Voice over Internet Protocol programs have become such an integral part of running a business that today, not using VoIP has virtually become a taboo in the corporate world. This high demand for VoIP has produced a diverse list of service providers that offer definitive options in terms of choices in VoIP services. Some provider services utilize local line infrastructures, while others employ the full breadth of your network and provide complex interactive voice response suites to choose from.

Advanced call features can be found in VoIP native service features. This includes the compression of voice streams into digital data packets, helping you create a telephony system with advanced communications features such as call routing and voice mail. Just like any method of voice communication, VoIP can be broken down into several specific areas of interest:

Conferencing services connect you to your party in a teleconference to discuss mission-critical matters. Clients can conduct instant conferences, plan, and conduct investor relations calls, and numerous features are available in order to facilitate your meetings.

Local services—such as basic phone service, voicemail, and directory assistance—are among the most heavily used communications services, and have become a staple in any communications package. Simply put, local service is a glorified telephone network within your Local Area Network (LAN) that offers to operate as a basic phone service, the power to call localities throughout your network, and to also serve as your network’s central directory assistance provider and hub for all incoming voicemail.

Long distance services can conduct interstate phone calls (made between two states), intrastate phone calls (made between two regions within your state) and international calls. There are two types of long distance calls: switched and dedicated long distance. Switched long distance pushes calls through standard telephone lines towards the destination of the caller. Dedicated long distance, or “T-1” service, are circuits used by medium or large companies to support high-volume distance traffic.

Dedicated long distance achieves maximum network efficiency by connecting the premise equipment of the circuits directly to the network switch. The premise equipment includes PBX or hybrid-key systems, digital phone systems with a digital trunk interface card, or an analog system with a channel bank.

Passing a phone call through traditional lines requires a little bit of network modification to ensure the quality of the voice data sent is not compromised from point to point. Interactive voice response automates all interactions with telephone callers, ensuring that your computer detects when you begin to transmit voice through the line, to make sure data transfer is lossless in audio quality and relay time.