The use of Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) has grown rapidly, but not rapidly as expected in the small business world. Anyone who knows anything about business or information technology had an idea that there would be issues with medium to large businesses that already had an established telecommunications and information technology infrastructure.

Where most of us have been disappointed is in the small business arena. This market is where most providers and retailers thought they would get the best penetration, I know I did.

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So why have small business not embraced this cost effective solution?

The answer to this is somewhat simple, but just as simple to solve.

1.) Lack of education and knowledge of how VOIP works and what it is. Myths prevail about VOIP, some of these myths have merit, but others do not. The ones with merit can be overcome with education. This is the job of the Telecomm and IT Provider and Consultant. Sit down with the customer and ask them their fears. Look for answers to elevate those fears, but do not make up answers. There are times when these fears should and will apply to a client. In which case the proper risk assessment needs to take place and be presented to the client.

2.) Retailers and providers of VOIP services selling a “one size fits all” service. Most residential customers can be satisfied with this type of catch all, but home based business and small businesses that have larger data requirements and high call volume and transmissions may not be happy with the quality. Most VOIP retailers do not take the time to conduct and audit of current services or expenses of the customer. They throw the hype at the customer and hope they bite. High Trust Sales is a must in any business.

A quality Telecomm and Information technology solutions provider and consultant will make sure he does a complete analysis of every customer whether residential or small business.

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Every customer can be unique and has unique requirements. All residential and small business customers do not necessarily have the same requirements like standard phone service to worry about. Some residential customers are home-based business owners, like I am, that require special needs such as larger bandwidth of the data carrier to compensate for the added voice requirements.

It is up to the Solutions Provider and Consultant to review these needs. In fact sometimes the customer does not realize these extra requirements. That is the job of the Telecomm and IT Solutions Provider and Consultant.

Before the Internet boom of the 90’s, T1s where normally used in telephone companies central office to carry voice communications between locations.

T1s are the primary means by which cellular phone carriers connect central office switches to the cell sites in a specific geographic region.

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Fast forward to today and companies use an entire T1 for their Internet traffic, T1 provides another advantage to a small to medum sized business, as it can be setup as a channeled circuit, and any quantity of channels can be reserved for non-data traffic such as voice.

The use of traditional telephone services (POTS) are declining. The use of cell phoens and VOIP has increased significantly.

With the decreased use of traditional phone lines, local, state and federal governments are taking a hit to the pcket book as well.

Without the tax revenue generated from these traditional phone lines, governments have to seek their revenue elsewhere.

Cell phone users are being hit at a cyclic rate with additional taxation by government to compensate for the lost revenue from traditional phone services.

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According to USAToday,
“The new charges are adding $2 to $10 or more a month to cell phone bills on top of existing federal and state taxes and fees for emergency 911 communications.”

So what does this mean to you?

Let us know here on our blog.