Quality Vs Reliability
Posted: September 28th, 2009 | Author: Garrett Smith | Filed under: VoIP Commentary | 2 Comments »Late last week while enjoying some fantastic Mexican food for pal Cory Andrews‘ birthday, a discussion about high definition (HD) calling broke out.
Likely spurned by the recent completion of VoIP Supply’s own internal HD voice implementation, the discussion centered on the current applications and future promise of the technology. You’re sure to bet that we’re high on the HD voice.
However it isn’t the promise of HD VoIP calling that is left ringing in my head days later. It’s a statement that Cory made in regards to quality versus reliability.
Given a choice most people would choose call reliability over call quality.
It’s still ringing in my head because if this is true - and personal experience tells it is – it means customers will choose the most reliable service over one that sounds the best. In other words,
Given a choice most people would choose the reliability of the PSTN over the great sound of HD VoIP (all other things constant)
Perhaps a bit extreme, but today VoIP service reliability is still an issue.Yet it’s the thing most people look for first in a service.
Which makes me wonder why there isn’t more enthusiasm from the industry at large around delivering more reliable VoIP service (and a missed opportunity to maximize wideband telephony’s potential).
After all doesn’t 100% reliability really sound the best?
Garrett,
While you put this in very simplistic terms, reality is a lot more complex
How do people measure quality and reliability? For me, a quality product is a reliable one, so I’d say some of the VoIP services out there have no real quality even if they do support HD voice.
AND most people don’t always prefer reliability over quality. If you add mobility into the equation then people prefer mobility over both reliability and quality – no other reason why cellular networks are so popular…
Tsahi
@ Tshai
A simple thought from a simple mind
I agree there are factors outside of reliability and quality that consumers take into account when purchasing a service (such as mobility).
However even cellular companies have made it a point to make there service more reliable. In the cellular world coverage area is what ensure service reliability. That’s one of the reasons cellular companies are constantly trying to expand their network .
As someone who sold cellular service back in the late nineties, I can tell you service reliability today is far better than it was 10 years ago. Yet the quality of a cellular call hasn’t improved.
And somehow people keep activating new cellular lines…