit from using the “Pro” plan. The main difference is that you get some extra admin features with the Pro version, scheduling, reporting, can customize your meeting ID, and you get 1GB worth of MP4 or M4A cloud video recording. The meeting duration limit is also increased, and you can have a meeting duration of up to 24 hours.

Business plans can host up to 300 participants. It gives you a custom URL for your meeting room, a unique phone support system and admin dashboard, your own managed domains, and allows you to install company branding to your meeting as well as have a custom email to send notifications and newsletters to meeting participants. Note that if you plan on hosting a Zoom channel, please make sure it is set to private. There have been a growing number of “Zoom-Bombings” in the last few weeks. A “Zoom-Bomber” is a hacker or someone who stumbled upon your public Zoom channel and interrupts your private conversation.

If there is one thing you don’t want it is Conan Zoombombing your Zoom happy hour.

Enterprise simply unlocks more features of the previous tier. It gives unlimited cloud storage, customer success management, executive reviews, and you can get 500 video conferencing participants at once with Enterprise, or 1,000 participants if you purchase Enterprise+.

Zoom has 3 tiers of plans to offer any sized business access to video conferencing software.

How Is the Zoom Free for Phoenix Schools?

Eric Yuan, the creator of Zoom, decided to step in and offer these video conferencing tools for free for schools. If you’re a school that uses any of our managed services in the Phoenix area, you can get on the ball with this to offer remote meetings and support management to students and faculty alike. Simply create a basic account and fill out a simple form. It must be done using a school administrator’s email address and can take 72 hours, but once approved, the 40-minute time limit disappears to allow teachers to have online remote classes.

Exciting news! Zoom is now free for schools K-12!

Our Take on Zoom?

While we can offer a plethora of online video conferencing recommendations, the fact that Zoom is taking the step ahead to become one of the most largely and widely used software apps for video conferencing around the globe is a good move. But is Zoom secure enough to handle their increased load? We hope the answer is yes, but we will soon find out in the coming weeks. We predict that as more users use Zoom, security flaws will be exposed. Therefore, we highly encourage you to utilize everything you can during this pandemic but be careful.

There are many online video conferencing apps to choose from. Some can even improve your business or school’s quality of communication and are more secure than others.

VoIP phone systems have been around for more than 15 years. Like most technologies, it had a few wrinkles to smooth out in the early years. Consumers took full advantage of VoIP systems through companies like Vonage, but only businesses that preferred cutting-edge technology switched to VoIP systems early on. VoIP technologies have become so good that they are the de facto standard for phone system deployments.

In the early days, Many VoIP phone systems were not HIPAA compliant. That’s not the case nowadays.

But why is that? What makes a VoIP system so good that businesses would rip their old phone system out and implement an entirely new thing? Let’s find out.

VoIP Phone Systems Streamlined Costs

Due to how VoIP works, it is much cheaper to operate than a traditional phone system. The hardware required to make a VoIP system work is affordable. It tends to be a single router that handles voice calls. That router is then plugged into the existing network within a business.

Who doesn’t like to save money? With a VoIP phone system, you’ll be able to save buckets of cash to reinvest in your business!

VoIP phone systems don’t require new cabling to be run or re-configuring an existing PBX system. Likewise, they don’t need a lot of documentation.

Because of this, both the implementation and operating costs of a VoIP phone system are far cheaper than other phone solutions. Typically, most businesses can save as much as 70% on their phone solutions using a VoIP option. The exact savings depend on each business’s current implementation or network solution.

Unlike traditional phone systems, VoIP systems tend to retain fixed costs. Because call information is routed through the internet, many VoIP providers can offer static prices for long-distance and global calls. In a day where many businesses operate worldwide, this could be a godsend for financial departments.

This isn’t to say that there may not be hidden costs associated with using a VoIP solution. Phone call clarity wholly depends on how robust the network is. While this may sound frightening, this is a very manageable problem. Businesses only need to ensure that good quality of service rules are in place and that there is a significant enough pipeline (IE., Internet connection) going out of the company. Most businesses should already have a beefy enough internet connection to handle VoIP calls, and quality of service rules are accessible for any network administrator to implement.

Better Call Clarity

With HD-quality phones, you’ll think you’re in the same room as the person you’re talking to.

