VoIP News: VoIP Hardware

Businesses looking to invest in internet protocol telephony solutions may wish to take note of new findings that suggest voice-based technology is still the best on offer. ABI Research has revealed the results of a study of the mobile alternatives to voice, noting these are not likely to overtake it to the top spot in the sector. Video telephony, messaging and sharing services will continue to grow and succeed, with the number of users due to rise from 47 million at the end of 2011 to 390 million by 2016.

In these tough economic times small businesses must do all they can to survive and technology such as VoIP hardware can help them achieve this. There are many technological solutions available yet some are more important and useful than others, meaning owners need to invest their money wisely and ensure they know the features and benefits of all the tools open to them. VoIP solutions are one of the top ten options, according to vice-president of Primus Business Services Jeff Lorenz.

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that employ VoIP hardware who are considering exploring cloud-based services should "dip their toe in" and ensure that it is suitable for their operations, an expert has said. Andy Horn, general manager at Easynet Connect, stated that one of the advantages of the cloud is that it will not render a firm's existing IT infrastructure - which could include hosted telephony solutions - obsolete.

Businesses whose staff use mobile VoIP solutions on their smartphones need to consider security threats to such devices, as these are only likely to increase going forward. That is the opinion of Tony Neate, managing director of Get Safe Online, who said that those who use such mobile technology need to think seriously about protecting handsetsagainst viruses and other attacks. "Depending on which smartphones they have, they need to be thinking about those additional precautions.

Flexible working will become increasingly popular going forward, an industry figure has said. Matt Oakley, chairman of the British Council for Offices, stated that companies need to meet the demands of today's young professionals in terms of employment arrangements and the amenities they are given to do their jobs - which could include VoIP solutions. He claimed that since the onset of the economic downturn, more businesses have used the office as a tool to attract and retain workers and that concerns about sustainability will lead more firms down the flexible working route.