We have all been there. You’re at the office, totally on a roll working on a project and out of nowhere, the WiFi cuts out. You’re about to step into the subway or take off on a plane, when you realize you forgot your book and don’t have anything to do on your trip. You’re working from home, when all of a sudden… everything stops loading. Cue minor panic attack.
Whether we like to admit it or not, we can sometimes feel a little (or a lot) lost or panicked when we don’t have access to the internet — especially if it’s unplanned. We’re so accustomed to our connected world that being separated from the internet can stress us out. But believe it or not, there are ways to stay productive without internet access. Whether you’re at home, at the office, or traveling, here is what you can do to keep your company up and running without an internet connection. When you choose Voice Over Internet Protocol or VoIP you can make sure no call is ever lost.
Choose a System with Built-In Redundancy and Call Continuity
When evaluating VoIP systems such as PCS VoIP, you should ask providers if they offer call continuity and system redundancy features. These features automatically forward calls in real time to designated mobile phone numbers if your Internet service fails. Also known as mobile-ready VoIP, these systems enable businesses and their employees to access the VoIP system via whatever kind of mobile device they desire, whether a smartphone or laptop.
Many mobile-ready VoIP systems, and all of the call features that are available on VoIP handsets are also available when calls are forwarded to a mobile device. This includes caller ID, call forwarding, a second call waiting feature and the ability to transfer calls to another person. Many systems also incorporate disaster routing where the call is automatically routed to one of up to three other systems specified by the user.
Use a Backup or Alternate Internet Service Provider (ISP)
Relying on separate broadband Internet connections from two different ISPs, is a popular solution to the potential problem of losing your VoIP phone service if your Internet connection goes down. Many businesses today have more than one ISP for the simple reason that they can’t afford any Internet downtime. The second Internet connection will enable employees to access the Internet and make VoIP phone calls if the primary connection goes down for an extended period of time.
In a typical setup, the Internet connection into the business is split into two separate networks, which are supported by two separate ISPs. One provides service to the VoIP telephones and the other provides service to the computers. If the ISP that’s supporting VoIP goes down, the VoIP system can automatically be switched to the other ISP so there’s no interruption of phone service.
Another option is to establish primary and backup Internet connections that support both VoIP phones and computers. These can both be plugged into a simple router that can be used to automatically switch to the backup ISP if the primary ISP goes down
The bottom line: If you’ve been considering switching your business telephone service to VoIP, but have hesitated because of concerns about losing phone service due to Internet failure, fret no more! By implementing these strategies, you can ensure uninterrupted telephone service for your business.