It was mentioned that call clarity for a VoIP system depends much on the quality of a network. That’s not to say that VoIP solutions can’t offer fantastic call quality. A VoIP system can provide call clarity at parity with a traditional phone system, even with poor connections. In an optimized environment, the call clarity of a VoIP system can’t be beaten. Phone calls can sound so good that it seems like the person is speaking right next to you in person.

Quicker and Cheaper VoIP Phone Systems Implementation

With 3CX software, HD call quality, and the ability to talk to customers anywhere in the world, your VoIP phone system is limitless.

VoIP systems are straightforward to configure and move. Moving an employee from one office to another could be a significant headache with traditional phone systems. VoIP systems are far more manageable, though. Employees only need to move their phones like their computers, and the rest of their desk stuff. Employees don’t have to worry about downtime or losing their business phone number.

That’s because of the way VoIP works. VoIP systems are completely network-based systems. Once a phone is configured to work on the VoIP system, it’ll work anywhere within the network. It’s genuinely a plug-and-play setup.

You might think there might be a catch here, but there isn’t. VoIP phones are straightforward to configure. Most systems include a management dashboard where phones can be added or removed on the fly. These typically require very little information, such as the phone’s MAC address. Once the phone is configured within the management dashboard, it will do the rest of the work.

You can find the MAC address on the underside of your Yealink handset.

If an employee leaves and that phone needs to be transferred to a new employee, that’s not an issue. Updating a phone’s information is as easy as editing the data in that management dashboard. Within minutes the phone number assigned to that phone could be updated for the new employee’s name, and their voicemail box could be reset.

As technology advances, many solutions exist to establish the best communication system other than Landline Phone Services. Still, many businesses are in the dilemma of switching between a landline and a VoIP phone system.

Striking a balance between low-price services and the most compatible for your team is very tricky. Infinity DataTel’s Business Phone System does more than make and receive calls. Our system integrates diverse workforce points like messaging, conferencing, and much more. When choosing the right phone system or Business VoIP Service Provider for your business, there will be many factors to consider.

Smart business owners are choosing phone systems that unify their entire communication system. Sure, they want to make and receive calls, but they also want features like CRM integration and video chat.

Choosing a VoIP provider and system that fits your needs is no simple task. Here are some key factors to consider when choosing the right phone system for your business:

Phone Connection

The foremost step in choosing the best phone system starts with deciding to go with a traditional landline or a VoIP connection. The landline systems generally work with a telephone company’s copper wiring, and the VoIP system depends on the internet. An increasing number of organizations are switching to a VoIP Phone System because it has more features, is modern, and is cheaper to maintain and install. You can be connected anywhere in the world.

Virtual Systems

This VoIP phone system has 3CX WebMeeting installed that lets you video-conference anywhere you have an internet connection.

Businesses generally consider virtual systems without an office or ones that have many remote employees. The virtual system contains call forwarding solutions that can transfer the calls from the main business number to an employee’s mobile or home place. It includes many valuable tools and automated attendants like call screening, online faxing, and voicemail. The 3CX mobile app, which is included, is brilliant. It downloads to your smartphone, and you can make and receive calls anywhere you have an internet connection. I once received a call on the subway in Taipei, and the reception was clear and crisp.

Costs and Features

Monthly costs are based on your business’s number of users and extensions, not per minute. Gone are the days of the surprise $1000+ phone bill. With Infinity DataTel, your rate is fixed unless your number of extensions changes.

Regarding features, our phone systems provide a wide array of calling options for your small to large business. We offer dozens of features, including auto-attendants, voice mail, voice-to-email, instant messaging, video conferencing, HD calling, the 3CX phone app, and many more.

Scalability

This call center uses 3CX software to route all their calls in an easy-to-use interface. Adding or subtracting extensions with a 3CX VoIP phone system is easy.

Whether your business is growing or downsizing, our 3CX phone systems are entirely scalable. We can add and subtract phones and extensions without any interruptions. Having this type of flexibility at your disposal is just one fantastic benefit we offer.

This makes VoIP phone systems far more straightforward to implement and manage for the end user.

To upgrade your phone system or learn how a 3CX-powered VoIP phone system can benefit your business, send us a message or call 480-493-5999.