VoIP transition 'need not be confusing'

Making the transition to VoIP need not be a confusing operation - and simplifying the matter down to three basic elements can prove to be useful, it has been argued.

Writing for IT World, Howard Hoffman details that businesses can help determine if a switch to VoIP is right by answering three questions.

Firstly, gaining a full understanding of what VoIP is is important, he said. Next, checking that a business data network is capable of handling converged media is necessary, he said.

And finally, determining whether the business has a "compelling reason" to switch to VoIP can help firms discover if making such a switch is a useful operation, he said.

A key difference between business and consumer VoIP packages is the quality of service, Mr Hoffman argued, noting that some consumer services can at times have dubious call quality. However, with business VoIP, the quality of service tends to be more reliable, he argued.

VoIP can bring a range of benefits to business, including ongoing cost savings - something that may appeal to organisations as the economic downturn continues.