ISDN is an outdated technology that’s nearing its end, and so it’s inevitable that many businesses are needing to find another solution to their telephony needs. IP Voice, also known as VoIP, is a great option to change to, but understanding what the differences are between VoIP and ISDN is a crucial part of making an informed decision in choosing what’s right for your business. Here are 5 strategic advantages of IP Voice vs. ISDN:

1. Overall Cost Decrease

The cost to install VoIP is quite low, however the biggest cost advantage of changing to VoIP is the merging of voice and data resources. Paying one network’s access charges is significantly less expensive than paying two separate networks for voice and data. On top of this, having better rates and terms can cut phone bills in half, as well as no longer having to pay the monthly fees of renting the physical landlines.
2. Improved Scalability

VoIP is wireless in nature, so you won’t have to have a dedicated center for handling communications and the routing of any calls, this also means that you can utilise both the physical and virtual space to further expand your business. Unlike ISDN services, which are frequently limited in sizing options, VoIP has no physical limitations, as it transmits and receives data over pre existing data connections. So long as there’s enough bandwidth available to handle an increase in traffic, more channels can easily be added in order to meet your needs.

3. More Flexibility
ISDN
VoIP is a lot easier to set up, compared to ISDN which can be quite difficult to set up as well as being more likely to fail. And while ISDN services are tied to a geographical location and it’s area code, VoIP only needs an internet connection to work, making it significantly more convenient to use. As VoIP phone numbers aren’t tied down to a certain location, incoming calls can be very easily redirected to another location. For businesses in which leaving the office is a mandatory part of the job, having a VoIP phone system offers far more portability options as it isn’t limited to the phone on your desk, but also individual handsets as well as mobile phones and laptops.
4. Audio Quality Improvement

When first developed, IP Voice may not have had the best call quality, however, as audio codecs have been further developed since then, high definition (HD) audio as well as the OPUS codec guarantee a consistently higher standard of call quality. On top of this, callers will benefit from enhanced call flow management functions such as customized prompts, flexible teams and call distribution.

5. Increased Productivity

With a much wider variety of collaboration tools available such as softphones, file sharing functions, audio conferencing, instant messaging, presence management and more, productivity is greatly enhanced. With instant messaging offering real time feedback in the form of automated delivered and read ‘receipts’, users are kept up to date on important information. As society advances, workplaces are no longer in one set place and so having virtual collaboration tools helps eliminate boundaries negatively affecting productivity. When an ISDN line goes down, it can take up to

A business telephone system that is configured expertly, and includes convenient tools, as well as delivers excellent audio quality with intuitive call flows will give all callers a positive view of the business. How you choose to implement all configuration options will be extremely influential as to how you manage your calls, and ultimately also how callers perceive your business as a whole.