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Writer's pictureElaine Syme

How Computer Telephony Integration is the Future of Voice Solutions

With the ISDN switch off in 2027, many businesses have been made to consider the future of their telephony and voice communications.  


You might have heard about the various types of telephony and wondered which one is the most viable solution for your business. With buzzwords such as hosted telephony, teams telephony, and cloud telephony being tossed around the IT space, it may seem daunting to navigate what all these different technologies mean. Most importantly, it begs the question, which of these solutions are most useful to professional organisations? 


The answer, though broad, is simple. The future of business communications lies in computer telephony integrations which facilitate voice communications over the internet-otherwise known as Voice over IP (VoIP).  


A man using a cloud telephony solution on his computer

Now, let’s dive into how VoIP works as a telephony solution; why this is a positive for business costs and operations; and how to find a computer telephony integration that works for your business. 

 

What is a Computer Telephony Integration?


Computer telephony integration, unified communications (UC), hosted telephony...these are all important topics when it comes to discussing the ISDN/PSTN switch-off. Computer telephony integration means that rather than using traditional copper phone lines, your Voice communications will be conducted through your network.  


One of the benefits of moving telephone calls to the internet rather than landlines is that businesses will have more flexibility to make and take calls from anywhere. With internet calling, computer telephony integration allows for increased mobility. In a world of hybrid and remote work, employees can stay connected and productive even when they are away from the office. 

 

Why Choosing The Right Telephony Is Important For Business


When choosing a new communications solution ahead of the Big Switch Off (or upgrading anytime!) it’s important to consider which option will provide the functionality your business needs, as well as the most cost savings.  


Choosing between solutions such as teams telephony or cloud telephony can be a strategic decision based on your business goals. Depending on how quickly you anticipate scaling or changing your business communications, each solution can offer different benefits. Some important factors that may change which solution you select: 


  • Do you need a flexible, per-minute pricing structure in the contract with a telephony provider? 

  • Does your workforce heavily rely on software or applications such as Microsoft Teams or Zoom for internal communications? 

  • Do you anticipate needing to add additional phone lines soon? 

  • What are the primary communication channels customers use to communicate with your business (i.e. social media, email, text), and would it be beneficial to unify them in a platform with your Voice communications? 


There are many different factors that will make your organisation’s situation unique. Luckily for the modern enterprise, there are several Voice and communication solutions from which to pick.  


Microsoft Teams


If your organisation already uses Microsoft Teams, or is planning to make the switch, it can be an effective option to integrate Voice communication via affordable solutions such as Kube Teams Connect or Microsoft Calling.  


a Microsoft Teams telephony call showing computer integration and mobile app


Through this route, users can make, receive, and transfer calls to and from landlines and mobile phones all within Microsoft Teams. This solution empowers business users and increases efficiency by unifying communications all in one platform. 


Hosted Telephony


Hosted telephony, also known as hosted VoIP, is a cloud-based telephone system that enables businesses to make and receive phone calls using the internet. It operates like a software license which can be made accessible through business phones, softphone, or mobile applications. With hosted telephony, all the hardware, maintenance, and features are managed offsite by a Private Branch Exchange (PBX) provider—meaning everything is taken care of for you.  


This Voice solution offers a wide range of all the features needed for telephone service without the need for equipment.  


SIP Trunks


SIP Trunks effectively replace rigid and costly ISDN solutions for a much better price. Like hosted telephony, SIP trunks facilitate phone calls over the internet and remove the need for expensive hardware. Unlike cloud-based telephony, SIP trunking connects existing on-premises PBX hardware to the internet via an SIP trunking service provider.  


SIP trunking provides businesses with wide range of flexibility; including the ability to conduct both national and international phone calls through the internet. Additionally, SIP trunks are a highly affordable option, usually with flexible pricing structures according to your business’s needs. For example, with KubeNet’s flexible SIP solutions, businesses of any size can create cost effective minute bundles that work for their telephone calling volume.  

 

What To Know About The ISDN/PTSN Switch Off in 2027


By January 2027, the traditional copper-based phone network will be shut off across the UK. This includes Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) and Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) connections. And although this may sound like your business has plenty of time to make the switch, it is anticipated that many organisations will procrastinate on the change, causing delays and potential disruptions when companies finally take the leap.  


For this reason, it may be most feasible for some organisations to switch over specific users gradually in a phased migration approach. For example, first switch over a few key players to internet telephone phone services to test out if a specific type of solution works well for your team before making the final change.  


That said-  the most important reason to make the switch to computer telephony solutions ASAP? The cost savings. 

If you’re currently using traditional phone lines, your business is not only putting off efficiency upgrades, but also financial benefits. Hosted telephony and SIP trunks are a significantly more cost-effective solution than PSTN/ISDN solutions, meaning your business may be burning through unnecessary spending the longer it remains on a traditional telephone solution. 


Concluding Thoughts


Between The Big Switch Off and the potential for business optimisations, there is no doubt that computer telephony integrations are the future of Voice solutions. By enabling teams to make calls via internet connection, organisations are not only future-proofing their business, but also cutting costs and improving communications.  


Is your team looking to make the switch to a new Voice solution? 


Contact our Voice solutions experts with any inquiries today. 

 

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