Did you hear about the CEO who refused to switch from a landline phone to a VoIP system? He just couldn’t let go of his old phone, it was his “line” to the past.
But jokes aside, many businesses are still using traditional landline phones, or PSTN systems. While PSTN has been around for a long time, it’s not the best solution for your modern communication needs.
In fact, in recent years, there has been a shift towards VoIP systems. Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) is a newer and more advanced technology for making phone calls. Furthermore, VOIP services brought along with them a wide variety of benefits for businesses.
In this article, we will discuss why VoIP is better than PSTN and why your business should consider switching to VoIP services.
What is VoIP?
Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) is a type of technology that enables you to place phone calls using your internet connection instead of a landline. This means that instead of using a phone network, your voice is transmitted over the internet.
VoIP service providers offer a range of services. They range from basic voice calling to more advanced features such as video conferencing, instant messaging, and file sharing. With VoIP services, you can make calls to anyone, anywhere in the world, as long as they have an internet connection.
Also read, How to Get A VoIP Number for Your Business in 5 Easy Steps
What is PSTN?
Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) is a traditional phone system that’s been around for decades. Unlike VoIP, which uses the internet to make phone calls, PSTN uses a physical network of telephone lines and exchanges.
The PSTN system works by converting your voice into an electrical signal that’s transmitted over copper wires. This signal is then routed through a series of switches until it reaches the recipient’s phone.
While PSTN was the standard for many years, it’s now being replaced by VoIP systems, which offer more flexibility and cost savings.
The Difference Between VoIP and PSTN Systems
Have you ever wondered how phone calls actually work? Believe it or not, there are different types of phone systems that businesses can use. The two most common ones are VoIP and PSTN.
But, what’s the difference between them?
Let us examine the main differences between VoIP services and PSTN systems:
1) Cost Efficiency
One of the primary advantages of VoIP over PSTN is cost efficiency. VoIP allows businesses to save money on long-distance calls as there are no additional charges. Moreover, VoIP systems do not require any expensive equipment or maintenance costs, unlike traditional landline phones.
In contrast, PSTN networks require expensive installation and equipment costs. These can significantly increase the overall cost of your business’s communication needs.
2) Flexibility and Mobility
Another advantage of VoIP is its flexibility and mobility. VoIP allows you to make calls from any location using an internet connection. This feature is especially beneficial for businesses that have remote workers or employees who work from home.
VoIP is also scalable, meaning businesses can easily add or remove users from the system as their needs change. In contrast, PSTN systems are rigid and cannot be easily adapted to changes in your business.
3) Quality and Features
VoIP offers better quality and more features than PSTN. Moreover, VoIP systems use a digital network, which provides clearer voice quality compared to traditional landline phones.
Additionally, VoIP systems offer features such as video conferencing, voicemail transcription, and call forwarding. These features are not available with PSTN systems. VoIP systems can also be customized to suit the specific needs of a business.
4) Reliability and Accessibility
VoIP is more reliable and accessible than PSTN. It’s important to note that VoIP services aren’t affected by natural disasters or other disruptions that affect traditional landline phones.
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Additionally, VoIP also allows your users to make calls from different devices and platforms. For example, laptops, smartphones, and tablets. This accessibility makes it easier for your business to communicate with customers and employees, no matter where they are located.
5) Security
VoIP is more secure than a PSTN system. In fact, VoIP systems offer advanced security features like encryption, to ensure that conversations are protected from unauthorized access.
Additionally, VoIP systems can be secured using firewalls and other security measures, making it difficult for hackers to gain access to sensitive information.
Also read, PSTN vs ISDN: What’s the difference?
Conclusion
In conclusion, VoIP has proven to be better than PSTN for many reasons.
VoIP is cost-efficient, flexible, and mobile, and offers better quality and more features than PSTN. VoIP services are also more reliable, accessible, and secure than PSTN.
VoIP systems provide a more advanced and modern solution for communication needs, making them a valuable investment for businesses. If you’re looking to enhance your communication systems, consider switching to a VoIP service today!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
VOIP provides a connection using the internet, whereas PSTN uses a landline. With VOIP, you can make calls from anywhere at any time as long as you have an internet connection. However PSTN only lets you place calls when you have a landline.
When you make VoIP calls to other VoIP networks, you can avoid PSTN networks altogether. However, if you’re making a VoIP call to fixed lines or POTS, these calls will travel over PSTN. What this means is that if you want to make calls to a residential or business landline, you’ll have to use PSTN to establish a connection.
PSTN lines are still useful today owing to how long they’ve been in use as well as the fact that they work perfectly fine. Although a bit limited when it comes to call management services, they are still quite a dependable phone system.