Why Use a Business VoIP Service
Voice over internet protocol (VoIP) is a service that enables you to talk over the internet instead of using a traditional telephone line. VoIP breaks up audio into very small segments and converts it to binary code to transfer it over the internet. When the data reaches its destination, it is converted back into an audio signal. When the internet was in its infancy, it was slow at transmitting these messages; however, current internet speeds are fast enough to make VoIP a great option.
Using a business VoIP service instead of a traditional landline service provides you with more flexibility. You can talk to others with your computer rather than a phone. You can also keep the phone number you already have. It also has fewer restrictions than landlines when it comes to how many outgoing phone lines you can have, and provides more calling features. In researching these services, we found that Ring Central, Jive and Phone.com are the best VoIP business providers. Read our articles about business VoIP services for more information.
Business VoIP Services: What to Look For
Whether you’re looking for a small business VoIP plan or one for an enterprise-level company, it’s important to find a provider that will give your company the flexibility it needs in a calling plan. We used five aspects of business VoIP systems to identify the best companies. These criteria include the following: the service plan, features, ease of use and set up, network strength and support options.
ServicePlan
The service plan is the most important aspect to consider when choosing a business VoIP provider. We considered every aspect from international calling, in-network accessibility and long-distance calling to specific business plans and the quantity of minutes they offer each month. The best VoIP business systems offer unlimited minutes and flexible rates on international calls.
Features
Since high quality VoIP services provide traditional phone services such as voicemail, e911 service, call forwarding and call transfers, we focused on less common but extremely helpful features when we evaluated VoIP services’ in terms of features. These include call queuing systems, mobile applications and Find me/Follow me, which is an automated feature that sends calls to your cell phone or other telephones if you don’t answer your office phone so you don’t miss any calls.
Ease of Set Up & Use
Converting your business’ communication infrastructure from standard phone lines to a small business VoIP system that you run entirely online can be intimidating, so we evaluated each business phone service on how easy it is to set up and use. Often, the majority of frustration that results from a large-scale change to business’ operation model comes during the transition, so we looked for business VoIP services that offer the easiest changeover and are most easy to use in general. A virtual phone system that is impossible to use is more problematic than an easy-to-use but outdated communication technology system.
Network
The last thing you want when you’re on an important call is to lose your connection. Finding a business VoIP provider that has an adequate network is important for the best companies have multiple server locations and a fully redundant network. Top business VoIP providers also have Service Level Agreements. These agreements state the level of service that the company guarantees while you are under contract.
Help&Support
You may have questions about using these systems when you first install them, so high quality customer support is a must. We looked at the availability of live customer support with each service, as well as the standalone documentation. Both aspects are important to look for when you are choosing the best VoIP service provider for your business.
