VoIP refers to Voice over Internet Protocol. This service is also known as IP telephony, Internet telephony, and digital telephone. In a nutshell, this is the service that allows you to make a call through a phone connected to the internet. Your voice is transmitted through the web instead of using traditional cable lines.
Even today there are problems in the use of VoIP, it is clear that these problems are the product of technological limitations and will be solved in the short term by the constant evolution of technology. Small business VoIP face the following problems:
1. Power outages/blackout
A major disadvantage of using VoIP is that if your power is off, you will not be able to use your phone to the Internet. Your high-speed Internet connection can still be running, since the telecommunications provider owns the DSL or cable provider owns the cable line. However, the hardware that runs the service will not work. These include modems, routers or cable or DSL switches.
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2. Emergency calls
Another caveat with VoIP is that your local 911 service can not trace your call if you have an emergency. When you make a phone call to traditional phone technology, it is routed to the nearest call center and the emergency service can see your location because it appears on the screen. However, with VoIP technology, calls are routed over the Internet. Emergency services do not have a clue as to where the call comes from.
3. Sound quality
Sound quality can be a major problem with VoIP. This is because voice data can be scrambled as it travels across the Internet. After it leaves its origin, the voice data moves in packets, and it must be compressed, transmitted, then compressed and transported to the destination. These changes take place in small amounts of time. As a result, problems can arise, including dropped calls if the packets are not in time. Other problems that arise from VoIP are the echo, in which the callers hear themselves, and on-talk, in which, when the callers speak again before they can hear the other person answering.
4. Reliability
VoIP can be reliable at a time. This is because the data can be lost. Factors that affect this include the speed of connection and distance. Some networks have a lot of traffic, which will result in drops. Delays occur in traditional telephone services, but these phone calls work with a delay of fewer than 10 milliseconds. However, with VoIP, phone calls work with a delay of up to 400 milliseconds. Callers are generally able to tolerate this problem if calls are made through free services and they are individual and personal.
5. Security
Most VoIP packets and services do not yet offer any kind of encryption solution, so your communications will be routed over the unsecured internet, where digital listening of your calls can be relatively easy.
6. Caller ID
Caller ID is included with most VOIP software, however, when you call someone on your VoIP connection, your phone number may not appear on their caller ID. It may appear as unknown. Some people who track their calls can not answer a call from an “unknown” caller.
