IP telephony (IPT) has continued to see steady growth in adoption in recent years, due in part to the enhanced functionality and flexibility that these systems offer. One key feature of IPT is the option to deploy IP softphones; desktop applications that deliver the same functionality as regular IP phones and are accessible via Bluetooth or USB connected headsets and handsets. They interact with popular applications such as Microsoft Outlook and allow users to choose where and when they receive calls. Companies interested in implementing softphones should consider the following benefits and challenges.

Pros

There are a host of factors that need to be considered when thinking of introducing softphones in a company. Some of the factors that drive companies to implement softphones are related to increased flexibility and lowered costs, they include: