- When you make a call using a regular phone, the calls are sent through the landline to your service provider. When it comes to making calls in an organization however, it can be a bit clunkier, as each phone has to connect with a landline wire. So, is there a better way of making calls? Well, a method and group of technologies that deliver voice and multimedia communications is Voice over Internet Protocol, or VoIP for short. Also called IP telephony. VoIP is similar to traditional telephone networks, but uses IP addresses instead of landline signals. The sending computer splits data into small packets, with an address on each one telling the network devices where the data needs to go. The computer then sends the packet to a nearby router, which sends it to another router closer to the recipient, until the receiving computer gets the packet. The receiving computer then uses instructions contained within the packet to restore the data to it's original state. In the workplace, the landline can be replaced with the internet already being used within your organization. Employees can have a virtual extensions across desk and smartphones, so your organization is able to reduce the number of phone lines needed. Not only will this lead to a simplification of your infrastructure, but it will also allow you to reduce your call costs, and save money. Moreover, this approach increases flexibility, enabling employees to make calls wherever they have access to the internet, as they are no longer held back by landline connections. VoIP is delivered as an ongoing service through monthly contracts, so it's a more affordable connectivity option, especially for smaller organizations and start-ups. Other benefits include Automatic Call Transfers, the ability to connect calls with your email client to send call transfers to you inbox, and the ability to store call data if you need to access it in the future. The difference in the way that data is communicated, also means there's a difference in the security of landline and VoIP services. We've all heard of phone tapping, but it's unlikely that a bad actor would be able to get this sort of access. Because VoIP calls are digital, hackers only need the right software and know-how to gain access to your calls. However, this doesn't mean that VoIP is less secure than a landline system. Firstly, organizations are proactive in securing their systems, and infrastructure providers are constantly providing security updates and catches that keep VoIP phones secure. Secondly, advancements in security tools, like End-to-end encryption, as well as the ability to import password changes, means your organization can take steps to secure your phone system. Finally, you can segregate VoIP calls from the rest of your organizations network through Virtual Local Area Networks, or VLANS. This means that you can find out quickly about any security breaches and isolate them to protect the rest of your systems. In summary, VoIPs revolutionize the way we communicate, they know it's safer, easier, cheaper, quicker connectivity. This allowed organizations to update their complex and outdated telephone systems, and permanently cut their landline wires.