The Difference between Analog and IP Phone Systems

How many people do you know who prefer text messaging as their primary means of communication? Let’s take it one step further. How many people do you know who still use a landline for the bulk of their phone calls?

IP phone systems have redefined the way we interact with one another, making the cost of communication exponentially cheaper than it was even five years ago. But more than that, web-based communication provides a significantly higher value in terms of overall service, integrating an entire range of communication tools into a device that fits into the palm of your hand and, more importantly, goes wherever you do.

So how do the two stack up?

Steve Jobs vs. Alexander Graham Bell

Around since 1876, analog equipment results in a system that’s essentially locked. It requires both a professional to install and often one to maintain. Adding an extension onto an analog phone system is complex and requires you to already have wiring in place or create a separate run for each extension. Yet all too often, companies continue to operate on this archaic system.

In fact, it’s not uncommon to find medium to large businesses with dozens of analog lines that are no longer in use. And the cost of these unused lines may be running a pretty hefty bill since, in most instances, you pay a monthly fee for the connection itself. Examples include:

·         Office extensions (both occupied and vacant)

·         Cordless phones

·         Conference room speakerphones

·         Fax machines

·         Modems

The primary reasons many companies cite for maintaining an outdated system are upgrade costs and employee retraining. But after factoring in the cost of long-distance and international calling on an analog system, including changes incurred by traditional fax machines, replacement costs would be a wash if not substantially less than the savings when amortized over a set period of time.

This is further highlighted by the extreme functionality of an IP-based platform.

The Truth behind IP Technology

IP phone systems allow you to use technologically-advanced calling features essentially for free, including call forwarding, call waiting, voicemail, caller ID, call transfers and three-way calling. Plus, most have an auto-answer integrated into the system that allows for personalized messaging.

But IP phone systems are far more than just voice. They seamlessly combine the full functionality of web-based communications, incorporating many of the popular Windows applications as well as e-mail, text messing and IM into a single unified interface.

This feature alone makes the upgrade worth it as IP systems provide a wealth of customer data and other critical information your staff needs right at their fingertips. In doing so, it saves them the time of having to consult multiple systems just to handle a single request, instantly delivering a noticeable degree of streamlined efficiency across your entire organization.

The convenience, portability and advanced features of VoIP make it a benefit for any business – from local ‘mom and pops’ to multinational corporations. In addition to the considerable cost savings, it also provides the range of platforms that time-strapped customers are beginning to demand. If you want to remain competitive, it’s definitely worth considering.

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About the author: Sylvia is a web content writer who connects with business professionals to write articles on a variety of telecom technologies.