Cloud-based services, including Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), have been around for a while. What’s becoming more popular now is the trend of large businesses connecting their different locations using SIP Trunks and all sizes of businesses choosing to outsource their PBX functionality. This can be considered VoIP as a Service.

Many home and small business users adopted cloud-based VoIP early on to cut costs. They did this by replacing their traditional phone lines and using their broadband internet connection for both high-speed internet and phone service. An Analog Telephone Adaptor (ATA) transforms regular phones into IP phones, enabling them to work on a computer network. While this method is functional, voice quality can be inconsistent. This inconsistency stems from the internet’s principle of treating all data equally. Consequently, large data files or video downloads can clog the network, leading to voice distortions or dropped calls.

There are a couple of ways to have both phone and internet service on one line. Cable companies achieve this by assigning separate channels for each service, similar to how TV channels operate on a cable. Just as TV channels don’t disrupt each other, voice and data can coexist without interference as long as they remain separate. To utilize this, you’ll need to obtain your business phone service from the cable company, allowing them to manage the traffic.

Another way to deliver both phone and broadband services on a single line is using a SIP Trunk. This is usually a T1 telecom line or Ethernet over Copper service operating over standard telephone wiring. What makes it a SIP Trunk is the presence of Class of Service (CoS) enabled routers on both ends of the line. Voice data is automatically prioritized, with all other data using the remaining bandwidth. SIP Trunks are available in areas where cable internet isn’t accessible. You also receive dedicated internet access, ensuring consistent bandwidth not influenced by other users.

Larger SIP Trunks can be configured to connect multiple business locations for both voice and data. If you have several branch offices, you likely already have private lines connecting them. Why not integrate your internal phone traffic and eliminate long-distance charges for calls between offices? A SIP Trunk can do just that. It can be configured with multiple CoS levels, giving top priority to voice and video, followed by critical data, then internet access, and finally, background tasks like remote backups using any remaining bandwidth.

Medium to large companies can benefit from SIP session consolidation. This method involves connecting all branch offices to the service provider through the headquarters using a high-capacity SIP trunk. The company pays for each channel or session that supports a call. Since these sessions are shared company-wide, there’s no need for dedicated trunks at each location with wasted capacity.

The decision then becomes whether to keep managing your own in-house PBX system or choose a hosted PBX. A hosted PBX resides in the cloud, handling all your internal and external calls. This is the essence of VoIP as a Service. Typically, you pay a set fee per user, per month. You can easily add more users as needed, as the cloud-based PBX offers unlimited capacity. There’s no need to pay for unused capacity; you simply pay for what you use. Some hosted VoIP providers even include new IP phones in their monthly fee, eliminating any upfront capital investment.

To determine if VoIP as a Service is a good fit for your company, request pricing and compare features for SIP Trunking and Hosted PBX telephone services designed for businesses.