With the end of ISDN in sight, more and more business owners are switching to VoIP telephony. However, we are often asked what the difference is between Voice over IP and ISDN.
What is Voice over IP
VoIP is the abbreviation for Voice-over-Internet-Protocol, and this protocol allows you to make calls over the Internet. This eliminates the need for an analog or digital telephone line (ISDN).
You call through your Internet connection and no longer need a separate phone line. There is also the possibility to make calls through your PC, smartphone or tablet. Video and web meetings can also be made from 1 platform.
In addition, VoIP offers the great advantage of working location independent. Thus, you can perfectly call from home, hotel or any location with internet. Ideal for home workers or employees who are often on the road.
ISDN: So what is ISDN?
Integrated Services Digital Network, popularly called ISDN, is a form of digital telephony. Commercial variants include ISDN-2, ISDN-15 and ISDN-30, where the number represents the number of simultaneous calls.
ISDN is a separate telephone line connected to your telephones. Compared to analog telephony, ISDN gives you the ability to make several calls simultaneously.
Although ISDN provides reliable and good sound quality, it will be discontinued at the end of 2019 and replaced by VoIP lines. VoIP is at least as reliable and provides better sound quality. In addition, VoIP is up to 60% cheaper than making calls over ISDN lines.
The difference between VoIP and ISDN
VoIP and ISDN are two different technologies for sending and receiving voice over a network. VoIP, or Voice over IP, uses the Internet to send and receive voice, while ISDN, or Integrated Services Digital Network, uses a specialized network.
VoIP is a more modern technology than ISDN and offers a number of advantages, including:
- Lower costs
- More flexibility
- Better quality of speech
- More opportunities for integration with other systems
ISDN is an older technology, but still offers a number of advantages, including:
- Better reliability
- Less susceptible to interference
- More suitable for large companies
In most cases, VoIP is the best choice for companies looking for an affordable, flexible and reliable telephony solution. ISDN will no longer be offered by operators in the year 2023.
The misconceptions about VoIP telephony
For many businesses, there is still some uncertainty when it comes to VoIP. For example, there are a lot of misconceptions about the quality and reliability of calling over the Internet. Below we try to answer the most frequently asked questions;
- Doesn't call quality deteriorate when I call VoIP?
Many companies think that VoIP makes for poorer sound quality, but in reality, the call quality is actually better. The right VoIP device, combined with the right quality codec, ensures optimal HD (high definition) sound quality. Of course, your Internet connection needs to be performant.
However, this is the case for the vast majority of Belgian companies. The quality and speed of the Internet has increased greatly in recent years, making it ideal for VoIP calling.
- Is VoIP even reliable and stable?
VoIP is just as reliable as a traditional ISDN connection from Proximus or Telenet. Even if your Internet goes down, you remain accessible to your customers. Incoming calls are then automatically transferred to cell phone numbers. Via a smartphone app, you can still make calls over a 3G or 4G connection.
Another option is to implement a backup Internet line. This way, you always have the guarantee of connectivity. In short, VoIP reliability is guaranteed to a maximum.
- VoIP is still in its infancy, right?
VoIP has been around for more than 15 years and is a full-fledged way to make professional calls. The reason why ISDN is ending is precisely because Voice over IP is simply better. Both in terms of reliability, functionality and price.
Would you like additional advice on VoIP telephony?
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