Techie Inspire – The Technology Blog
Today, most of the people are switching to VoIP from their traditional phone line. The main reason behind is that VoIP is very Cheap. VoIP service continues to advance and becoming highly reliable and popular. VoIP telephony and Traditional phones both have its pros and cons and should be opted according to one’s requirement and need. If you are confused between them, then below comparison between them will clear out the doubt and can choose wisely.
What is VoIP?
VoIP is an abbreviation for “Voice Over Internet Protocol” also called IP telephony which is basically your voice travels via internet rather than regular telephone line. Your phone connects to the internet over your cable or DSL modem. To connect your phone to modem, a small device is used called “telephony adapter” which is used to plug into broadband modem and translates the electrical pulses from phone to IP Packets that travels over the internet.
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What is Traditional Phone?
I believe it’s very ridiculous to explain about Traditional Phone which we have been using since ages. However, Traditional phones are circuit-switched telephones, which rely on phone lines that are connected to the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN). A private telephone network that reaches into your home through standard telephone line and phone jacks in the wall.
VoIP telephony vs. Traditional phone lines
1. Cost:
When it comes to costing. It is very clear that VoIP s very cheap compared to your regular telephone line. Regular telephone can get very expensive when you do any international calling or opted for some advanced services like Call forwarding, call waiting, voicemail, caller ID, etc., which are usually charged at a higher rate. However, when compared to VoIP phone services, it allows users to use advanced communication features for free e.g. Call forwarding, call waiting, caller ID, voicemail, simultaneous ringing across multiple phones, call transfers, and three-way calling. Most VoIP service provider offer attractive low cost monthly plan. Some even offer unlimited monthly call plan for international calling at very low price.
2. Voice Quality:
The most important part for any phone is voice clarity on call. In most test, people cannot tell the difference between VoIP and regular phone service quality. However, earlier voice quality was one of the biggest issues for VoIP. Where in Traditional phone lines typically offer excellent sound quality, on the other hand, VoIP had a variety of issues in regard to voice quality. However, as broadband speed is increasing gradually, so as the VoIP Quality has improved immensely and offers excellent voice quality. However, regular phone does provide excellent voice clarity but in some cases when calling long distance the quality of the call become bad.
3. Services and Features:
VoIP is said to have many advance feature than your regular phone. There are many advance features, which are offered by VoIP for Free. VoIP support features like call waiting, Caller ID, conferencing, music on hold, voicemail, simultaneous ring call transfers, virtual phone numbers and three-way calling, etc.. It also supports Remote PBX extension, which is a standard feature that comes along with VoIP for teleworkers and branch-offices.
Some extra-ordinary features from VoIP are Find Me / Follow Me (FMFM), where in you can configure the system so that when an important call comes in for an employee, the desk phone will ring first, in case an employee is not on his desk, system will try to call on his or her cell phone, then his or her home phone until the system finds the employee. Follow me is a feature where in you define the phone number in the system for the location where you will be working so that calls can be routed there automatically.
Basically, VoIP service and feature are wide and continues to expand. However traditional phone does provide some of the above feature but are charged at extremely high rate and are very expensive.
4. Portability:
If you relocate or change your location most often, then it’s a trouble in the case of traditional phones, you might have to change your phone number and need to set up accordingly with the telephone provider. However, VoIP is said to be the most convenient and portable phone ever since you just need to take your phone along with you and plug them to the Internet, and they are up and running in seconds. There is no need to call engineers to wall mount phone jack or wires.
5. Reliability:
Traditional phones score more in terms of reliability since in the event of Internet connection or power goes out your traditional phones work out like charm as long as its lines are up but in the case of VoIP, you will not be able to dial or receive any call unless you have a power backup. VoIP also relies on broadband and Internet connection, so in the event of any problem with your Internet connection your VoIP will also have the problem.
VoIP telephony and Traditional Phone both have its Pros and Cons. Based on the user requirement and usage; user can select accordingly to his need. Do let us know, what’s your view regarding VoIP and Traditional Phones?
