For small businesses, every penny counts. One of the biggest drains on start up businesses and SMEs can be their communications and telephony budget. While a top of the range telephone system that can incorporate conference calling and other features may be out of most people's reach initially, there is a way to get all the benefits at a fraction of the cost - small business VoIP.

Cutting Edge Technology

VoIP (or Voice over Internet Protocol) doesn't use a traditional landline set up. Instead, it utilises your broadband connection to send 'packets' of data that are encoded back into an audio file at the recipient's end. VoIP isn't new - the technology has existed for the past 15 years, but early VoIP suffered from poor audio quality (thanks to the low-grade microphones installed in PCs) and the ever present worry of a loss of connection.

However, those little hiccups have been ironed out, and the next generation of business VoIP is a world away from the tinny, crackling sound quality of over a decade ago.

Next generation VoIP uses cutting edge technology that incorporates a fast, efficient telephony system into your existing broadband connection. Thanks to advances in fibre optics and much more reliable broadband speeds and connection stability, the worry about whether your broadband will be able to support a 'piggyback' system like VoIP is now no longer such an issue. As for the sound quality - modern business VoIP allows users to access the system using standard handsets, so the sound clarity and quality on a VoIP system is, if anything, better than a landline or PSTN network.

Immediate Money Saving

VoIP doesn't cost a lot to install. There is very little in the way of additional hardware to invest in, and as stated, you can even use standard handsets to access VoIP. There's no monthly maintenance fees and calls to both local and international numbers are a fraction of the cost of standard network charges. If you call a particular area on a regular basis (such as the US or India), VoIP providers also offer specialist, tailor-made packages that can cut the costs to your 'preferred areas' considerably, making it even cheaper to stay in touch with customers, clients and even your satellite offices abroad.

Another advantage to switching to a small business VoIP set-up is that it gives your business a bit of added kudos. By showing your clients that you're prepared to utilise some of the most advanced telephony systems, you're also demonstrating to them that you're serious about doing business.

With international borders no longer dictating how businesses work, small businesses looking to make an impression on the international stage will need to utilise every weapon in their arsenal to win customers. By using a business VoIP system, you can maintain better communications with your customers, without worrying about the monthly bill eating into your profit margins. This gives your business the edge - new technology, cheaper calls and better customer care is a recipe for success for any small business.