VoIP 'saves money and the planet'

Unified communications such as VoIP can slash costs and reduce a firm's carbon footprint, an expert has revealed.

In an article for ZDNet, T Jowitt explained adopting a single IP based network for all communication channels is significantly cheaper than managing one for each.

Calls made via VoIP solutions are usually cheaper than those made on traditional phone lines, particularly international ones, the author added.

Additionally, the specialist said this group of technologies is great for staff because they can do their job regardless of their location, which is especially important in severe weather conditions such as those in the UK this winter.

Finally, implementing efficient communications systems and eradicating the need to transport people from different places to meeting rooms by using videoconferencing cuts the amount of energy a company consumes, reducing its carbon footprint in the process, the analyst commented,.

Stephen Pritchard recently outlined in IT Pro that the pay-as-you-go nature of many VoIP solutions means businesses can tailor the service to their needs very quickly when circumstances change, keeping unit costs to a minimum.