VoIP telephony is becoming an increasingly popular solution to provide telephonic communication for the office or home. Business owners can access low-cost calls within their country and abroad due to modern technologies. They allow you to use the Internet and many other useful services to optimize the work of a corporate call center. Special VoIP phones that look like stationary phones but have many functions can be used to telephonize an office.
How does VoIP telephony work?
The process of transmitting voice data over IP is called VoIP. This phone system simplifies the ways to make and receive calls using the Internet as a replacement for the traditional fixed-line public network. It is enough for a company to have high-speed Internet to successfully connect to VoIP telephony. There’s no need to install a telephone cable or equipment for PBX, as VoIP offers cloud solutions for these tasks.
Virtual numbers are one of the VoIP telephony services. The user can choose the number of which country he/she needs for work and communication. Virtual numbers can be different.
- Foreign, for example, for the USA, China, Germany, and other countries.
- Local, for example, when the subscriber is located in Lviv but he/she needs to have the number of Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine.
You can order fax numbers in addition to VoIP numbers for calls. This is a popular service among European entrepreneurs, which allows you to receive documents and correspondence without a fax machine, directly to email.
Virtual numbers work on the forwarding principle (calls can be transferred to various devices).
- Landline or mobile phone.
- SIP application (softphone) installed on a PC, tablet, or smartphone.
- VoIP phone.
Both softphones and VoIP phones work using the SIP protocol. The difference is that the SIP application has to be selected according to your type of device. There’s also the need to install the program (there are Windows, iOS, Android, and other operating systems). The VoIP phone already has the necessary software and the user is only supposed to connect to the Internet and register his/her SIP account in settings.
If the company connects not only numbers for calls but also for SMS messages, then the forwarding parameters here are as follows.
- Mobile number.
- URL.
- Email.
The SMS forwarding to the phone number is a paid service, while the other two forwarding options are free. You can use the Send SMS function via your personal account on the Freezvon website. Keep in mind that the number of each subscriber should be selected separately, as SMS campaigns are not available.
Advantages of VoIP telephony using
The cost is the first benefit of VoIP telephony for the company that has decided to switch to virtual telephony. The expenses of office telephony are reduced due to the fact that there’s no need for local equipment and telephone cables. Setting up a VoIP phone and administering a virtual PBX can be done via the Internet. This solution is convenient for small and large businesses and is also suitable for teams that work remotely in different cities or countries. Cheap rates for international and long-distance calls become available with VoIP numbers.
What is a VoIP phone?
A business phone that uses VoIP technology looks like other landline phone models. However, a VoIP phone can transmit voice in digital code format over the Internet.
This device has several options for network links: the phone can be connected via an Ethernet cable or work via Wi-Fi. The VoIP phone does not require an adapter so it can be used even in small offices in order not to overwhelm the space with additional wires.
It is inconvenient for some VoIP phone users to hold the phone all the time, so it’s recommended to connect a headset and remain hands-free. This option is often found in call centers, where managers need to enter information from the client into the database in parallel with the conversation.
What is the difference between VoIP phones and analog phone devices?
The VoIP phone has a set of buttons responsible for entering numbers, call hold, call forwarding, and others, just like stationary models. However, here are the main differences.
- We get high-quality communication (HD Voice) with fast steady internet.
- An analog phone must have its own cabled telephone line for each number and can only receive one call at a time. The VoIP phone offers to add multiple SIP accounts and answer multiple calls which is an entirely different matter.
- The VoIP phone can be connected directly to the router via an Ethernet cable without the need to be hooked up to the public network.
- A landline phone can use IP telephony if it is connected to a SIP adapter but this is not necessary for a VoIP phone.
What to look for when choosing a VoIP phone?
There are many brands and models of VoIP phones on the market. Consider the following factors to understand which device will best suit your business needs.
- Phone functionality requirements. Available buttons determine the functions of the phone. Some executives point out the number of SIP accounts that one VoIP phone can support as an important factor.
- Whether there is compatibility with a wireless headset and the presence of a USB port.
- What role do end users play in the company. For example, VoIP phones with a headset are more suitable for support staff. Phones with cordless handsets are better suited for managers who move around the enterprise a lot.
- Available budget. The average cost of VoIP phones is about $30. You need to set a clear budget and select devices for the right number of users so as not to overspend.
- Network ports. Computers and VoIP phones have the same network ports. This is important because companies usually have one network connection per desktop and new wiring is expensive. The presence of an additional port on the back of the phone will allow you to plug it into a computer.
How to set up an enterprise communication network?
IP-telephony for business is based not only on the use of virtual numbers but also on IP PBX. Such a telephone exchange allows you to process outgoing calls, make calls, and use many additional features that are not available in traditional analog PBXs. There are some examples of such services.
- Conference call.
- Voice IVR menu.
- Conditional call forwarding.
- Greeting message.
- Cheap international outgoing calls.
The Freezvon VoIP provider takes care of a cloud server that a virtual PBX works through. Using an IP PBX is beneficial for business (both in financial and practical terms) since the VoIP service provider is responsible for the software updating.
It is convenient to connect VoIP phones to create an office telecommunications network. This is especially beneficial for people who work in support and sales departments (they make outgoing calls and receive many calls from customers). Furthermore, corporate telephony can also be used by those employees who work from home remotely because access to the IP PBX functions is possible online via a web application.
Virtual PBX is a flexible tool that can be customized to meet the individual requirements of your business. It is recommended to use multichannel virtual numbers to serve many subscribers. Thus, managers will be able to work in parallel, answering client calls without occupying the line. In addition, IP PBX simplifies business scaling because you can create new SIP accounts for employees, and connect numbers, or additional channels at any time.
VoIP phone allows you to not only receive calls but also forward them to any device. This is optimal for workers who are often on the road and plan to receive calls in order to stay in touch with the team from anywhere.
How to start using VoIP phones and virtual PBX features?
You can acquire virtual telephony at any stage of business development. It’s easy to see that this investment pays off quickly as it brings the possibility to manage calls, resolve customer issues, build trust, and increase the company’s profit. You get a virtual number for free when connecting an IP PBX to Freezvon. You can also purchase other numbers (national, mobile, landline, or toll-free number).
Managers will provide a SIP account after purchasing a VoIP number. You will only have to get the settings and register an account on the VoIP phone that you have chosen to work with. Office telephonization will not take much time since the virtual PBX will be ready for use within three days.
We do not sell VoIP phones (there are many brands and each company chooses the appropriate model for its requirements) but our specialists provide comprehensive assistance when connecting an IP PBX and a virtual number. 24/7 chats and phone supports are available for you.
