VoIP phone system: Unify all your business communications

A VoIP phone is a type of telephone that uses Voice over Internet Protocol or VoIP technology to make or receive calls. It transmits calls through an internet connection compared to traditional hard-wired phones that transit calls using copper wires.

A VoIP internet phone can be hardware-based or software-based. Hardware-based VoIP phones, which are called hard phones, look like standard landline phones. However, you do not have to connect them to an on-premise PBX to route calls. It needs only an internet connection and a router, while newer models work without cables using Wi-Fi networks.

A software-based VoIP phone, also called a softphone, is a virtual phone. It is a software program or an app that you can run on internet-connected devices like laptops, desktops, tablets, and smartphones to make VoIP calls.

Enjoy unified business communications and enhance collaboration among your teams with the VoIP phone system from Ringover. It works on VoIP landline phones and internet-connected devices like computers, laptops, and smartphones, making it an ideal choice for on-premise teams, remote employees, and hybrid workforce alike.

Traditional phones are wired to an on-premises Private Branch Exchange (PBX), an expensive and complicated system that is responsible for call routing. Over the past two decades, VoIP technology has far surpassed the capabilities of traditional PBX systems.

Since VoIP phones enable telephone calls over the internet, otherwise referred to as the cloud, an existing WiFi connection is all you need to get started. No additional wiring required. Regardless of which VoIP phones you choose, setting up requires nothing more than plugging them in and having your IT team configure them to best suit your needs.

People use VoIP phone systems because of its ease of use and business-friendly features. Want to know what is VoIP telephony’s advantage over traditional phones? Here are a few of them.

• Portability: A VoIP phone system is not location-dependent. You can use it from any device with a good internet connection.
• Scalability: A VoIP phone system allows you to add more phones or features as your organization grows.
• Cost-reduction: VoIP is cost-effective and has no installation or hardware costs.
• Integrations: You can integrate VoIP internet phones into existing business applications like CRMs and gain better insights into your operations.
• Accessibility: Once you have created an account with a VoIP service provider, you can use it across devices. You can use VoIP handsets while at the desk and make calls from computers or smartphones while away using your same business number.

Though there are service providers that offer free versions of their VoIP services, they have limited features. These typically are free apps that you can download and use on your devices. Such free VoIP apps are ideal for individual consumers, solopreneurs, or super-small businesses, not for enterprises.

VoIP business phones are subscription-based solutions. You can choose a plan based on your needs and enjoy all the features that come with it. For instance, Ringover offers monthly subscription plans as low as $21 per user for annual billing. It includes free incoming calls from anywhere and unlimited local and international calls to several worldwide destinations.

Since you can use VoIP services with your laptops, computers, and smartphones, there are no costs associated with devices. However, if you buy VoIP handsets for your office, the device will cost you depending on the model.

A wide range of VoIP call services, both paid and free, are available in the market. Some companies offer free or low-cost versions of their VoIP services, but they often lack crucial communication and collaboration features.

All enterprise VoIP phone services follow the subscription model, where you pay a monthly fee per person and enjoy all the benefits included in the package. Service providers like Ringover have business plans starting at just $21 per user per month when billed annually.

You might have to pay a few more extra dollars if you opt for monthly billing. Likewise, advanced business and enterprise plans will cost you more.

Yes. Most VoIP service providers offer texting capabilities to their users. You can send SMS to any text-enabled VoIP number, and they can access the message from their VoIP devices/platform. Likewise, if you are a VoIP user, you can receive texts that your customers send on your devices.

While sending texts to a VoIP number, ensure that their VoIP plan supports SMS and texting. Likewise, you can send texts from or receive texts to your VoIP number only if your VoIP plan includes texting features.

You can try the following methods to find out if someone has called you from a VoIP number:

• Use a website that allows you to look up the LRN or Location Routing Number, and the search will tell you who the carrier is. You can then look up the carrier to see if it is a regular or VoIP service provider.
• Look up the number using reverse phone lookup websites. The search will show you if it is a VoIP number and other details.
• If you are a VoIP user, you can ask your provider to tell you more about the caller by doing a CNAM lookup. However, this is possible only if the caller uses a registered ID.
• VoIP numbers usually have two parts - a caller ID (the number you can see) and a CNAM. Configure your device to display both the caller ID and the CNAM.

The answer to this question depends on whether you are trying to trace a fixed or non-fixed VoIP number. Fixed VoIP numbers are attached to an owner account and physical address and are traceable. A non-fixed VoIP number is not tied to any physical address or location, which makes it hard to trace VoIP calls from such numbers.

One of the easiest ways to trace VoIP calls from fixed numbers is to configure your phone to display the CNAM and the caller ID. If you are a VoIP phone service user, you can give the call details to your vendor and ask them to look up the number for you. You can use reverse phone detective apps or websites – once you enter the caller ID, it will typically show you the owner’s details.

Calling a VoIP internet phone is not different from calling a traditional landline phone number. If you are calling a business VoIP number, you will probably hear an IVR message or auto attendant recording set up by the business.

If the person/business has not set up an IVR message or recording, you will hear the phone ringing as in a regular call. Once the call is connected, you can talk to the agent. At times, the call may be attended by a voice bot.