There is lots of hype about VoIP right now - it is a really hot topic for business.

As we have offices in Sydney and Dubbo and regularly work from home, we are constantly looking at ways to rein in our phone costs and improve our communication between those various locations. We do use MSN to communicate regularly, but sometimes typing can just get in the way and you need to speak to a person.

We have used SKYPE successfully in the past for this purpose - add in a webcam and you have face to face contact. However using a dedicated VOIP service is going to deliver a better connection and allow us to call any one from our PC's over the internet with the clarity of a normal phone call. We will also be able to have regular face to face contact with our staff at either office at a fraction of current phone call rates.

Before embarking on VoIP for your business, here are some items to consider.

VoIP - What is it?

VoIP is short for Voice over Internet Protocol, which is a combination of hardware and software that allows people to use the Internet as the transmission medium for telephone calls.

Avoid the Hype

Don't get caught up in the gee whiz technology - focus on you rreason for utilising it.

Analyse your bills

Will you really achieve savings on your inter office calls - check your telephone bills to make an informed decision

Consider hidden costs

Is there a need for any hardware upgrades, bandwidth changes or implementation costs. These items could blow your initial savings!

Consider alternatives

Can your current phone company provide some assistance or offer this service as part of their broadband offering

Beware cheap and nasty

Quality of service is an important component of toll quality VoIP - something only available in metropolitan areas, Check with your regional supplier for how that are meeting this standard.