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More and more businesses are considering
making the switch to VoIP.
How Is a VoIP Phone System Different?Before we jump into
the details, we need to establish what sets Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) phone apart from an analog phone.
IP phones connect to the telephone network via a VoIP provider through the internet. It turns the audio into data packets and transmits them using the Internet Protocol (IP). The provider’s data center then transforms the signals into analog and transfers them through to the PSTN. Now that you know what VoIP is, let’s discuss how you can begin setting up your VoIP phone system. If you learn better through. 1) Test Your Network and Internet ConnectionYou might be concerned about how much bandwidth VoIP uses, but a rule of thumb is about 100 kbps upload and download per line. 2) Invest In The Right VoIP HardwareIf you already have a VoIP provider, the next step of your VoIP setup is to invest in VoIP hardware. Since VoIP has become standard for businesses over the last few years, there are a lot of cutting-edge options. Watch the video below for a quick breakdown of the types of equipment you’ll need to get your VoIP system up and running. If you want your phone calls to sound great, you should invest in a high-end
VoIP desk phone like the Polycom VVX601. There are also less expensive options for both desk phones available if all you need is to make and receive phone calls. Want To Keep Your Old Desk Phones? Use a VoIP AdapterIf you want to use your existing office phone equipment, you can still use it with VoIP. With an Analog Telephone Adapter (ATA), you can make the switch to VoIP and keep all of your analog phones. The VoIP adapter functions between the phones and
your network, digitizing the analog signals. Minimize Hardware Costs with SoftphonesAnother way to lower your costs is to consider using a
business phone app instead of a desk phone. These apps are also known as softphones. You can download the softphone to your computer or smartphone. 3) Find a VoIP Provider with the Right FeaturesSwitching to VoIP doesn’t just mean you can replace your landline. It’s also an opportunity to move your business communications into the 21st century, at no extra cost.
For enterprises, we also offer unified communications and more advanced features like call encryption. In particular, Nextiva’s network has numerous redundant data centers that give your organization the high reliability and performance it needs to scale. 4) How To Get a Business Phone NumberDepending on your VoIP provider, a local phone number could be included with any VoIP plan that you choose. This is the case with Nextiva. Different Types of Phone Numbers:
Nextiva provides local business phone numbers for all U.S. states and also offers toll-free and virtual
phone numbers. Keep Your Existing Business Number with PortingNumber porting is how you transfer phone numbers from your existing service provider to
your new one. We handle the number porting for free for all Nextiva customers.
After you complete this process, our team handles the porting in 10-20 business days. We’ll keep you aware of its status so switching to VoIP is easy and seamless. Once you have a provider and hardware, it’s time to complete the setup in your office. The specific steps depend on hardware and the number of employees. We only sell phones and handsets that are ready to plug-and-play. So below, we outline the simple process of getting your VoIP up and running with us. If you use other providers or purchase phones from a third-party, the process may require additional steps. How to Set Up VoIP Desk Phones and HandsetsThe necessary steps depend on the model that you’ve bought and your network setup. With a standard network switch in place, the setup process is simple. If you have Power over Ethernet (PoE), the electrical signal is carried in one wire — saving you from needing an AC adapter. VoIP desk phones or handsets without PoE:
If you have a router that supports Power over Ethernet (PoE), the process is slightly different but is even quicker. VoIP desk phones to PoE-enabled routers:
How to Set Up VoIP HeadsetsNot all headsets offer the one-touch answer feature. To use it, you need a modern headset with one-touch enabled and connect it with Electronic Hook Switch (EHS) cables. Wireless VoIP headsets and phones with EHS cable support:
For wired headsets that use a regular phone jack, the process is even more straightforward. Headsets and desk phones with headphone jacks/ports:
6) Test Your New VoIP LinesIf you did everything right, and you have a fast connection, you won’t have any issues.
It’s better to be safe than sorry.
You should also try to test your lines when there is a lot of other network activity. Network congestion can lead to a variety of line issues, from dropped calls to choppy audio and more. 7) Train Your Staff to Get The Most Out of VoIP FeaturesFor many small businesses, a switch to VoIP represents the first time they have meaningful business phone features. Effortless VoIP Setup With NextivaOne of the reasons our customers love us is because it is so easy to get started with Nextiva. We
have tested everything and hand-picked a catalog of high-quality phones and hardware. We provision all of our phones so all you need to do is plug them in. What is the computer or network device that serves as an interface between devices and the network?A network interface unit (NIU) (sometimes called a network interface device) is a device that serves as a common interface for various other devices within a local area network (LAN), or as an interface to allow networked computers to connect to an outside network.
What is a technology that connects individual devices to other parts of a network through radio connections?A radio access network is a technology that connects individual devices to other parts of a network through radio connections. It is a major part of modern telecommunications, with LTE and 5G network connections for mobile phones being examples of radio access networks.
What are the four wireless communication network categories?There are four types of wireless networks -- wireless local area networks, wireless metropolitan area networks, wireless personal area networks and wireless wide area networks -- each with its own function.
What provides communication for devices owned by a single user that work over a short distance?Personal Area Network (PAN): It is an interconnection of personal technology devices to communicate over a short distance, which is less than 33 feet or 10 meters or within the range of an individual person, typically using some form of wireless technologies.
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