Traditional phones for business could mean lack of communication and flexibility to employees besides having to bear a loss of revenue. But did you know that with PSTN shutdown less than 5 years away, it is about time you move to conventional phone system. Delay could mean that you will not sufficient time to train your staff with VoIP phones and hence lack of stability in service quality.
Since the decision is final now, and PSTN and ISDN services will be shut down by 2025, it is time to think proactively. You need to make decisions for your organization, and lookout for a replacement technology. There is nothing better than VoIP services, as it will work over an internet connection and provide apex audio quality. The best aspect about VoIP phone systems is that it doesn’t run over copper wired lines, rather a high-speed internet connection is all that is required for quick installation.
The rapid growth of globalization has made it necessary for business organizations to invest in a seamless communication system. Borders do not bind businesses anymore; rather they often expand operations to buzzing international commercial destinations. In such cases, getting a VoIP phone system is the ideal solution. They can help you breakthrough a new overseas market, connect with local audiences, and enhance your brand reputation.
What is PSTN?
“The public switched telephone network (PSTN) is the aggregate of the world’s circuit-switched telephone networks that are operated by national, regional, or local telephony operators, providing infrastructure and services for public telecommunication” Analogue voice data is sent over a circuit-switched phone line made up of copper wires which is owned and operated by your phone provider.
What is ISDN?
“Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) is a set of communication standards for simultaneous digital transmission of voice, video, data, and other network services over the traditional circuits of the public switched telephone network”
When is the ISDN shutdown?
BT’s plan is to have completely switched off the ISDN network by 2025. They will start to put pressure on organisations to make the transition from 2020, although it is greatly encouraged that any business needing to move to a new solution starts the process now.
What services should I migrate to next?
The recent investment in the UK communications network has made the new fibre infrastructure widely available and affordable to small businesses. This means IP based solution such as VoIP and SIP are the top alternatives for businesses.
VoIP is a cloud-based telephony solution which moves your whole phone system online so all your calls are sent over your internet connection. This digital cloud-based phone system offers a wide range of additional features such as call recording, receiving voicemails via email, call queuing and unified communications – being able to access the system on multiple devices such as a mobile and desktop.
As previously stated, we advise against leaving it near the deadline before moving to VoIP. If you leave it to the last minute to switch, you’ll be risking your business communications and also putting your business at a competitive disadvantage. This is because your business will be missing out on all of the beneficial features of VoIP. Here are just a few business enhancing features that VoIP will provide your business.
A hosted phone system supported by progressive and modern VoIP technology can have a number of benefits for any kind of business organization. It will make sure that your team members remain highly accessible in the current digital age. VoIP phone solutions encourage mobility as employees can make or receive calls from any corner of the globe- they do not remain restricted to the physical office location.
What business benefits does VoIP provide?
- Increased Flexibility – VoIP systems allow for increased flexibility. Ina smaller business the role of a staff member may vary daily, this may mean that their working location changes too. Some days they may need to be office based and the next day they may need to travel or work remotely. A hosted solution allows you to work professionally wherever you may be.
- Cost Effective – Put simply, moving to a hosted solution is cost effective and can save your business money regardless on the size. This is because the installation and maintenance costs can be kept minimal. A hosted solution also means that you avoid paying costly traditional phone line bills. This is because you place calls over competitively priced internet connectivity instead.
- No loss of revenue with a proper call diversion and call forwarding - The ability to transfer customer calls to staff mobile phones so your customers can get the immediate assistance they require to keep them happy even if staff is away from the office. Old systems don’t include mobile phone apps that will allow out of office staff to make calls using office phone lines from their mobile phones.
If you are still using the traditional phone, it is indeed time to move to a more conventional phone system. Get VoIP phone systems to ensure business continuity. We have a solution to help you enable remote working and enforce a stable disaster recovery plan for your business. Download our FREE eGuide by clicking here.
