A Primer on Cloud Communications

In today’s high-tech world, commerce travels at the speed of light. With this in mind, a business owner could end up at a severe disadvantage if a potential client is unable to reach them at a crucial time. Reliable telephone service is absolutely vital to conduct transactions, but legacy systems have some major drawbacks. To take your organization into the future, you might want to consider an upgrade to cloud communications from a company like NetFortris. Here’s everything you want to know about this technology.

What Is It?

You’ve probably heard the term "cloud computing" before, which refers to the storage of applications and files on remote servers to cut down on physical drive space in a home or office. This system uses a similar setup to facilitate phone communication without the installation and maintenance of wires and other equipment in your building. Instead of transmitting telephone data over a traditional overhead line, your internet service does the heavy lifting in a process referred to as "voice over IP" (VoIP).

Who Uses It?

People have been taking advantage of cloud communications for years through various services, but there are many businesses that are prime candidates to realize the potential benefits of this technology. Financial institutions are especially compatible with this system as it helps with compliance to oversight regulations. Retail companies and healthcare providers can also reap rewards from the additional layers of security that can give customers and patients confidence that their personal information is safe from hackers and other nefarious characters.

What Are the Benefits?

One of the biggest advantages to this technology is the reduced cost over traditional land line service. If you run a company that has offices in several different cities, you can have local area codes to help potential customers avoid long distance calls. For businesses that need to record conversations for oversight or training reasons, this functionality can be used on-demand or always running for constant audio capture. Playback is as simple as accessing the appropriate call on a web-based interface. You can even use this service on mobile devices to keep your employees from wasting expensive contract minutes.

Required Equipment

Depending on your level of service, the equipment required for this technology is fairly uncomplicated. At its most basic, you need to have a reliable internet connection with upload and download speeds that are fast enough to handle the traffic. If you want your office to be equipped with traditional phones, you’ll have to get adapters that can translate the data signal into something that the handset will recognize. You could also forego the telephones altogether and use computer-based headsets that plug into a USB port to provide audio transmission and reception.

Seize the Benefits,

Now that you know a bit more about how cloud communications works, is it time to take a look at your current setup to see if a switch would be beneficial to your home or office? Not only will you save money over traditional landline service through diminished long distance costs, but you’ll also find it easier to move to new locations and keep your number without time-consuming appointments with antiquated telephone companies. When you put it all together, this is an upgrade that just makes sense

Weston Barnes is a write and an avid reader for.When he's not writing about business, marketing, health, real estate, pets, or relationships, he's immersed in his latest book.