Many businesses are making the switch to remote work. As a result, VoIP phone systems are becoming more and more popular because employees can access their business phones from anywhere. Learn why switching to a VoIP system will offer more flexibility than a landline.
Types of Business Telephone Technology
There are two commonly used business phone systems: VoIP and POTS (plain old telephone system). POTS carries your voice over copper phone lines to complete a phone call, whereas VoIP calls require an internet connection. Because of this, you can use VoIP from any location with internet, but you can only use POTS in the office.
If you choose POTS for your business, a phone company representative must set up your business landline service by running a line to your office. You also need dedicated hardware to use with your POTS system; landline calls can’t be taken from a cell phone or computer. If you want the ability to transfer phone calls to different lines within your business, connect multiple lines in a conference call, or reroute phone calls after business hours, you’ll need a private branch exchange (PBX) system.
Hosted VoIP systems from CTMS don’t require any dedicated hardware—you can use them on employee laptops or personal phones. Unlike landline phone systems, VoIP includes advanced features, such as cloud-based PBX, video calls, chat capabilities, auto attendants, call recording, and voice transcription. VoIP services allow your employees to use a traditional desk phone or a mobile app to take calls, which means they can leave their desk phone at work and still use their business phone at home.
VoIP vs Landline: Cost, Capabilities, and Drawbacks
VoIP and landline phone systems perform the same function—they let your employees reach customers from a business phone number. However, there are a few key differences between VoIP and POTS that limit their function.
VoIP Phone Systems
If you’re looking for a business phone option that your employees can use from any location, VoIP is the perfect option. Employees can connect with clients from their business phone numbers from anywhere in the world as long as they have internet access. VoIP systems also allow employees to collaborate with coworkers through video calls and chats, increasing productivity in the workplace.
The main benefit of VoIP is the price—VoIP costs as low as $20 per month per line. Installation fees are minimal for hosted VoIP systems, and you get the benefit of a dedicated customer service team to help you troubleshoot VoIP issues. Additionally, you won’t pay extra for long-distance calls, and you get to decide if you want to purchase hardware to use with your VoIP.
There is one main drawback to VoIP systems: If you lose internet connection, you can’t make calls. If your business is in an area with a spotty internet connection, you will have to deal with call lags, dropped calls, and bad audio quality, if you can connect at all. In areas with a good internet connection, VoIP systems won’t work during power outages.
Landline Phone Systems
Though landline phone systems don’t offer the same flexibility as VoIP, they are more reliable. If your internet goes out or you experience a power outage, your landline phone will still work. Businesses with low-quality internet access can rely on a POTS system to provide consistent call quality.
Because landlines aren’t affected by power outages, they’re a better option in emergency scenarios. You can call 911 from a landline during a power outage, but you might not be able to on a VoIP system.
Landline phone systems are significantly more expensive than VoIP. Landline service usually starts at around $30 per line, plus an installation fee for the phone company to run a line to your office. Long-distance and international calls also cost extra, so if your employees communicate with clients across the country, VoIP is more cost-effective than a landline.
The switch to remote work has become a catalyst for businesses switching from landlines to VoIP. You can’t take a landline phone home with you at the end of a workday, and if you receive an incoming call when you’re not at the office, you won’t know until you return. In contrast, you can use VoIP systems from various devices and locations.
How To Choose the Right Business Phone System
If you’re still unsure if switching to VoIP is the right move for your business, CTMS can help. Our VoIP telephone systems are cost effective, convenient, and available for all types of companies. We strive to help small- and medium-sized businesses gain access to the same cloud-based solutions big companies benefit from.
If you want a business phone solution that allows your employees to collaborate from any location, consider ditching your landline and investing in VoIP. Contact CTMS today to learn more about making the switch from a landline to our hosted VoIP solution.
