Should Your Business Switch to VoIP?

You're at an internet cafe and get an important business call -- on your laptop. You're on the road and receive an urgent voice mail -- in your email inbox. Your business has a phone number with a Florida area code -- even though your office is in California.

Welcome to the world of voice over internet protocol (VoIP). With VoIP service, your phone calls travel over the Internet as data, just as email does. This type of service can dramatically lower your telecommunications costs while increasing your productivity. It also provides useful features and capabilities that conventional phone technology can't offer.

Though VoIP is quickly gaining popularity, some small businesses are still on the sidelines with concerns that VoIP audio quality is substandard, that the technology is difficult or costly to implement, or that their phone service will be interrupted if their electricity goes out.

The truth is, VoIP's benefits far outweigh any potential drawbacks. Here's what you need to know about VoIP to decide if it's right for your business, plus tips for making the most out of VoIP service. ...