VoIP FAQ

VoIP Frequently Asked Questions

What is VoIP?

VoIP (short for “Voice Over Internet Protocol”) is the transmission of voice communication via the internet – done so via IP-based telephony networks…

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How does a VoIP system work?

Unlike traditional telephony, there isn’t the need for hardware and extensive setup time (and cost) with a business VoIP system…

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Why should I switch to VoIP? (Advantages of VoIP)

There are many benefits of switching to a VoIP system from traditional telephony, some of which have been featured below…

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What kind of internet connection do I need for VoIP?

Typically, any standard broadband internet connection will be fine for VoIP usage. The faster the connection, the less likely there is to be quality issues or any potential transmission data problems while making and receiving phone calls.

Can I use a wireless internet connection with VoIP?

In short, yes. Wireless routers can be used to provide the internet connection necessary to support the running of VoIP telephones within a business.

What hardware is required to setup a VoIP system?

In order to initially setup a VoIP telephone system, there are three key things that are required:

• An internet connection (broadband or similar)
• A router that has the ability to distribute and manage the internet connection to the necessary people within the business
• An IP-enabled phone – either a physical VoIP/SIP phone, or a soft-phone on a computer, smart phone, or similar internet-enabled communication device

VoIP is essentially plug-and-play in the hardware respect, with no need for the physical storage of a PBX or other networking equipment within the office.

How good is the quality of VoIP?

The voice quality of VoIP is as you would expect with a traditional phone system – and there is no difference using an IP-enabled phone on a VoIP network then there would be with a typical telephony system. Depending on the speed of the internet connection that is available for the VoIP network router, the quality may be interrupted should there not be sufficient bandwidth to sustain the number of calls being sent and received, but advice and further detail can be provided on this depending on the type of business and number of employees that your company has.

How does VoIP pricing work?

The pricing for VoIP is similar to the pricing for a traditional telephony system – the main difference being that a standard telephone connection is charged per line…

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Can I keep my existing phone number (and extensions)?

In short, yes, you can port your existing telephone number onto a VoIP network – meaning there is no need to update any documentation or references to your business telephone number if you decide to move to a VoIP solution.

To understand what telephony provider your number is currently hosted on, and to see whether your number can be ported to the PackNet VoIP network, use our phone number lookup tool:

http://www.pack-net.co.uk/support/tools/phone-number-lookup

Can I make VoIP calls from my mobile phone?

VoIP calls can be made via a mobile phone as long as the device is a smart phone – in the sense that it has to be able to support the following:

a) Sustainable internet connectivity
b) The ability to install the necessary soft-phone app required to send and receive calls via VoIP

As mentioned above, VoIP via mobile is done so through the use of a “soft-phone”, and this is essentially a VoIP application that makes a connection to the necessary VoIP network while providing the interface needed to make and receive calls.

PackNet recommends the following soft-phones for mobile VoIP:

• Fring (http://www.fring.com/default.php)
• SIP Droid (http://sipdroid.org/)