Society has come a long way from rotary style phones or bulky touch pads protruding from a handheld brick. Nowadays, people can stream communications apps from their phone or computer over WIFI. If someone wants to connect with their grandmother on the other side of the world, all they have to do is establish a profile and navigate a touchscreen.  

The world thrives on instantaneous communication, and marketing professionals can learn a lot by incorporating new resources and understanding how they work. Phone video calls present a whole new world of possibility for engagement when it comes to producing great content and working with dedicated individuals. 

If you're curious about how phone video calls can enhance your productivity, then are a few things to consider about what they are and how they work:

What are Phone Video Calls?

Phone video calls refer to face-to-face communications using audio and video technologies through mobile and web devices. 

Anyone who uses applications, such as Facetime or Skype, are directly involved with this type of communication. Once a connection is established, users on both ends can hear each others' voices and see each others' faces in real-time as if they were in a room together that very instant. The amount of change that has occurred in communication sectors over the last 30 years has been remarkable. but many people may be surprised to know that the idea of video calling has been alluded to or in development as early as the late 1920's.

AT&T was the first company to launch the idea of the "Picturephone," presenting customers with an extremely expensive concept that left them feeling awkward or vulnerable while talking on the phone. Nonetheless, that reluctance has disappeared over the years, and now, users are chomping at the bit to express themselves on video to friends and family. Instagram stories, Snapchat, Youtube; phone video calls have become an essential part of worldwide engagement, but not many people don't understand that science that allows such connections to work in the first place. 

How Do Phone Video Calls Work?

Although it may seem like a simple process, the underlying technology used to make phone video calls is quite complex. 

Primarily, the main hurdle that phone video calling must clear is the process of media streaming from one person to another. To accomplish this task, connections rely on an open project called WebRTC, which is a real-time communications component that works alongside multiple browsers, mobile platforms, and loT devices to provide a fundamental set of protocols for all systems to follow. 

In addition to WebRTC, other factors must be used to ensure a strong link between components. For example, signaling is used to identify users wanting to connect. Then, a peer-to-peer connection must be setup through a detection of IP addresses with the help of Stun servers. If for any reason the peer-to-peer connection fails, a Turn server is used to send information so that media can be transferred. 

Of course, not too many users will ever have to form a direct relationship with these processes, but companies who rely on strong communication efforts should try their best to choose a provider that can offer them the most reliable softwares and connections available. 

Choosing VoIP Software and Unified Communications

Since day-to-day operations have become so mainstream and clients need content right away, having a unified communications plan with strong VoIP software is paramount to your success. Internally, being able to connect with team members on tight deadlines and campaigns means that collaboration must be done over the internet. Instances of poor connectivity will only lead to frustration, and since communication efforts are moving toward cloud-based platforms, any traditional landline systems may no longer provide a reliable framework for the future. 

Unified communications, those that offer business phone services with cutting-edge video calling, virtual meetings, and contact center solutions will never leave you scrambling for a solid connection. Just like how phone video calling has revolutionized the way people connect with the world, unified communications helps businesses transform the way they engage with customers and empower their employees to produce great work. 

Get Connected with 8x8

Collaboration is key to the success of any business. Easily collaborate from anywhere on any device using the most integrated video and audio conferencing with HD quality and instant screen sharing. Call 1-833-415-0191 or fill out an online form to request a no-obligation quote from an 8x8 product specialist.

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