Choosing between Virtual, Traditional and VoIP Phone Systems

Posted by valleywiring on September 13th, 2019

Choosing aphone system for your small business can be a vexing task. To determine if you are on the right track, you need to ask yourself three questions:

• Is a full-fledged phone system necessary for my business or could I use virtual phone service that relies on mobile devices?
• If full phone system i.e. desk telephone is suitable, what kind of service would I like to have? You can choose between traditional landline telephone services or you can go with Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) system which runs with the help of the Internet and is available with various providers. 
• If you like to go with VoIP system, do you want to install the system at your business (premise-based) or have your service provider host it (cloud-based)?

 If you are not aware of the available options, here, you can grasp the pros and cons of each type of phone systems. 

Virtual Phone Systems

They are used to connect people who call on the main business phone number to remote workers on their mobiles or home phones. They are basically an extensive call-forwarding solution wherein incoming calls are transferred to each employee’s cell phone or home phone rather than a desk phone.

 They are best for sole proprietorship companies and small businesses with remote workers. 

 Features:

• Automated receptionists
• Voicemail
• Call forwarding
• Call screening
• Toll-free number
• Online faxing

 Pros:

• Allows small businesses to maintain a professional image.
• Enable remote workers to enjoy a variety of features that mobile or home phones don’t offer. 

Cons:

• Not full-fledged phone systems
• Calls are often still processed on mobile or home phone network which means you may be charged for calls on the virtual system and use up your home or mobile phone minutes.

 Traditional Landline Systems

They are analog phones typically supported by a local phone company and also called Public Switched Telephone Networks (PSTNs). To run this landline service, you will need on-premise PBX (Private Branch Exchange) hardware for creating multiple extensions.

 They are best for large corporations and necessary for businesses without high-speed internet access. 

 Features:

• Call transferring
• Call directories
• Multiple extensions

 Pros:

• Reliable
• Time-tested solution
• Comfortable to use

 Cons:

• Since most providers are moving away from traditional landlines, it becomes difficult to purchase them and also repair, should something break. 
• On the verge of becoming obsolete. 

 VoIP Phone Systems

 These phone systems use the same internet connection that a company uses already. They give remote workers access to business phone system from their mobile devices. They provide a feature set which was previously enjoyed by only large corporations.

 They are highly preferable for small businesses that want the functionality of a sophisticated phone system at a reasonable price and businesses with remote employees. 

 Features:

• Automated attendants
• Call queues
• Computer integration to allow voicemails to be sent on email boxes and computers can be used as softphones.

 Pros:

• Complete sophisticated phone system
• Easy to set up and configure
• Significantly cheaper than landline

 Cons:

• Rely on internet connection. Thus, if you run a business in an area with bad internet services, they won’t work best for you. 

 Once you figure out what communication requirements you have for your business, you can easily make a choice between these three phone systems.