VoIP Telephone Solutions vs Traditional Landlines
Introduction
How do landline telephones work?
For years, traditional landlines have been the primary method of communication for businesses, and how they operate has remained the same for the most part.
A landline phone works by converting sound into an electrical signal. This signal then travels through a network of copper wires to a central office location owned by a telephone company. The signal is then converted back into sound waves and sent to the person on the other end of the call.
Landlines have worked well in office environments over the years when other options were limited. However, with technology progressing and newer, better solutions becoming available many businesses have switched to modern online communication solutions to take advantage of the many benefits. An example of this would be that landline connections are pretty expensive. The cost of the phone service and the line rental can quickly add up, particularly for businesses that may have multiple phones for an office space.
How does VoIP telephony work?
A modern communication method that many businesses are taking advantage of is VoIP telephony. This digital technology allows you to make phone calls via an internet connection using your desktop computer, laptop, tablet, or mobile phone.
VoIP stands for voice-over-internet protocol. VoIP works by converting your voice to a digital signal when you make a phone call. This digital signal goes through the same connections and lines as your internet and is sent to the person you’re calling. The digital signal is converted back to analogue sound at the receiver’s end, allowing the person on the other end of the phone to hear what you are saying through their speaker.
This technology is now very popular with businesses as it provides a cheaper, scaleable, and easily accessible solution for business communications, as well as a variety of other benefits.
Key differences between VoIP telephony and traditional landlines
Traditional landlines and VoIP telephony phone systems have a few noticeable key differences that set them apart. The most obvious differences include cost, efficiency and flexibility.
Landline phone systems are expensive to set up and maintain while incurring additional costs. In contrast, VoIP is a much more affordable option. Copper wires are also not as efficient as fibre-optic cables. Fibre-optic cables can transmit data much more quickly and without any interruptions. Also, because VoIP uses the internet to make calls, you have much more flexibility, so long as there is an internet connection.
Upcoming changes to landline telephones
Businesses are urged to start considering the switch to a VoIP business telephone solution ahead of the PSTN networks being shut off completely in the UK by 2025. PSTN stands for public switched telephone networks, which are the networks currently in place that allow people to make calls using a landline telephone.
There are many reasons for shutting off all PSTN networks, such as supporting cost-saving efforts, as traditional copper lines are expensive and difficult to maintain. Also, older technologies cannot keep up with the demands that modern technologies can provide.
Learn more about this topic from our blog post about the 2025 PSTN shut off date.
Conclusion
Making the change from traditional landlines to a VoIP telephony solution has many benefits for businesses. Communication can be improved by a highly accessible and efficient phone system, providing flexibility to employees and taking advantage of the advanced features not available with traditional landlines. There is less risk of disruptions with communication, fewer compatibility issues and reduced cost with a VoIP telephony system. Overall, traditional landlines are simply no match for the more advanced VoIP telephony solutions.
Future proof your business today.
To learn more about how Wytech can support your transition to VoIP telephony, please give us a call, drop us an email or fill out a contact form linked below.