These types of experiences put some on edge. They were hesitant to embrace Internet-based calling as VoIP call quality could easily be less than stellar. When the call was taking place between a business and its customers, the opportunity to ensure a quality experience was even more crucial.
Today, many of the old VoIP call quality issues no longer exist. We have access to better solutions, much broader bandwidth, and consistency in network performance where audio signals receive preference in traffic prioritization. Plus, mobile employees have instant access to the same phone capabilities they enjoy at the desktop, regardless of location.
Still, we know technology isn’t perfect and issues can occur that contribute to VoIP call quality that may be less than ideal. The good news is these issues are fairly common and can easily be handled. Let’s take a look at a few common challenges and how they might be addressed.
Network Issues
Unfortunately, there are a number of variables that can contribute to VoIP call quality. Poor quality is often attributed to modems, firewalls, routers, or other hardware that is outdated. When this happens, calls may be dropped or delayed, or poor quality may be experienced.
To prevent these issues, initiate firmware updates to the network hardware. If this doesn’t work, it may be time to replace some of the hardware, especially if the pieces in place can no longer support call volume. If that doesn’t clear it up, you may need to look at network configuration. Simply adding a VoIP-capable router sometimes resolves the issues.
Jitter
Jitter happens when communication is broken into packets to traverse the network and these packets are not delivered in the correct order. The audio then becomes scrambled, or you may experience echo or poor sound quality. A jitter buffer can help with this problem as it purposely delays incoming packets so they can be delivered in the correct order.
Connectivity Issues
There’s a big difference between having a connection available and having enough bandwidth to support the type of communications you’re sending over the network. This is especially true if you’re sending video through your VoIP connection. It’s important to have enough bandwidth to support common communications so you don’t have the majority of your bandwidth consumed by other types of traffic that will degrade VoIP call quality. Work with your Internet service provider to determine the best plan to fit your needs.
When it comes to leveraging the best solutions online, Cloud Source is the company to call. Our experience spans industries, services, and solutions. Contact us and we’ll help you determine the type of package you need to optimize operations.