Separate data and voice traffic to get the best from VoIP, businesses told

Implementing VoIP solutions might be widely considered to be relatively simple and stress-free, giving businesses the chance to benefit from the technology almost immediately, but that is not to say getting the very best out of it is quite as straightforward.

Ershad Islam, product specialist at Telappliant, has issued some advice that business leaders might be extremely wise to learn from, as he has told how users can enjoy maximum efficiency and productivity from their hi-tech telecommunications setup.

One of the first areas to focus on is the broadband connection and service a company is signed up to. The quality of the web link it enjoys will go a long way to determining just how successful its use of VoIP will be.

"If you've got something like basic BT broadband and you're trying to run ten extensions or users off it, then you will be complaining that the VoIP doesn't work and the call quality is terrible, because you just don't have the connectivity," Mr Islam explained.

As such, the solution in many cases will be to "separate their data and voice traffic to different broadband providers".

This will ensure the quality of each remains high and allows firms and their workers to make clear and cheap calls to domestic and international recipients. Running calls over the internet rather than through traditional telephone lines is a cost-effective solution, so ensuring the quality is high is perhaps the only barrier to it becoming the ultimate solution for businesses.

Mr Islam went on to suggest the difference between the most expensive and cheapest VoIP solutions is not particularly significant; what does make a difference is the standard of broadband available.

The expert has recently said that while the take-off of mobile VoIP is already underway, the imminent arrival of 4G broadband is sure to allow extra applications and services to be added to the technology.