If you run a business, you need to know the difference between ISDN and VoIP. One of them is being phased out by BT and will be switched off in 2025. The other is what you could be replacing it with.
ISDN stands for Integrated Services Digital Network and relies on voice communications over copper-cabled telephone lines. Advances in technology mean that digital, all-fibre alternatives are taking over – and ISDN’s days are numbered. You can read more about what’s happening and how you might be affected by switch-off in our blog here.
The virtues of VoIP
There are two million businesses still using ISDN that need to find and implement a replacement. The obvious choice is a hosted, cloud-based VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) system that delivers all phone features over the internet – making it ideal for our evolving remote working revolution.
As the system is hosted in the cloud, there’s very little physical infrastructure required. It means that employees can use it while working from home, out and about or pretty much wherever they happen to be, and whatever device they are on, home or abroad.
Other benefits of a hosted telephony system include:
- Affordability – Not only will you avoid hardware costs, but calls can be free too. Instead, a tailored plan with a per user licence can be developed to suit each employee.
- Scalability – As your business grows, so can your hosted telephony service. You manage the whole system centrally and can easily add or remove users or sites.
- Security – Hosted telephony providers are highly regulated, calls are encrypted, and networks are monitored for cyberthreats.
If hosted telephony sounds like it could be right for your business, now is a good time to start investigating your options and finding the most appropriate supplier.
Preparing for change
There are a few things to consider – including the specific circumstances your business finds itself in. For example, ensure you take a close look at your billing data so that you’re clear on your existing spend and can accurately work out the potential savings. You’ll also need to assess whether your bandwidth is suitable. Perform a test to establish if you’ve got the connectivity to handle the anticipated call traffic.
Once you’ve ticked those boxes, request demos and trials from relevant providers. And once you’ve found the right supplier, ensure that you’re prepared. This could involve everything from setting up VoIP accounts for individual users to getting employees trained. You should also consider if you need to port any existing numbers and if you need to purchase any phones.
It’ll be worth the effort – and you should soon start to experience the feature-filled and fully controllable benefits that come with hosted telephony.
Ready to upgrade your telephony system?
We’ve put together a list of some of the key considerations we encourage our customers to take before making a switch. For more information, check out this infographic.
Contact us
Radius Connect has significant experience in providing solutions such as VoIP to companies of all sizes. So, if you’d like to discuss the benefits that hosted telephony can bring to your business, please get in touch.