Relying solely on your phone for business communication made perfect sense decades ago. But if you carried that over today, your business would fail. This is because business communications now must include mobility, instant messages, and video conferencing.

Microsoft unveiled plenty of new developments and upgrades during last month’s Ignite conference, but one that shocked many users is what’s happening to Skype for Business. The tech giant confirmed that they are phasing out Skype for Business and going all in on their new collaboration platform, Microsoft Teams.

As a small- to medium-sized business, you need to do everything that you can to keep costs down. If you’re still using traditional phone systems as your sole communication solution, a much more affordable VoIP solution is something you should consider.

VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) makes business communications simple and inexpensive. Naturally, shrewd scammers have found a way to use VoIP as a means to carry out ‘vishing scams,’ a new type of phishing whereby fraudsters make phone calls, pose as a business or financial partner, and request private details.

Your business can rely on hosted VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) service providers to ensure internet connection is always at maximum speed. But a fast internet connection doesn’t necessarily result in excellent VoIP call quality. When expectations fall short, business owners can get very frustrated and resort to upgrading to a fiber optic connection until the desired quality is achieved -- this may end up costing more.

When it comes to technology, Microsoft and Google have competed in almost every front. Both have made huge strides in machine learning, cloud computing, and productivity software. And in terms of VoIP solutions, both tech powerhouses are also neck and neck.

In this digital age, mobile connectivity is a top priority for personal and business users alike. 5G, or fifth-generation wireless systems, will change not only people’s daily routines but also the way small- and medium-sized businesses operate. Here are three main ways that 5G will change VoIP for SMBs.

Improved video conferencing
The major factor holding web and video conferencing back is how fast current networks can transmit data.

Customers can get frustrated over your support hotline, usually involving confusing call options, troublesome connections, or unhelpful representatives. If your phone system has problematic on-hold messaging, you’re likely to cause further annoyance to an already irate person.

Amazon is using its Alexa technology to ensure success at its second attempt at internet-based telephony. The company’s newly released patent details a phone system that will use the voice-controlled technology of their Alexa-powered devices to make and receive calls.

VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) is changing the way small- and medium-sized businesses communicate. Due to VoIP’s affordability and efficiency, VoIP distributors are selling these feature-rich phone systems like hot cakes. But before deciding to purchase one, you need to make sure your VoIP distributor has the chops your business is looking for.