VoIP Phone System for Your Business | RingCentral (2024)

TCP is a connection-based protocol module that offers some good integrity- and error-checking capabilities, which is why it’s commonly used in most web-based traffic. Between the two protocols, TCP is more reliable because it’s designed to cope with network failures and can adapt to available resources in the network.

When a packet is sent from one end to the other, the destination acknowledges receipt by sending a packet back to the source. If the source doesn’t receive an acknowledgment packet or if the packet states that there was a problem during transmission, the packet will be resent.

Sometimes, it takes a few seconds for a packet to be fully transmitted. This accurate delivery of information is the reason TCP is typically used for websites and emails. However, problems come when the packets get lost or distorted. This causes time delays, and user experience can take a hit.

TCP is so prevalent across the internet that it’s usually combined with Internet Protocol (IP) and written as TCP/IP (TCP over IP).

While TCP is more optimized for accuracy, UDP is focused on speed. It is connectionless so the data packets can be sent without any “negotiation.” In a sense, it’s almost like a “send and forget” protocol, as it provides just enough control information to understand what app is running and to check whether the packets got distorted in transit.

The process ensures swift transmission. But since there’s little error checking involved, it’s likely for packets to get distorted along the way. For VoIP calls, this could mean a slight slip in words, choppy voice, or distorted audio.

Exceptional VoIP technology does not require a completely reliable transport protocol since errors like packet loss or distortion only have a minor impact on voice signals. You should be better off dropping a packet and have a few milliseconds of silence than to have seconds of lag.

To illustrate, imagine being in a call—you hear something a second or two after the person on the other line actually utters the words. Contrast this with simply missing a syllable of sound but being able to fill in the gaps through context clues—it’s arguably less frustrating.

While there are many VoIP service providers that employ only one type of protocol, truly good VoIP companies like RingCentral use both to ensure the best call quality and efficiency possible.

A router is responsible for forwarding data packets between devices in a network or from the devices to the internet. To ensure the data packets don’t get lost within the network, the router designates a local IP address to every device.

If your company spends a lot of time communicating with customers and suppliers, you are extra vulnerable to information leakage and cyber attacks. In this case, a router is your network’s first line of defense.

Businesses take security into account when setting up their network infrastructure. The larger ones usually have designated IT professionals to make sure it remains secure. But if you sign up for a hosted VoIP service, everything is handled by the provider.

Consumer-level routers should be able to support about a dozen devices. But if you need something that could handle more computers and provide increased security and additional traffic for voice and data streams, it is a must to invest in a business-class router. After all, growth should be in every business owner’s mind.

Originally, “handset” was the term used to describe the device you pick up and hold close to your ear and mouth so you can listen and talk with the person on the other line. In a regular landline phone, you will see the handset connected by wire to the unit.

Along with the advances in business communications technology, “handset” has also been used to refer to the part of the phone—whether wired or wireless—that delivers the same function. In the case of mobile phones, the entire unit can be referred to as the handset.

A VoIP handset typically has the same basic features and capabilities as that of a traditional phone. After all, it delivers the same function, but with help from the internet. Sure, you can use VoIP technology in many other ways (instant messaging, web conferencing, video conferencing, etc.). But perhaps depending on the situation, nothing compares to the experience of lifting a handset to place a call.

With this VoIP adapter, you can place calls over the internet even if you’re using a traditional landline device (and be able to use the same number).

Yes, it’s possible! ATA acts as an interface between your analog phone and your VoIP system, converting analog signals into digital traffic. At first look, this seems like a huge money-saving practice, especially if you want to keep your existing PSTN phones and don’t have enough budget to purchase new VoIP phones.

But the thing is, ATA does not give you access to all the advanced features built in to modern VoIP handsets. As such, some businesses use ATA only as a transitional device until they are ready to purchase their own IP-enabled phones.

By installing an app (more on this later), you can use your computer or mobile device as a VoIP phone. You get the full functionality of a “regular phone” without having to purchase one. This is a common practice among businesses, as it offers mobility and usability unseen in traditional phone systems. It also gives your employees flexibility because they don’t have to be tied to their office desks all the time.

Apart from the wrong prioritization of QoS, dropped calls can also be attributed to insufficient bandwidth. This is especially the case if dropped calls are frequent during the busiest times in your office.