Let’s face it, most of us are working from home due to the coronavirus COVID-19 right now, which has taken its toll across the globe. As the country opens up, the trend of people working remotely appears to be here to stay.

Because of this, business owners and consumers are rethinking their phone systems. Many are switching to VoIP (voice over internet protocol) phone systems from traditional landlines because of significant cost savings, the ability to work from anywhere, and the numerous features VoIP offers.

Voice over Internet Protocol phones (VoIP) use the internet to make and receive phone calls using either analog phones, or IP (Internet Protocol) phones that are plugged into Ethernet jacks. From there, making and receiving calls is easy, and you can customize features by simply using a web portal and login.

Technology is the most significant difference between traditional landline phones and VoIP. Landline phones haven’t changed since they were introduced at the beginning of the 20th Century, requiring infrastructure of wiring and exchange hardware, and limited allowing users to basically only make and receive voice calls.

VoIP technology has helped changed the way people communicate. IP capabilities have been around for decades, and VoIP services have advanced in recent years, due to faster internet speeds and innovation. While landline phones offer featured add-ons for additional costs, VoIP systems have numerous communications features already built-in.

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The Basics of VoIP

VoIP systems work by taking your voice and turning it into data, which is then transmitted over the Internet, very similar to when you send an email. And if you’ve used Skype or Zoom, you’ve already used VoIP.

Calls through VoIP are made on your phone, connected to the Internet, with a network cable or adapter, or through a computer’s microphone and speakers using an app. To make calls, a VoIP service provider routes the voice data between you and the other caller – literally within a split second.

As businesses grow, having a phone system that aligns with the publics’ expectations is critical. Unlike traditional landlines, VoIP systems come with features to help businesses make big impressions.

Notable VoIP Features:

Virtual Receptionist is a perfect solution to resolve missing calls or potential business, as your phone is busy, or your greeting is unprofessional. If you can’t have a ‘live’ employee answer the call, Virtual Receptionist takes over. Instead of callers hearing a busy signal or being put-on hold quickly, callers listen to a message and can be given numerous, easy options on how to proceed.

Ring Groups can be used to create positive experiences for every caller. Integrators can program Ring Groups to ring at the same time so everyone in a department receives the call or ring sequentially where ringing goes from person to person until someone picks up.

Working Remotely: Since employees should not be using their personal phone numbers for business, VoIP systems are ideal. VoIP systems, unlike landlines, support working remotely through mobile and desktop apps, and voice messages forwarded as email attachments. This allows employees to receive and make calls from anywhere.

Business Phone Number: Transitioning to VoIP is simple, especially since you can keep your current business number. The second you plug in your phones you’ll be able to make and receive calls. This is a benefit as there is no need to change your website, letterhead or even business cards. Your VoIP service provider can take care of moving your current business number to your new phone system.

VoIP is Perfect for Consumers at Home

Millions of consumers today are cutting the cord with their cable providers and their traditional landline phones due to costs and lack of features.

Many are turning to VoIP for the following reasons:

• Reduced Costs: VoIP offers much lower costs than cable or traditional landlines with some providers only charging monthly taxes and fees.
• Set Up and Activation usually takes around 15 minutes to set up so consumers can make calls quickly.
• Existing Home Number: The ability to bring one’s current home number for a one-time fee.
• Voice clarity: VoIP is capable of delivering crisp acoustic performance for every call.
• Emergences and 911: To help locate you at home in an emergency, VoIP forwards one’s home address to 911 dispatchers.
• Low-Cost International Calling: Most VoIP providers offer affordable international calls especially compared to landline home providers.

Ken Narita’s marketing career spans two decades of helping businesses large and small grow. Whether advising emerging startups, guiding clients from the agency side or now leading SMB marketing at Ooma, Ken takes an empathetic approach to addressing goals, gaps, and opportunities. Ken has led demand generation, field marketing, customer marketing, and marketing operations teams, integrating campaigns across all functions to drive results. For more information, visit: www.ooma.com. For questions or comments, please email: press@ooma.com.