VoIP hardware beats snow

Various media organisations are reporting that IP telephony solutions, such as VoIP phones, are helping UK organisations overcome the big freeze.

VoIP has been successful because of the flexibility it affords. By using VoIP solutions a company can equip its workers with a VoIP handset whose fixed-line number is the same, regardless of where they plug in their VoIP handset.

Good IT support has allowed many UK organisations to telecommunicate effectively during the big freeze. No small matter, considering that due to transport and infrastructure disruptions up to 20 per cent of UK workers were unable to get into work on January 6th 2010.

According to the Federation of Small Business, this loss of productivity may cost UK businesses £1.2 billion or more, demonstrating the importance for a company of having a resilient IT network.

Companies which combined their VoIP telephony, applications and working data into an interlinked, virtual environment were well placed to fully reap the benefits of home working during the disruption.

Call centres have been identified within the media as being a particularly useful place to consider installing a VoIP solution, as the greater redundancy provided can help them during future weather shocks.