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Choosing the Right VoIP Equipment

If you’re considering utilizing VoIP for your company, working knowledge of the various devices you will need and what your options are in terms of equipment is a vital tool. There are so many options that knowing what different components do can go a long way to help you choose the equipment you truly need.

Soft phone is a term that you will often hear in talks on VoIP. This refers to a software program that people can install on their PC or laptop to make IP calls. Majority of the softphone services are free. Most of them will only allow calls from PC  to PC which are free. Some will charge a monthly subscription fee but most will charge a fee per call made to public switched telephone network (PSTN) such as to land lines or cell phones. An example of this is Skype, which is currently the best known VoIP service.

A software based VoIP service means that the end users need only a computer with an internet connection for your basic hardware. The computer must have the necessary sound card with speakers or earphones to allow you to hear the transmissions from your clients, plus a microphone to input your part of the dialogue.

For corporations, softphones such as ArrowPhone, Gizmo, 3CX VoIP Phone for Windows or SIP Communicator may be better suited for you as these are business oriented software.

While most people are comfortable with using a microphone and headset or computer speakers, there are still those who prefer the experience of actually holding a unit much as they are used to with regular telephony. USB handsets give the necessry physical component to the softphone to those who prefer having a unit similar to what is familiar to them; at the same time the voice quality of PC based VoIP communications is improved.

USB phones are available in many styles. This includes handsets, desksets with speakerphones and cordless phones. Don’t forget to check if the USB phone requires drver software before purchasing it.