FAKE NEWS! FAKE NEWS!

Below are 12 examples of FAKE NEWS about VoIP phone systems.

The quality is bad. The quality, which does depend on your bandwidth, but is indistinguishable from standard land lines.

It’s too expensive to operate. 10 to 15 years ago, but not now. It’s much less expensive than a land line now.

It only saves money if you’re calling another VoIP user. Not so. You can call from a VoIP line in Manhattan to a rotary phone on a farm in rural Montana for the same low price. It can be even lower (or free, with some 3^rd party providers) to call VoIP to VoIP.

It only benefits huge companies. From a million employees to a sole proprietorship, it saves money. Do you remember when only doctors had PAGERS? Now people are literally sitting on exponentially more computing power than we took to the moon.

The switchover itself is too expensive. Not if you calculate your ROI. You’ll recoup the costs (which are NOT extreme), in a matter of months, and then it’ll be savings, savings, savings. Every month. Forever.

Voice and data on the same network causes problems. Your VoIP vendors will set it up to avoid pitfalls in your unique network situation.

Security is weak.  Even by itself, the security is better than land lines. Depending on your requirements, you may want to add even beefier security and encryption. Windows comes with Windows Defender – is that all you use for your internet security? (NO)

Upgrades cost a fortune. Upgrades are extremely reasonable. Completely replacing the entire system (which is rare) from the ground up would cost a little more, but not by that much.

Installation is a nightmare. Maybe once upon a time, years ago. Now the majority are plug and play. Even with that, this is the one step where you do need a competent and diligent IT provider to oversee the integration of VoIP with your data system.

VoIP systems tie up my IT provider’s time, costing even more money. You need IT people for your network, but not on an ongoing basis with VoIP. The provider handles everything.

The extra features is where the bill skyrockets. Maybe with the Phone Company, but most VoIP plans include those features.

It’s unreliable. Not so. Even If the internet is down, or the power goes out, VoIP will ring on the cell phone associated with the work station.

In summary, all of these myths have been thoroughly debunked. One reason why some persist is due in large part to incompetent IT providers who mess up the installation because of a lack of well-rounded knowledge and a general inattention to detail.

We hate to say it about our own industry, but there are many bad IT people among us. While there are certifications that show proof of education, there is no government oversight in this field, no licensing required. Literally anyone can call themselves an IT provider.  When we come in to clean things up, we usually find networks no more stable than a house of cards, strung together with weak fixes performed by idiots.

VoIP is one baby you don’t want to throw out with the bathwater. Have a full analysis of your needs done by competent IT and VoIP providers. As strategic VoIP partners, IT Support LA is the perfect place to start. With a look at your average phone bill, we can see how much it will save you, and if it is viable to proceed further. It almost always is.