Using VoIP In The Real Wold

Aside from being less expensive than traditional land lines, VoIP phone systems have proven themselves in real life situations. Most recently rescue workers in New York were able to make use of VoIP in the midst of Hurricane Sandy. The Department of Defense has recognized VoIP can aid national security efforts as well.

Even though Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) phone systems are relatively new to the consumer marketplace, emergency and government agencies are finding uses for them in the real world. Following the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, a company based in San Jose, 8x8Inc. successfully restored phone systems utilizing a cloud based VoIP communication system.

VoIP Deployments During Hurricane Sandy

When data centers go offline during natural disasters, automatic backup systems take over. As long as a stable internet connection is established, a VoIP hosting provider can route calls over IP networks unaffected by disaster. In 8x8Inc.’s case, business who lost land line communications immediately switched over toVoIP based soft phones.

Thankfully, these phone systems were not damaged during the storm. Using backup data centers located on both the east and west coast, 8×8 was able to keep customers connected during outages wrought by Hurricane Sandy. The Department of Defense has also found VoIP to be a useful tool during matters of national security.

Department of Defense

Apriva, a VoIP provider from Arizona landed a contract from the Department of Defense. The Department of Defense is trying to enhance its mobile gateways in order to deliver classified data straight to its agents smart phones. Intelligence tools don’t have to be expensive and VoIP systems save the government money. Not a bad deal for taxpayers. The trick is deploying VoIP to smart phones with all the latest encryption software to ensure secure data isn’t breached. VoIP systems can then connect our national leaders to field agents in times of war.

VoIP Behind Bars

ColdCribCommunications have also realized an important niche in the VoIP marketplace. Apparently, making phone calls to loved ones behind bars is quite expensive. At $18 per phone call plus a $4.50 surcharge for collect calls, communication doesn’t come cheap if you’re in jail. ColdCrib has negotiated at deal with prisons that deliver a VoIP based phone system for considerably less; under $3.00 a call, much cheaper than $18. After all, loved ones do deserve to talk to each other, even if they are incarcerated. Perhaps not the most popular example of VoIP communications being utilized in the real world, though further proof that government agencies and private companies are finding ways to leverage this technology. How will your organization use VoIP in the future? Even in hard times, VoIP Saves You Money.