Operating a business means being connected to customers, remote workers and suppliers. For years the standard way to do this was simple: hand out company smartphones or pay for expensive business mobile contracts.
But technology has evolved. Companies are changing how they communicate with a system called VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol). VoIP lets you call, text and host video meetings over the internet without relying on traditional cell towers.
How Does VoIP Work On A Mobile Phone?
The biggest myth about swapping mobile plans for VoIP is that you have to give up your smartphone. You don’t.
You load a VoIP app (often called a softphone) onto an existing smartphone, instead of paying for a particular business phone line with a mobile network operator. When you open the app, your phone is like your office desk phone. Whether you’re in a coffee shop, working from home or on the road, you can take and make calls on your professional business number.
Why Businesses Are Swapping Mobile Plans For VoIP
Switching to VoIP brings with it a host of significant advantages that traditional mobile plans simply cannot compete with.
Major Cost Savings
Standard business mobile contracts are costly. You have to pay for the physical handset, line rental and data packages for every single employee.
VoIP uses the internet connection you already pay for (like your office Wi-Fi or an employee’s home internet). VoIP service providers are using existing infrastructure so they charge a fraction of the price of a standard mobile contract. VoIP system also makes long distance and international calls much cheaper and sometimes free.
Two People, One Phone
Many professionals hate carrying two physical phones: one for personal use and one for work. It’s clunky, easy to lose and a pain to charge.
VoIP fixes this perfectly. The business VoIP app is installed on the employee’s personal smartphone so he or she can manage both lines on one device:
- When a personal number is dialled, the phone will ring as normal.
- When someone calls their business number the VoIP app lights up.
This keeps the personal and professional lives completely separate without extra pockets.
Access To Comprehensive Business Features
Standard mobile plan lets you make calls, send texts and check voicemail. That’s it. VoIP, though, can turn your cell phone into a corporate tool powerhouse. With one app, you can access the following:
- An Auto Receptionist: A digital greeting that tells callers where to go (“Press 1 for Sales, 2 for Support”).
- Call routing: immediately send a call to a colleague if busy.
- Voicemail to Email: Your voicemails are transcribed to text and sent to your email inbox.
- Instant Video Conferencing Switched from a voice call to a face-to-face team meeting with a tap.
Things To Consider Before Switching
VoIP is a wonderful tool, but you need to know what it takes to get it to work perfectly.
You Still Require Data
VoIP needs an Internet connection. If your employees are working beyond an office or home Wi-Fi network, the VoIP app will utilise cellular data (4G or 5G) to make calls. This means your employees will still need a basic, low-cost personal or data-only SIM to stay connected on the go.
Call Quality Depends On Internet Strength
So if you find yourself in a place with terrible Wi-Fi or no cellular data signal your VoIP call quality will take a hit and you will get dropped words or static. VoIP is all about a stable internet connection.
Should You Make the Switch?
If your business is looking to reduce overhead costs, avoid the hassle of managing multiple physical smartphones and provide your remote team with access to professional office features on the go, VoIP is a great alternative to traditional business mobile plans.
