How to Set Up a VoIP Phone - Free PBX Aavaz
VoIP business phone system
There have been obvious advancements in VoIP technology compared to its early days. What was once considered an exotic toy for technical professionals is now mainstream and popular. It would be hard-pressed to find a business that hasn’t heard of VoIP technology since many are in the process of switching from PSTN landlines to VoIP business phone systems.
This blog will look at how you can set up a VoIP phone system with ease.
Key Factors Influencing VoIP Setup
Factors that influence VoIP phone setup
The difficulty of setting up VoIP is determined by your needs and how you want the system to work. Depending on the circumstances, VoIP setup can take anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours.
A small business owner or a home freelance contractor will find setting up a VoIP phone much easier than a large corporation with offices in multiple locations.
The size is only one factor since others determine the difficulty of setting up a VoIP phone system.
VoIP relies on internet speed, so if you have weak network infrastructure, you will first need to improve before switching to an IP phone. Making improvements takes less time for a business than a larger company, but bigger companies already have access to financial resources to ensure faster internet connection.
VoIP setup only becomes complicated when you want to use advanced functionality, connect multiple locations, or maintain and support the legacy system.
Installation of VoIP technology
Regardless of the difficulty of the project, many businesses take similar steps when switching to a VoIP system. The procedure for installing a VoIP phone is outlined below.
With a solid number in hand, comparing service provider offers and estimating how many numbers/lines you'll need to figure out the total budget for the setup becomes much easier. It's important to remember that an IP phone or a phone number isn't required for everyone in the office. Some employees might prefer a mobile app, while others might only need a browser extension.
Check your internet speed
You might have a high-speed broadband internet connection, but is it good enough for VoIP? With your business phone system, you can't afford to take chances. Some companies even hire an outside consultant to conduct a professional assessment of their network to ensure that it can handle VoIP phones.
Did you know how much extra bandwidth you have for all of your users' concurrent calls? If someone streams a video file, will the system come to a halt? These are practical questions you need to have answers to when you do an internet speed check. Voice calls happen in real-time, so things like jitter and latency can adversely affect your phones if you don’t set up quality of service (QoS).
It is very easy to fall for all the bells, and whistles service providers promise in their ads. The catch is that everything costs money, whether it is upfront or in the form of ongoing bills. Determine which features your business needs, which are nice to have, and which ones you can skip on.
Deciding where you want to invest money and which areas you don’t need much will help you compare plans while staying within the budget.
Due to the rise of VoIP’s popularity, there are many options to choose from when selecting a VoIP service provider. Each service provider has its own set of plans and services. When selecting a vendor, keep the following in mind based on your budget and feature list.
Offers features you need at a price you can afford
High-quality voice and reliability
User-friendly interface and training session
Performs an annual upgrade to get you the latest features as they become available for free
Customization based on your business needs
Additional add-ons at a reasonable price
Order and Upgrade Hardware
It would help if you had IP phones to use VoIP systems, and these can be desk phones, computers with VoIP software, phones with mobile apps, and more. After selecting the vendor, work with them to purchase appropriate hardware. Other equipment required includes session border controllers, VoIP-friendly firewalls, and more.
You will likely need to upgrade existing hardware like routers or switches since older equipment might not handle VoIP traffic.
VoIP is easy to configure
Experienced and reliable vendors offer auto-provisioning, which simplifies the setup process. You can plug your phones into the network and can configure settings to suit your particular workflows and system administrator for greater control.
Despite VoIP being popular for being cost-efficient and user-friendly, many people harbor misconceptions about IP technology. A popular misconception is that many consider VoIP too complicated to set up for daily use. Fortunately, VoIP setup is easy with service provider Aavaz PBX.
Contact Aavaz Free PBX if you need a reliable and experienced service provider. Aavaz PBX is truly your one-stop-shop for all your telephony needs and checks out all the criteria for choosing the perfect vendor to help your business thrive.