Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) as a telephony solution allows small- and mid-sized businesses (SMBs) to choose between traditional desk phones (hardphones) or software-based devices (softphones). Read on to learn which option best suits your organization’s needs.

What’s a hardphone?

A hardphone functions like a normal phone, but it’s connected to your business’s IP network instead of a telephone line. There’s no learning curve associated with VoIP hardphones and they allow your staff to call anyone worldwide at an affordable price. More advanced hardphones have built-in video displays and touch screens for video calls, eliminating the need for separate equipment for video conferencing.

What’s a softphone?

A softphone is any electronic device that uses a software application that allows users to turn their PCs, laptops, and tablets into phones that can make and receive local and international calls. Softphones let you dial a number on your computer or mobile device and speak through its embedded speakers and microphone or through a headset with a microphone, so you can make and take calls wherever you are.

Which VoIP phone is for you?

When choosing between hardphones and smartphones, consider the following questions:

Are your employees always moving around?
Do they require 24/7 connectivity?
Does your company take pride in offering top-notch customer service?
What’s your IT budget?

Your answers to these questions will determine the type of equipment you need.

Why choose hardphones?

Nothing beats the voice clarity and noise cancellation features of hardphones since they are designed specifically for voice calls, unlike softphones that share power with other programs on a device. They also let you make and receive calls without being disrupted by poor PC performance or malware.

Because you have to purchase actual phones, the initial setup costs for hardphones are greater than those for softphones, but the monthly phone bills are more affordable. Not only that, softphones may be more costly in the long run, as they require separate headphones and microphones that may need to be replaced or maintained frequently.

Why choose softphones?

If your company has a mobile workforce, adopting a softphone solution may be the way to go. Softphones feature call routing, which allows you to divert calls to one or several specified internet-enabled devices, ensuring your clients have 24/7 access to your company. This is most useful in a contact center environment. Transcribed voicemail messages are another helpful feature, as this enables you to receive messages promptly, even if you’re in a meeting or on the road.

Our experts are available 24/7/365 to answer any questions you may have pertaining to VoIP and especially about whether hardphones or softphones are right for you. If you’re interested in upgrading your telephony infrastructure, give us a call today.

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Is it better for your company’s Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) system to be on-premise or cloud-based? What’s the difference between a mobile VoIP client and a software-based application? What VoIP service is best for your business? The following compilation of VoIP options will help you answer these questions and choose the ideal service for your enterprise.

VoIP comes in a variety of forms. Do you rarely leave your house and office, or are you usually on the move? If you’re a business owner, what’s the size of your company, and what factors matter most to you? Let’s take a look at some of the VoIP services available on the market to help you make a better decision in choosing your means of telephony.

Residential VoIP services
For this type of VoIP, you use an adapter to connect your landline phone to a Wi-Fi modem to make and receive calls over the internet. Depending on the plan you choose, you’ll be billed each month for either unlimited services or for minutes you actually use.

Examples: VoIP.com, Lingo

Device-based VoIP services
This involves purchasing a VoIP device from a service provider and plugging it into your existing phone set so that you can make free calls within the US. This means not having to pay a monthly bill, and you need no other devices besides your old landline telephone.

Examples: MagicJack, Ooma

Software-based VoIP services
This is the most common type of VoIP, and many of us use it on a daily basis. You either access a web-based application online, or install it as software on your computer. Then you use your computer’s audio input and output device to talk and listen.

Examples: Skype

Mobile VoIP services
Like software-based VoIP services, mobile VoIP is also an application. However, it is installed on mobile phones instead of computers, thus enabling you to make and receive calls no matter where you are as long as you have a good internet connection.

Examples: Skype, WhatsApp, Google Hangouts

Business VoIP services
VoIP for business comes in two options: on-premises and cloud-based. Both provide much more cost-effective communication solutions than traditional landlines and have a variety of useful features for businesses. These include video and audio conferencing, screen-sharing, interactive voice response, automated attendants, call queues, and call reports, just to name a few. These features are scalable, and you’ll also get complete technical support.

For on-premise VoIP systems, businesses need to purchase all the equipment and house it in their office. This requires huge capital expenses. Businesses also have to pay a monthly fee for SIP trunking or PRI circuit, as well as dedicate IT staff to maintain, repair, and upgrade the systems on a regular basis. The upside is you’ll have total control over your hardware.

With cloud-based VoIP systems, you outsource the phone system to your VoIP provider. This means there’s no need to purchase hardware or invest in maintaining the systems since your provider will take care of everything for a fixed monthly fee. You can also add or remove users easily. The downside is that you’re not in total control of the hardware and need to rely on your provider’s expertise to ensure system reliability and security.

Want more detailed information about VoIP to help you choose the most suitable VoIP provider? Talk to our professionals today. They have extensive knowledge about this efficient, low-cost communication technology and can explain everything to you in plain English!

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