Remember when smartphones were brand new? The idea of walking around with the internet in your pocket was cool, but it hardly seemed necessary. The average person saw it as a (geeky) luxury.

Then the first iPhone launched . . . and we got an idea of what you can DO if you have that kind of connectivity with you all the time. Just 10 years later, it’s hard to imagine life without smartphones. We use them constantly, for everything from communication to directions to entertainment.

If you leave home without yours, you go back and get it. They’re that integrated into our lives.

Now You Know

What changed? Why are smartphones so common today, after only a decade?

We got our hands on one. Played with it. Discovered all the amazing things they can do. How much easier they made our lives. Now we’re hooked, because now we know.

You can’t appreciate the features of something you’re not familiar with. That was true for smartphones, and it’s true of VoIP.

What You Don’t Know About VoIP

VoIP has been around for awhile. Even if you’re not tech-savvy, you likely know that the “V” in VoIP stands for “voice.” (The whole phrase is “Voice over Internet Protocol.”) In one sense, that’s all VoIP is – a phone call connected through the internet.

No big deal, right?

Actually, it’s a very big deal. When you pair voice calls with the computing and automation power of the internet, you can do some fairly impressive things.

You had no idea how often you’d use turn-by-turn navigation before you had Google Maps in your pocket 24/7. Similarly, it’s hard to see how different business communication can be with a VoIP system if you’ve never used one.

And even if you have used one, most companies use less than half the available features. You may not realize all the options you have!

So, why is VoIP a big deal? We’re so glad you asked.

1. All kinds of cool functionality.

No matter the size of your business, there’s likely a VoIP system out there that will fit like a glove. Need an automated attendant? Check. How about scheduled call forwarding? Check. Or voicemail transcriptions so you can read messages when you can’t listen to them? Check.

And that’s just the high-level stuff. Drill down and you’ll discover way more options that you can shake a stick at, even if your stick-shaking skills are the stuff of legend.

2. Super user-friendly.

VoIP systems allow you to integrate voice, data and video into a single environment. That makes it so much easier to manage all three.

State-of-the-art systems come with touch screens and easy-to-navigate menus. You won’t have to read a phonebook-sized manual to learn how to transfer a call. Instead, even novice users will be VoIP-ing like pros in no time.

3. Really convenient collaboration.

If your job requires travel, you’ll love how easy it is to stay connected with a VoIP system. And we’re not just talking about call forwarding. That’s so 1992.

Imagine having all the features of your office phone while you’re on the go. It’s entirely possible. In fact, there are VoIP systems that come with smartphone apps that mirror your office phone. Clients and coworkers won’t even know which device you’re calling from.

4. Engineered for growth.

Whether you opt for a locally hosted VoIP network or one that’s cloud-based, these systems are designed for impressive agility. Adding users is a snap, as is reconfiguring options.

That means you aren’t at the mercy of the phone company when your organization goes through a growth spurt and hires seven new employees. Just have your IT support folks take care of the new phone lines and you’re good to go.

5. Possible savings.

We’d be remiss if we didn’t add this last one, but please don’t assume it as a given. That said, most businesses save 50-75% when switching to VoIP.

Yes, those are impressive numbers. No, that’s not a promise that your company will save that much. But there’s one way to find out. Get a quote on a VoIP system and see if it trims your communication costs.

HC Tech Guys & VoIP

The Hill Country Tech Guys team is up-to-date on all the latest and greatest VoIP systems out there. We’d be happy to walk you through the available options and help you pick the system that’s right for your small business. And if we can steer you toward some savings while we’re at it, we certainly will.

If you’d like to talk to a member of our team today, just get in touch with us. We look forward to hearing from you.