Difference Between IP Telephones and Normal Telephones
When the telephone was invented, it completely changed the way people lived their lives. People were now able to talk to their friends, family or acquaintances irrespective of their location. It improved the way we live, the way business was transacted and provided a convenience that is completely taken for granted today.
The Internet revolutionised the way we live in much the same way. Documents and data could go from one location to another almost instantly. Information is literally at our fingertips and the efficiency it provided to corporate life is staggering.
An IP phone is the next big step. It combines the convenience, speed and inexpensiveness of the Internet with the utility of telephones.
How IP Phones Work
IP stands for Internet Protocol. An IP phone uses the Internet or some other IP network to make telephone calls. There is minimal wiring and re-wiring when such telephone systems have to be installed or moved. They use the VOIP technology to facilitate calls instead of the regular PSTN approach. A company’s intranet system can also permit IP phone calls.
Benefits of IP Phones
There are number of benefits associated with IP phones such as the ones made by Mitel. Firstly, they are easy to install and relocate since they are using the existing Internet connection. Secondly, they are substantially cheaper than the regular phones especially with long distance telephone calls. With normal phones, standard call rates of your phone operator will apply but with IP phones, the only charge incurred is the Internet usage fee.
IP phones permit users to save caller IDs for each user. This way you don’t have to remember a person’s phone number to contact them. Using their caller ID is all you need to make a call. They also facilitate storing a large amount of information within the device like directories and databases.
Some Warnings before you get an IP Phone
While the benefits of IP phone are quite evident, there are a few concerns as well. Since IP phones depend on Internet connectivity, if the speed of the connection is slow or there is an interruption, the call will be dropped. In other occasions you may not be able to hear the other party properly. In either scenario, the impact to your business and its professional image can be substantial. IP phones should therefore only be installed in areas where Internet connectivity is steady and dependable.
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