Hosted IP Telephony – The Future in Business Telecoms

The end of landlines, the rise of hosted IP telephony

A few years ago, in 2017, providers announced that all ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network) lines will be phased out over the next few years. ISDN is the most used system for phone communications worldwide. Most businesses in the UK depend on ISDN to make and receive both phone and video calls. And while ISDN proved its worth for so long, it’s now time for an upgrade.

All ISDN lines will switch off in 2025. In fact, BT hasn’t sold any new orders of ISDN since 2020.

With the internet working at faster speeds, it is impossible for ISDN to keep pace. This is where hosted IP telephony comes into play.

Hosted IP telephony is also called VoIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol). Whatever name it goes by, it can be just what the doctor ordered. This is the solution to keep your business communications going with added benefits.

What is hosted IP telephony?

Well, it means your phone system is cloud-based, rather than physically in the office. You will be using cloud technology to make and receive calls. All costly hardware necessary on-site and ISDN telephone lines will soon be obsolete.

The best part? You won’t have to deal with phone providers and engineers on-site. Your new business phone system is hosted remotely and connected to the internet. All updates, upgrades and maintenance are remote.

Basically, all you need is a good internet connection and a laptop, desktop computer or a mobile phone. Removing the physical hardware and switching to hosted IP is also a guaranteed way to save money. How, you wonder? Keep reading to find out!

How does hosted IP telephony work?

Pretty straightforward! It relies on the internet. In simple words, your call connects to the internet using the office router. From here, the data packet is transferred to the remotely hosted VoIP servers. The servers manage the call, connecting it to the correct digital destination. The experience of the call for your customers doesn’t change, but you’ll save a lot of time and money.

Because hosted IP requires an internet connection, it is important that your business has a stable connection. You’ll need Wi-Fi with great bandwidth, and a secure and private IP network to get the best benefits.

Types of hosted IP telephony

There are two types you can choose from:

1. Hybrid

The hybrid version uses a mix of conventional PBX phones and hosted IP. This is a good transitioning tool to a fully cloud-based telephony system, but it’s not the best solution for the long term. It can also be used as a back up system in case your internet connection ever goes down.

2. Fully cloud-based

Th fully cloud-based version is what all businesses will ultimately need. It only uses the internet, so it removes the need for costly physical hardware. With the upcoming ISDN switch off, all businesses need to start transitioning to hosted IP telephony as soon as possible.

Features and advantages

Hosted IP telephony is a powerful tool for businesses. It includes a wide variety of services and features. Some of the most popular features are:

• Advanced call management (forwarding, parking, recording, and more)
• Instant messaging
• Video conferencing
• Unlimited calling
• Online fax services
• Auto-attendant
• Real-time analytics
• Extension numbers and number changes
• Real-time call monitoring

It brings some great advantages to the table. It offers a complete range of services, it’s secure and cost-effective. But let’s see what its main advantages are:

1. Cost savings

This is one area where any business wants to do well. If you too are searching for a cost-effective business phone system, look no further than hosted IP telephony. Because you won’t need to invest in hardware equipment and infrastructure, hosted IP is less expensive than traditional communication systems, while offering even more useful features.

2. Secure system

Because it is a cloud-based service, calls go through advanced encryption. The level of security for your calls or messages is now undoubtedly high level.

3. Call management

It’s important to perform certain tasks quickly for good customer service.
Call forwarding is made easy with hosted IP telephony.

Voicemail can be easily set up and can go straight into your email inbox.

Call supervision is a very useful feature, especially when you have new employees that need more supervision and training.

Call recording has never been easier before.

4. Call analytics

This is one useful feature. It allows you track some key metrics like call duration, number of incoming and outgoing calls, customer satisfaction levels, and more.

All this will help to analyse your calls, optimise your operations, and improve your services.

5. Simplified admin work

Hosted IP makes it easy to add new users. You’ll no longer need to bring in and set up new phones every time a new employee starts. You can add new users with the touch of a few buttons only.

6. Work from anywhere

As work from home and hybrid work become more popular, it’s important to have a phone system that allows your employees to make and receive calls no matter where they are. Hosted IP telephony makes that possible. You can have conference calls without the need to have all your team members in the office. Communications are truly facilitated.

7. Multitasking

There are so many tasks you can do at the same time with hosted IP.
You can switch in and out of video calls.

You can send files to the customers in real time or share them on your computer screen during the call.

You’ll get much more productive and engage much better with customers.

8. Mobile integration

Use your mobile phone to gain more freedom. Integrating your mobile phone with the hosted IP telephony system, you can have an office on the go.

You’ll never miss an important business call ever again. And your customers will still get the feel they are contacted from an office phone.

Who is hosted IP telephony best suited for?

Well, any business, no matter how small or large. All businesses, regardless of the industry they’re in and their size, need a telephony system to manage their business.

Are you a school or university? Take a step forward with hosted IP. You’ll get better and more cost-efficient communications. VoIP is a popular choice in the education system. All of its useful features truly facilitate the communications. Just think about the time when all classes had to be held online. Plus, it’s a money saving solution, and schools can’t afford to lose money.

Are you a government institution or do you operate in the healthcare industry? Fast and secure communication is vital for smooth operations. Cloud-based telephony is the one-stop solution for you. It will ensure that you’re never disconnected. It will help save money on phone bills. Plus, with a hosted phone system you will secure your communications through the 2025 ISDN switch off. And that’s a big one, as governments and hospitals really can’t afford to lose their communications. It would be a disaster.

Does your company operate in hospitality or real estate? The many features hosted IP offers can be extremely useful in these industries. In fact, businesses in hospitality or real estate should be among the first ones to make the switch to hosted telephony. These businesses rely on smooth communications. Customers need to able to reach you quickly and at all times if you want your business to thrive. Make sure your business won’t suffer when all ISDN and PSTN lines will be shut off. Step into the future now!

Hosted IP telephony works for anyone, big or small. It will give you a professional feel and allow you to connect with customers worldwide.