VOIP is an acronym for Voice Over Internet Protocol. It is a phone service that you can get through your internet connection instead from your local phone or mobile provider. This allows you to access communication anywhere in the world as long as internet connection is available. Since its introduction in the market, more and more businesses have switched to this method of communication.
Growing companies are discovering why VOIP system is a powerful tool for maintaining a competitive edge. It helps you cut costs and improve communication with employees and customers.
Here are just some of the benefits we can get by using the VOIP system:
First, it provides numerous features. You can do online conferencing and screen sharing without the need to travel from one location to another.
With that being said, it helps you save time and money in the form of transportation costs. Second, this phone system allows you to see who among your employees are connected and available at any time. Third, getting additional phone lines is easy. No need for technicians to drop by to install wires, cables and hard phones. Lastly, this system allows employees to have more ways to stay connected, whether at home or at work.
There are so many VOIP providers available on the market, but here are our favorite 5: Like any other products, each has its own advantages and disadvantages.
Let’s take a look at each one:
1. RingCentral
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- Pros: RingCentral allows customers to communicate via voice, text, and fax on multiple devices including smart phones, tablets, computers and desk phones. Mobile apps are available for Android and Apple phones that let you and your users answer, manage calls, and check messages while on the road. It also allows conference calling that includes screen sharing. This is best used for online trainings and demos. It’s easy to add and change users, assign phones, manage extensions and groups anytime, from anywhere in the world. No need to tie up your IT department, or schedule a visit from an expensive contractor or a phone-company technician. Best of all, your users can manage most of their own settings from their own computers and smartphones. So they take less of your time and resources.
- Cons: Some of the features on the desktop version are not available on the mobile apps like warm transfer, cold transfer and transfer to voicemail. Another disadvantage is this service lacks a world plan, and even calls to Puerto Rico cost extra.
Plans and Pricing
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- Standard- $19.99 per month per user with an annual payment plan. Inclusive of the following: Unlimited calling to US and Canada, 1000 toll free minutes, Unlimited conference calling, internet fax, and business SMS, 4 people per meeting, and call log reports.
- Premium (Best Value) – $34.99 per month per user with an annual payment plan. Unlimited calling to US and Canada, 2500 toll free minutes, Unlimited conference calling, internet fax, and business SMS, 25 people per meeting, call log reports, Inbound caller ID name, HD voice, and Automatic call recording.
- Enterprise – $44.99 per month per user with an annual payment plan. Unlimited calling to US and Canada, 10,000 toll free minutes, Unlimited conference calling, internet fax, and business SMS, 50 people per meeting, and call log reports, Inbound caller ID name, HD voice, and Automatic call recording, and Voicemail-to-text.
2. JIVE
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- Pros: This service has nearly 100 features for businesses of any size, from the usual ones like call forwarding to advanced ones like queuing and call eavesdropping. It has Automated Call Distribution (ACD) queues, which distribute calls evenly so that every representative receives about the same amount of calls.
- Cons: You need to purchase a plan for each user, and the mobile app is not free with the plan.
- Plans and Pricing: With Jive, you have a month-to-month contract, and the price varies by how many devices you have. The monthly price per user decreases for every five users on the same plan. The plan provides you with free in-network calls and cheap international calling. All inbound and outbound calls are unlimited.
3. 8×8, Inc.
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- Cons: This service lacks many advanced queuing options.
- Pros: 8×8 integrates with applications such as Salesforce, SugarCRM and Outlook, allows you to include up to 50 conference call attendees and provides unlimited calling plans to up to 35 countries. Take your office with you on your iOS or Android device with phone calls, video, voicemail, texting, corporate directory and more.
- Virtual Office- US based support, unlimited calling, auto attendant. Online call management, voice to email notification, Business SMS/Texting, Instant Messaging/Chat, Sales force, NetSuite, and Zendesk integrations
- Virtual Office Pro- All features of Virtual office plus web conferencing with video, Internet faxing and call recording.
4. Phone.com
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- Cons: You have to pay extra to get reports on your calling statistics
- Pros: This service offers unlimited calling to select nations other than the U.S. and Canada. Just sign up and configure. You can pick the phone. Use almost any device to communicate.
Plans & Pricing
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- Base Plan- $9.99 per month, 100 included minutes, Local or Toll-Free number, Integrated mobile app, Unlimited users.
- Plus Plan- $19.99 99 per month, 500 included minutes, Local or Toll-Free number, Integrated mobile app, Unlimited users.
- Pro Plan – $29.99 per month, 1000 included minutes, Local or Toll-Free number, Integrated mobile app, Unlimited users.
5. Vonage
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- Pros: Vonage doesn’t require you to sign a contract. It provides Microsoft Outlook and LinkedIn integration to make it easier for you to contact your clients and associates. You can also make free in-network calls. You need to purchase a plan for each user, but you get three extensions, which can include a physical phone, a computer as your softphone or your mobile device. Further, Vonage offers discounts for multi-user plans.
- Cons: Vonage charges extra for call queuing and conference calling, as well as calls outside the continental U.S. and Canada.
- Plans and Pricing: $39.99 per month per line. Vonage provides the flexibility to add features or phone lines as you need them. Combine that with unlimited calling and no long distance charges in the continental U.S. or Canada, and it’s easy to see why a tailored solution from Vonage is the perfect fit. Just add your company number for $9.99 per month along with an Unlimited Extension line, and you’re on your way!
Once you choose the right VOIP option and set it up, you are ready to onboard your next freight VA to support your growing business.
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Check out our service tiers for options starting at $7/hour