VoIP solutions 'provide enhanced flexibility'

The main driver for business uptake of VoIP solutions is not the cost savings that can be enjoyed but rather the enhanced flexibility such technology provides, an expert has claimed.

Mike Eagle, general manager of the Federation of Communication Services, said that VoIP hardware is more about getting good value for money rather than saving funds.

However, there are cost savings to be enjoyed, with businesses not having to meet the upfront expenditure required for a private branch exchange.

"It's not necessarily that cost is the main driver for business solutions. I think it's more a question of getting the enhanced and more and more sophisticated flexibility," Mr Eagle stated.

The expert added that for commercial organisations, hosted VoIP and Session Initiated Protocol trunking are the most suitable products available, with Skype-like services too unsophisticated and unreliable.

Earlier this year, the University of Nottingham introduced VoIP phones to allow students to communicate between its campuses in the UK, Malaysia and China.