The Evolution of Business Telecoms

Technology has come a long way in the past 200 years, and as it’s evolved, the way businesses communicate, both internally and externally, has evolved with it.

Pigeon Post

Okay, bear with us. Pigeons were effective as messengers due to their natural homing abilities. As a form of business telecoms, the homing pigeon has been utilised for centuries, and still to this day.

Take, for example, Rocky Mountain Adventures in Fort Collins, whose photographers use homing pigeons to transport photos in flash drives to the tour operator!

The Telegraph

The first working telegraph was built by the English inventor Francis Ronalds in 1816, however, it would not be used commercially until 1837. Using electrical signals, the telegraph revolutionised businesses telecoms, with users able to send messages in a matter of minutes, sadly signalling the end for the commercial use of the homing pigeon.

With instruments installed in Post Offices, the telegraph sparked the era of mass personal communication that has become the norm for businesses across the world. However, with no worldwide interconnection, it would not be possible for communication outside of Europe. Meaning, international business communications would still need to be conducted via post, which could be costly.

Towards the end of the 19th century, this would all change with the introduction of wireless telegraphy, or as we know it now, radio. Wireless communication could now be achieved, allowing businesses to communicate with each other across the globe.

The Telephone

Despite its success and popularity in the 19th century, the use of the telegraph began to dwindle as we moved in to the 20th century, due to an invention by Alexander Graham Bell. The first device in history to enable people to talk directly with each other across large distances, the telephone has become indispensable for businesses telecoms.

Leading to unparalleled expanses in human connectivity, the telephone has become a mainstay in the lives of UK consumers – with 89% of UK households owning a landline telephone.

Recognising the importance of the telephone for business development, Windsor Telecom have been helping businesses talk to their customers for nearly twenty years. As well as providing the largest selection of memorable, geographic and national numbers in the UK, we have continually developed and extended the business phone services we offer, such as Hosted VoIP and Mobile, giving our customers the best business telecoms products available.

ISDN

It’s easy to understate the importance of Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) to modern businesses. Delivering high speed internet to businesses worldwide, ISDN has led to fantastic developments in communications, with platforms such as email, instant messaging and video conferencing creating greater accessibility between both businesses and employees.

Basically a telephone-based network system, running through a dedicated line. ISDN transmits data and phone conversations digitally over normal telephone wires. Unlike with dial-up, the previous internet network, you would no longer need to miss a call in order to access your internet, or shut down the internet to make a telephone call, allowing businesses greater productivity in their day to day operations.

Hosted VoIP

However, as businesses and technologies have grown and evolved in recent years, the need for (ISDN) lines has reduced. In fact, BT have announced they will be phasing out all their ISDN phone lines by 2025.

Instead, Internet telephony is fast becoming the number one choice for businesses; due to its reliability and high quality communication. Hosted VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) allows you to make phone calls over the internet as opposed to a traditional ISDN phone line. Unlike with an ISDN telephone line, VoIP users have the ability to answer calls from anywhere across the globe. Ideal for staff who regularly change locations, as is the case with the rise of mobile of workers.

Mobile

As well as increased usage of Hosted VoIP, more and more businesses are transitioning their business telecommunications away from traditional telephone lines, and to a business mobile solution.

Mobile is the fastest growing business telecoms solution, with today’s smartphones allowing employees to work from anywhere. Your customers are used to on-demand information, and now they expect the same from the businesses they use. Business mobiles improve customer experience by allowing your employees to always be available, wherever their location, leading to increased productivity and profitability.

Unified communications with Microsoft Teams

Despite business mobiles giving employees immense control over their day-to-day working, they also separate them from the team too, making overall management difficult and inefficient. Workers with both a mobile and desk phones can also feel frustrated by the experience of managing their separate devices, as they maintain communications, contacts and voicemails across two platforms.

Microsoft Teams Calling enables complete office and mobile capability for all your employees, regardless of their device or location. Allowing them to take their office phone with them wherever they are – providing businesses with a unified communications solution.

Discover how your business can take advantage of the next step in the evolution of business communications and call us today.