If you watch movies set back in the 1970’s, you see those old square business phones with the lighted row of buttons at the bottom that would let you switch lines. In 1980’s movies, there are cell phones, but they’re really big (and often are carried in a large bag). Phones are cordless, but they’re unwieldy, and they have those extendable antennas.
You don’t have phones like these at home — so why would you use them at work? Almost a third of American households don’t even have a landline anymore. If you’re a small business owner, efficiency on the bottom line is crucial, so why would you waste money having a phone that plugs into the wall? One of the most popular alternatives has become voice over Internet protocol, or VoIP.
Why? Take a look at some of the differences VoIP can provide.
1. A comparison of features.
Landline phone service does include a full suite of services, including call forwarding, caller ID, call waiting, call blocking, voice mail, three way calling, and the choice of domestic and/or international service for additional fees. VoIP service offers all of those for free — after all, they’ve been a part of phone service for decades now — however, VoIP also offers a few amenities that you cannot get through a landline. If you have VoIP service, you can use your laptop, desktop computer or tablet to make or receive a phone call and listen to your voicemail messages. You can even manage all of your features online. Videoconferencing, which at one time was only available through James Bond’s ultracool watch, is standard with VoIP.
2. The quality of sound.
To be honest, the age of those phones that make you sound like you’re at the bottom of a well has come and gone. You can get a landline that has top-notch sound quality. It is true that when you are talking on the phone, whether it’s with a major client on the other side of the globe or with a prospect who has yet to sign with your firm, a clear voice and a dependable sound are crucial. Landlines can provide this, by and large.
On the other hand, some VoIP providers have skimped a bit in putting their connections together. As a result, echoes and crackles are common experience. With our service, as long as your Internet service remains up and running, your VoIP sound quality rivals that of the best landline phone.
3. The cost of doing business.
Somehow, landline providers got away with charging their customers for things like long distance calls long after they were free on mobile phones. However, reality has caught up with most of these companies, and prices have dropped for landline services, whether you are looking for a standalone service or part of a bundle.
Price is an area in which VoIP has a definite edge. In the United States, most VoIP providers (including Bisconti Computers) offer a set number of minutes in free international calling each month, as well as free unlimited calling to anyone inside the United States or Canada. If you have a number of international clients or prospects, VoIP can save you a lot of money, as rates can be as low as two cents per minute. Because VoIP providers frequently provide discounts and offer competitive business plans, you will generally pay less for VoIP than for a landline.
Ready to take a look at VoIP for your company? Give us a call today, and we’ll talk about whether VoIP is right for you and your business.