Businesses considering moving to a Voice over Internet Protocol system should consider the hardware requirements. While the required equipment is minimal and less expensive than a traditional landline system, some hardware is necessary. If you have an existing Private Branch Exchange, you can sell the PBX switchboard and used telephones to recover some of your costs. Here are the most frequently purchased items for VoIP Systems.
Desktop IP Phones
These phones look similar to traditional landline phones. Most employees like the ease of reading the VoIP caller id information and the touchscreen display. Voice quality is clear and often better than on legacy landline phones.Conference Phones
Phones located in conference rooms are typically larger than desktop IP phones. There have larger speakers to accommodate multiple employees in the conference room. You may also find more complex display screens for calling several attendees.Cellphones
You can use existing cell phones, or many VoIP providers provide wireless phones designed to interact with your new phone system. Your computer can seamlessly transfer incoming calls to your cellphone, instead of your desk. There are many reasons to integrate cell phones into your office:- Traveling employees, and their customers, only manage one phone number.
- Employees working at home and in the office carry their cellphone between locations.
- Staff members can walk to other departments to gather information regarding a specific order.
- Companies that offer alternative seating or desk-sharing always have a method to communicate with employees.