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The Big 2025 Switch Off
For those of us who are old enough to remember, the sound of dial-up internet is a distant, and maybe not so fond, memory. The digital world is ever-advancing, so much so that the time is coming for us to say goodbye to PSTN (public switched telephone network) and ISDN (integrated services digital network) altogether.
PSTN is the familiar landline system originally setup for analogue voice communication, and later became the main carrier for internet activity across the world. Since then, we developed ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network), which allowed us to digitally transmit voice, video and other services simultaneously, using the traditional PSTN network.
They served us well, and although there have been countless updates to the networks, the time has come for change. However, according to Ofcom, in 2017 there were over two million businesses still with an ISDN connection in the UK. All of these businesses will be affected by the big 2025 switch-off so make sure your business is prepared. Get ready now by switching to an IP-based service such as SIP and VoIP, and avoid being stranded without a phone system.
So what are these new IP-based services? Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) is a protocol used in Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP). It allows users to make global voice and video calls, using an internet connection. The most prominent difference between traditional ISDN and SIP networks is the flexibility of not being tied down to a fixed line at a fixed location. This allows you to manage your businesses anywhere, ensuring maximum flexibility and efficiency.
Switching could also save you money. It is vital that you choose your internet provider carefully, to ensure their level of services are right for you. You will want a high quality data connection for uninterrupted calls, as well as quality of service. The best suppliers will take care of the porting process for you and should be able to manage the entire process of switching from ISDN to IP. This is essential if your business is to avoid any losses throughout the process.
This may sound like a lot of information to digest, but help is out there. Although the switch-off isn’t until 2025, it is best to take action now, so you are prepared, and can focus on what really matters - your business.
Merry Christmas you Filthy Animals Valued Clients!
As we wrap up another successful year (sorry, there’s definitely more puns to come), we want to express our heartfelt thanks for being a part of the Sprint Online family. Your trust and collaboration have made 2023 a truly remarkable year.
This year we’ve been as busy as Santa’s Elves when the Argos catalogue gets released, and we're thrilled to share some highlights:
Four Fillies (Vegan Coffee Trailer): We all need a dose of Caffeine to get us through January, and thank goodness for the lovely Four Fillies, who we provided a host of services to, making them the go-to for vegan coffee delights in Surrey!
Google "Vegan Coffee Trailer Surrey", and they'll come up first – we’ll raise an Oat Latte to that!
Victory Wash: We embarked on a branding adventure providing a full marketing package including branding, website development, and SEO. Squeaky clean and perfectly timed, just like the services they offer.
Cappadocia Epsom and Kingston: Not at all biased, but perhaps a little led by our bellies, one of our favourite clients, Cappadocia. Now utilising our services for their multiple Surrey restaurants, they asked us to broaden their outreach in an engaging and fun way. Through an innovative 360-degree photo shoot, we allowed their Kingston and Epsom venues to feature an inside look on Google Street View, so clients can see inside the restaurant before they visit. Yum!
We were trigger happy this year with our cameras, providing photo and video shoots to Ildiko's Chocolate, La Terrazza, Utopia 360 Visuals and many more businesses.
As always, web development and branding is a big part of the Sprint Online offering, and this was no different this year. Just to name a few, Serious Entertainment Group, J M Wegner Sports Therapy, Win 360 Consulting, Kable Recruitment and Anthea Your VA trusted us to create brand new, shiny websites for their businesses this year, and we delivered. It’s not quite 7 billion presents on a sleigh, but give us a few mince pies and a red suit, and we won’t be far off!
Brambles Coffee (can you sense a coffee theme?) enjoyed a complete marketing package – from branding to website design, we brewed up a slick look, and the milk ‘tache from the cappuccino does somewhat complete the Santa look…
Piccolo Vicolo received a brand new menu design, from our in house design team, alongside a host of print and signage services for a variety of other local clients.
Finally, we connected hundreds of businesses to a more professional and flexible telephone number through our successful virtual landline service.
Looking ahead, the excitement continues into 2024. We have a lot already planned, including the launch of a brand new WhatsApp Business integration. It's our commitment to keeping your communication as cutting-edge as your business!
Now, it’s time for the annual game of Twister. I tried to join in before I wrote this message, but apparently putting my laptop on Red instead of my foot didn’t count.
Christmas gone mad. Wish me luck!
Warm regards,
Gellért and the Sprint Online Team