VOIP has taken the world by storm due to its use in Conference Calls VOIP Systems.
VoIP, or voice over internet protocol, is becoming a popular choice as a “telephone” provider.
In a technical sense, VoIP does not work like traditional phone lines.
A traditional phone line relies on circuit switches to route calls.
VOIP uses packet switching.
Packet switching involves sending small packets of data through the internet between participants of a call.
Packets are sent only when needed.
The system is efficient and easy to use.
Biggest Gain
The one change this decade that has produced the biggest Quality satisfaction change in VOIP has been server backend.
None of use actually see this change, however it is monumental.
Our calls are seamless.
It is as though our computer screens are simply windows that we see the other people thru.
This change cannot be understated.
It is the largest point of dissatisfaction with VOIP services in the past.
Biggest Complaint
The most common complaint accounts for 80% of peoples issues with VOIP.
That is the quality of the other people on the call.
Nothing is worse than when someone cuts in and out when they talk.
Their image and sound freezes.
You can’t even hear what they are saying.
Worse yet when you ask them to repeat they often can’t understand you.
The Call spirals into everyone just sitting there waiting for things to clear up.
So …
Why does this happen ?
The issue is the internet speed is too slow to send all the needed data.
In other words it is taking 30 seconds to send 15 seconds of the people talking.
Most people agree that a non video call is better when compared to this type of conference call.
How does VoiP Work
VoIP conference calls connect all participants through the internet, and the service is usually available through any VoIP service provider.
As with any conference call, you will usually need to make arrangements with the participants in advance.
Follow the usual protocols for ensuring that there is an agenda.
And a facilitator to ensure that the agenda is followed and all topics are adequately covered during the call.
It is possible, however, to conduct an impromptu conference call by simply adding other participants to a call in progress.
This can be accomplished by placing the original on hold temporarily and dialing a new number.
Once the new call is established, the first call can be reconnected.
This process usually has a limit.
Service providers limit the number of parties that can be on the call,.
Only the person who initiated the call can add other participants to it.
VoiP Drawbacks
VoIP has its limitations in other ways as well.
Unlike traditional phone lines, VoIP will not continue to work during a power outage.
It also requires a reliable and consistent internet connection.
Any reduction in the quality of the internet connection will immediately make itself known in the quality of the voice transmissions.
VoIP conference calls may not be a good choice when combined with an internet-based visual presentation of any sort.
VOIPP tends to use a lot of your computer’s power.
When you take away too much of that power to do other things, the voice quality can deteriorate badly.
Many people work in a traditional office and only go to meetings down the hallway.
A new breed of satellite office workers are now only using Video Conferencing methods for all there meetings.
Read our Main Article on Video Conferencing to understand your options and limitations.
