What is VoIP?
Voice over Internet Protocol, explained simply — what it is and why businesses use it.
What VoIP means
VoIP stands for Voice over Internet Protocol. In plain terms, it means making phone calls over the internet instead of over traditional copper phone lines. Your voice is converted into data, sent over your broadband or leased line, and delivered to the person you’re calling.
For businesses, VoIP is the foundation of modern phone systems — it’s what makes hosted phone systems, mobile apps and flexible working possible.
How VoIP works
When you speak, VoIP turns your voice into small packets of data and sends them over your internet connection to the phone network, then on to the person you’re calling. It happens in real time, so a VoIP call sounds just like a normal call — often clearer.
Because it’s all software and internet, you can use a desk handset, a computer or a mobile app interchangeably.
Why businesses use VoIP
VoIP is cheaper than traditional lines, far more flexible, and packed with features — call routing, voicemail-to-email, mobile apps and more. It lets staff work from anywhere and scales easily. It’s also the way forward now the old phone network is being switched off by 2027.
Frequently asked questions
Is VoIP good for business?
Yes — it’s cheaper, more flexible and more feature-rich than traditional lines, on a good connection.
Do I need special equipment?
No — VoIP works on handsets, computers or mobiles.
Is VoIP reliable?
On a decent connection, very — and failover keeps you online if the internet drops.