German VoIP ban to be lifted

Business VoIP

It looks as though German telecommunications company T-Mobile/Deutsche Telekom is likely to lift their ban of VoIP (Voice Over IP address). They had banned use of the technology and received a court order preventing customers from using it over their network.

T-Mobile claims that there are two main reasons for this VoIP ban. The first is that the high traffic that can be generated by VoIP would hinder their network and prevent their other users from the high quality service they would expect. The second is that if the Skype service, for example, didn’t work then it would look as though T-Mobile is responsible for these issues. Some have claimed, though, that they are just worried that they will loose revenue if cheaper VoIP services can be used on their networks by their customers.

This ban imposed by T-Mobile looks set to be lifted. However, they are considering a surcharge for the use VoIP. Reports suggest that there will be a EUR9.95 charge for any customers wishing to use VoIP over their network. The company say that this surcharge will fund the investment that would be required for the network to work efficiently with the extra VoIP usage. They say it is not fair for their customers who do not use VoIP to have to pay more on their bills to pay for the improvements. They have been accused, though, of just trying to make up for their losses. If their customers are using a cheaper VoIP service then they will inevitably loose revenue, and this EUR9.95 a month may be a way of making up the difference.

Germany isn’t the only place where a potential VoIP ban has been talked about. In the United Arab Emirates, where many of the biggest telecoms companies are linked to the government, the have been worried about how VoIP might effect profits. In Russia a lobby is attempting to get either a full or partial VoIP ban within the country, on the grounds of security and that Russian companies will be unable to compete with foreign VoIP operators. This all shows that many companies are running scared of VoIP; they are concerned that the cost savings that can be made with VoIP will entice customers to switch to these services. The costs savings with VoIP can be significant, as running the technology is not as costly. The quality is also getting better, meaning that more people are considering it as a viable option.

Questions could be raised as to the fairness of VoIP being banned in such ways. Is it fair competition that potentially better services for customers should be banned to protect certain businesses? At the same time, some businesses may argue that they are not competing on a level playing field, as the VoIP providers are able to offer a cheaper service than they are. Questions should be asked as to whether this should be a matter for the courts, or whether all businesses should be fighting it out to produce the best service, in terms of price and quality.

A lifting of the ban in Germany would suggest that eventually VoIP will prevail and this could have a huge impact on the telecommunications industry.

Russia set to ban VoIP

Business VoIP

VoIP Provider

Russia could be about to introduce legislation that limits or even bans the use of VoIP technology. Members of the government along with Russia’s prime business lobby, the Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs, are looking to introduce the measure to prevent Russian telecommunications companies from going out of businesses. They are concerned that local landline and mobile companies such as TransTeleComs and MegaFon will struggle to compete with foreign VoIP competitors. VoIP offers big savings, and is becoming increasing popular, with 40% of all calls expected to be via VoIP by 2012.

This isn’t the first talk of measures being brought in to slow down the inevitable increase in VoIP. In Germany, Deutsch Telekom tried to prevent the use of Skype over the T-Mobile network’s platform. They were, however, unsuccessful in this attempt.

Although helping local telecommunications companies seems to be Russia’s main issue with VoIP, there are also thought to be concern regarding security. The government are apparently worried that VoIP can’t be wiretapped like landline telephone’s and have expressed concern that it could be a risk to national security. In France, VoIP usage has been banned in certain institution, such as some research laboratories and Universities on the grounds of security.

This issue brings up a few questions about fair competition. On one side is it right that international companies can come along with their product or service and put local businesses out of business? Some may argue it is the responsibility of governments to protect local businesses where possible. If this is the case then there is an issue of when governments should intercept and when they should not.

On the other hand it could be argued that it should be up to companies to provide a better service, either in terms of the quality or price, than the competition and therefore come out on top with the governments help.

It looks as though this legislation in Russia is set to go ahead soon. Customers are likely to be unhappy as this means that they will not benefit from the cost savings. The good news for customers elsewhere and for VoIP providers is that other nations are unlikely to follow Russia’s lead.

Why Choose VoIP for Business

Business VoIP

VoIP is becoming an increasingly popular choice for communication as an alternative to the telephone. Some however are still reluctant to switch to a VoIP service as they think that the quality is not that of a regular telephone. This isn’t necessarily the case though, and there are many advantages. This is even more the case when it comes to Business VoIP, especially for businesses that make a large number of calls.

