Five differences between IP phone VS traditional

Many clients ask us what the true differences are between IP phone systems (IP telephony) and conventional telephony systems. Here are 5 important differences to consider.

Unlike conventional or digital systems, hosted IP phone systems relies on an external system installed at a telecommunications provider that is used remotely. You only need telephone equipment connected to the Internet network! The telecommunications provider ensures access to the public switched telephone network (PSTN) to enable communications with the outside world (don’t worry, you won’t be left out in the dark!)

This technology has many advantages because of its 5 major differences:

1. A virtual system: no equipment on site
   The central system is housed with the telephony provider and specialists manage it.  Regular updates are made and the equipment is regularly upgraded or maintained according to strict specifications. Therefore, you don’t need to make major investments in equipment.
2. A system housed in a secure environment
   All equipment is housed in a data centre. The centre is protected by controlled biometric access (beware of impromptu visits!) and a redundant electrical supply with a back-up generator, to ensure service continuity. It is 99.99% reliable. 
3. Public or private Internet access
   Gone are the old phone lines in your offices, as all incoming calls from the PSTN are answered by the central system. Each user accesses this system through public or private Internet. They can connect via various devices, such as an IP phone, a cell phone, a tablet, a laptop or desktop computer.
4. Functionalities independent of the equipment
   Hosted IP phone systems relies on software—and not equipment that becomes obsolete over time. Updates are made for continuous improvement and new functionalities are regularly added.
   The system’s versatility provides real-time adjustment capabilities for easy configuration based on business growth.
5. Centralized user and equipment management
   A hosted IP phone system is controlled remotely by a simple, user-friendly application. Technicians work to add or delete users, modify greetings, adapt call routing priorities or any other modification! You are the captain of your ship! 

Recently, we have leveraged the full potential of these 5 differences with one of our clients, Demers Beaulne. Following a fire, this accounting firm had to quickly relocate its teams to offices scattered downtown.

Here's how the 5 differences played a key role:

1. A virtual system: no equipment on site
   As the telephone system’s nervous centre was outside their offices, there was no loss to this equipment.
2. A hosted system in a secure environment.
   All system data and configurations were protected and backed up.
3. Public or private Internet access.
   Deploying the teams to different sites was easier since only one Internet connection was required to reconnect to the central system. Some employees could even telecommute.
4. Functionalities independent of the equipment.
   Each user had access to all the features associated with their position as soon as they connected to the system. 
5. Centralized management of users and devices.
   Although employees were spread across different sites, managing replacement devices and distributing calls to users was very easy.