Technology has advanced over the last few years, therefore increasing the number of choices available for almost everything – and that is no different when it comes to telephony. Telephony can get terribly confusing, so to avoid getting your wires crossed, here’s the low-down on cloud, hosted and VoIP telephony systems…
Cloud Telephony Takes Everything Offsite…
With cloud telephony, all of the network and routing elements of your phone system are stored in the cloud, rather than being physically in your office. There is very little change for people using the phone system as calls are still made and received in the same way. The real difference becomes apparent behind the scenes as calls are processed differently. Rather than being routed through an onsite private branch exchange (PBX), calls are sent directly from the cloud system.
Cloud telephony is secure and offers the opportunity to store call data without risk to your business or clients.
Hosted Telephony Is Cloud Telephony…
Hosted telephony simply refers to the fact that the telephony system is housed in the cloud, rather than in your office. The fact that the system is hosted in the cloud removes the need for costly physical hardware onsite, therefore removing equipment purchase and maintenance costs. The phone system becomes a piece of software rather than hardware, privately accessible for your business alone.
Unlike traditional phone systems, where each member of staff may require a static phone on their desk which is linked to the system, with a hosted telephone system, calls can be picked up on a standard deskphone, a softphone or a mobile app – making it incredibly versatile and perfect for staff members who are often on the move.
Where Does VoIP Come Into It?
VoIP stands for voice over internet protocol, and virtually all cloud telephony platforms use this. However, not all VoIP systems run in the cloud. VoIP simply means that the calling data is travelling over the internet, through packet-switched connections, as opposed to the traditional public switched telephone network.
Businesses can choose whether to host their VoIP system onsite with a private branch exchange or outsource it using cloud telephony. In fact, some organisations choose to use a hybrid of onsite and cloud telephony to host their VoIP systems.
Choosing Between Cloud, Hosted And VoIP Telephony…
With the many telephony options available, it is possible to find one that is perfect for your business. Whether you have a large system that will require a long-term cloud migration strategy, or a smaller business that will be perfectly suited to a hosted telephony system, internet-based telephony such as cloud, hosted and VoIP is the future.
These systems have more functionality, versatility and opportunity to expand than traditional telephone networks, and enable businesses to work in a modern and adaptable way.
If you are interested in setting up cloud, hosted or VoIP telephony for your business, or you need advice on which will suit you best, book a free audit below, or get in touch today…