As many people are aware VoIP offers cost savings when compared with landline telephones, and especially mobile telephones. Businesses can save a very significant amount. This is even more the case for businesses that make many long distance calls – this is where the real savings can be made. The premium put on long distance (especially international); calls by telephone providers are not a reality with VoIP. This is because VoIP works via a broadband connection so it is less expensive for the provider and therefore the customer. Many packages are just a flat monthly free for a set, or even an unlimited, number of hours. Therefore making a high number of calls could mean significant savings in comparison with using a regular telephone.

This is why call centres often choose to use this technology. They can base their call centres in countries where labour is cheap and use VoIP so they can call internationally at a reduced rate. Some would say the quality of these calls is sometime poor, but this is due to the broadband connection and not simply the fact that a VoIP provider is being used. A better quality broadband connection would result in better quality VoIP.

Maintenance costs are also often lower. In is inexpensive to set up, especially if simply installed onto a computer. VoIP phones, which are similar to telephones in terms of the user experience and look, are more complicated by still relatively cheap. If you already have a broadband connection, which the majority of businesses now do, then there is no need for an extra phone line to be installed. If you move premises there are no high costs involved.

The call quality of VoIP is traditionally poor and has this reputation. It is seen by many as the main disadvantage. This, however, is no longer necessarily the case. Contrary to popular belief a VoIP service can be of just as higher quality as a normal phone service. As mentioned above, it is dependant on the broadband connection. Poor broadband will mean poor VoIP, but a good quality broadband service will mean a good quality VoIP service.

Unlike landline telephones, VoIP can be portable. With VoIP phones this is not the case, but if installed on a laptop, then as long as you have a broadband connection you will be able to use it. If using wireless the quality will depend on the quality of the internet connection.

All the services that are available with a telephone provider are also available with VoIP. Conference calling is easy to perform and other services such as answer phones and forwarding systems are available. Depending on the VoIP provider and the package you choose, you can get fully integrated business systems and extension for different members of staff.

How VoIP can be benefitial in a recession

Business VoIP

VoIP, or Voice over Internet Protocol, is an alternative to the telephone that has the potential to save businesses and individual’s money in the current recession. With times difficult for many, it is a way that significant savings can be made. Many people have already made the switch, and the recession is another incentive to change to this cheaper service. Research has shown that VoIP can save a business up to 45% per month when compared to traditional telephones.

VoIP works through a broadband internet connection, as opposed to a telephone line. This is less expensive as far as the providers are concerned, so therefore cheaper for its customers. Most businesses these days already use the internet so a VoIP service can be run through the existing technology, although extra software will be required. It is usually unproblematic to switch from a landline service to VoIP, although this does depends on the current set-up and the service provider. Using VoIP is likely to be easier for a new business, as they won’t even need a telephone connection. If they are having a broadband connection installed anyway, the extra difficulty with adding the necessary extra’s for VoIP will be minimal, especially when compared to a landline.

Businesses that make a lot of calls are likely to make a particular large saving if they switch. The more calls they make, the bigger the savings. Call Centres, for example, could be particularly better off with VoIP. There are huge savings to be made with long distance calls. It doesn’t cost providers much extra for long distance calls compared with local calls. Therefore businesses that make regular long distance calls could also benefit significantly.

When people think of VoIP, many think of someone talking into a microphone plugged into their computer, barely able to make sense of the person on the other end through their computer speakers. This is no longer the way VoIP has to work though. It is still possible to use the service through a computer in this way, but there are now other, often better, alternatives. Special telephone like devices, or VoIP phones, have been developed. These are used just like a telephone with the only difference being the technology that is used to run it. From a users point of view it is exactly the same. It is also possible to convert an existing phone. There are adaptors that can convert it so it can be used to make VoIP calls. With this the existing telephone won’t even have to be changed.

Quality wise VoIP has significantly improved in recent years, something that is particularly important with business VoIP. If those on the other end can’t hear you properly, and you can’t hear them, then business communication will be difficult. It also won’t look professional to clients and business partners. This used to be the reality of VoIP, but with a good provider this is no longer the case. The quality depends on the broadband service. If the broadband service is of a high quality, so is the VoIP service.

More and more individuals and businesses are switching to VoIP. It is a technology that is likely to continue to expand over the coming years. The potential cost savings is the main incentive to switch, and with the overall service getting better it is a viable option for many.