What is VoIP?
VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) is technology that carries phone calls as data over the internet instead of over traditional phone lines.
Why it matters for sales teams
Cloud-based sales dialers run on VoIP. It lets reps call from a laptop or mobile app, from anywhere with a good connection, and lets software do things a desk phone cannot: record, transcribe, log to a CRM and dial several numbers at once.
Call quality depends on the network. Low bandwidth, jitter and packet loss cause choppy audio, echo or delays, and prospects notice. A wired connection or strong Wi-Fi and a decent headset help.
How a VoIP call works
The caller's voice is turned into small digital packets and sent over the internet. When the other person is on a regular phone line or a mobile network, the call passes through a gateway into the public telephone network. Businesses connect their phone systems to that network with a SIP trunk or through a cloud phone system.
VoIP vs a traditional landline
A traditional landline is tied to a physical line at one address. A VoIP number is tied to an account, so it works wherever the user signs in, through a softphone or an IP desk phone.