Expert: There are many types of VoIP solutions on the market

Firms can adopt voice over internet protocol (VoIP) solutions for a variety of reasons.

These include the potential to drive efficiency within day-to-day operations, the chance to reduce costs and the ability to access the latest technology for the best results.

VoIP is seen by many as the future of the telecommunications market – something recent findings from Infonetics Research concluded, as they suggested the sector is set for a 17 per cent expansion in 2011.

Now Fred Goldstein, writing for TMC.net, has put forward his theory that one mistake firms can make is treating all VoIP solutions as the same.

The truth is that there are many different types of VoIP available and, despite them being widely used, many are not that similar.

As such, there are companies in the UK using services that differ only in the use of an IP header for multiplexing, while there are others that have adopted more "novel applications".

It is important to be comfortable with the technology at a firm's disposal and to understand the way it works in order to achieve the best results.