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Q: What is the average costof a VoIP phone system?

The cost of a VoIP phone system can vary depending on several factors, such as the size of your business and the features you require. According to our research, the average cost for a VoIP system for a small business is around $20-30 per user per month, while for larger companies, this can increase to $50-100 per user per month. However, the benefits of VoIP in terms of cost savings, scalability, and flexibility make it a smart investment for businesses of all sizes.

Q: Is there a limit to how many VoIP lines you can have?

One of the great things about VoIP is that it is highly scalable, allowing you to add or remove lines as your business needs change. In fact, there is no fixed limit to the number of lines you can have with VoIP, making it ideal for companies looking to expand and use more numbers .

Q: How do I set up a VoIP phone for my business?

Setting up a VoIP phone for your business is straightforward. First, choose a VoIP provider and select a plan that meets your needs. Next, pick a VoIP phone and configure it with your provider’s settings. Finally, connect your phone to the internet and test it.

Q: What are the disadvantages of VoIP in business?

While VoIP offers many benefits for businesses, such as cost savings and scalability, there are also some potential disadvantages. One of VoIP’s main disadvantages is that it depends on a reliable internet connection, which can be problematic in areas with poor connectivity. Additionally, VoIP can be vulnerable to security threats such as hacking and malware, which can compromise your business’s sensitive information.

Q: What hardware do I need for a VoIP-based business phone system?

To set up a VoIP-based business phone system, you will need several key pieces of hardware, including a VoIP phone, a router, and a modem. Depending on the size of your business, you may also need additional hardware, such as a server or switch. Do not forget to check your hardware to avoid any problems you might face with VoIP .

Q: Is VoIP reliable for business?

VoIP has come a long way in recent years and is now a reliable option for businesses of all sizes. However, like any other technology, it is not without potential issues. If your internet connection is slow or unreliable, you may experience problems such as dropped calls or poor quality. Businesses can enjoy the benefits of reliable, high-quality voice communication.

Question 1

#1 CloudTalk | Best Country Coverage

Answer

CloudTalk is the perfect phone system for mid-sized companies looking to grow. Typically, it’s used in sales for outbound calls and in customer service for inbound calls.

Cloudtalk’s Benefits

CloudTalk Voice provides high-quality offers, care, and service, all included in our business phone system solution.

Easy Management: Use CloudTalk’s web-based admin interface to manage your call center in real-time, add agents, phone numbers, and set up everything you need at any given moment.
Reduced Operational Costs: With our business phone system, you can significantly reduce your operational costs, as no special skills are required and there’s no need to hire extra IT specialists. CloudTalk can be managed in a user-friendly interface – all you need is an internet connection.
Accessible Anywhere: CloudTalk is a completely cloud-based business phone system – all you need is to set up your CloudTalk account. But don’t worry, if you already have an existing infrastructure, CloudTalk can be easily linked to it. Switch between your laptop and your cell phone easily.
Smarter Calls: Distribute all calls to your team in a smart way and view past customer interactions during the call to enhance customer experience. Native integrations with CRM, helpdesk or other popular apps boost your productivity and take lots of manual tasks out of your workflow.
SLA: A service level agreement can be provided for all CloudTalk PBX business phone systems, guaranteeing a maximum level of reliability and technical support.
Reliable Operation with 24/7 Monitoring: We always make sure your data and voice services are safe. All data (including VoIP itself) are stored in secured locations of Amazon AWS with 24/7 monitoring provided by CloudTalk experts.

Key Features

With CloudTalk advanced features, your phone experience will get to a whole new level.

ACD: Automated smart and efficient queue distribution of inbound calls based on all available data to make sure that callers are always directed to the most qualified agent or agent group.
IVR: Create your multi-level interactive voice response (IVR) menu to guide the caller through different options. Make sure they are always directed to the right department, agent or group of agents and that they are receiving relevant information through customized messages.
Call Queuing: Create customized call queues. Inbound calls are sorted in call queues based on pre-defined rules and steered to available agents within the right group. Personalized messages are available as well.
Call Recording: CloudTalk can automatically make a recording of all calls. Once the call ends, you can listen to it directly from your internet browser anywhere and anytime. Improve customer interactions by monitoring your team’s calls.
International Numbers: Acquire international numbers (with geographic or non-geographic codes) from more than 160 countries. Local phone numbers allow customers from abroad to call you at standard local rates or free of charge.
Real-time Customer Card: Your agents can see all caller information displayed in one place. During the phone call, they can instantly look at the client’s history of interactions, orders, chat, or notes. This allows them to deliver top-notch customer service.
Callback: If there are any unanswered phone calls, CloudTalk can automatically call your customers back. A missed call from a customer is registered in the system, which will later dial the customer’s number until the agent and the customer are successfully connected.
Business Hours: Define your business hours and decide when you are available for receiving calls. Outside of these hours, you can choose a special personalized absence message, redirect calls to a different phone number or answering machine or even use various combinations.

What is CloudTalk Missing?

According to our users, CloudTalk Analytics needed remastering in order to give users more precise data. That is why we launched a new version of Analytics with in-depth insights into your calls, including call steps, reasons for missed calls, and much more.

What Type of Business is It Best For?

CloudTalk is the perfect phone system for mid-sized companies looking to grow. Typically, it’s used in sales for outbound calls and in customer service for inbound calls.

Pricing

Question 2

#2 RingCentral | UCAAS Leader

Answer

When you think about VoIP telephony solutions, RingCentral is among the first ones that come to mind. It’s no wonder the company has been on the market for over 20 years and has built quite a reputation.

RingCentral’s benefits

RingCentral has a great variety of features and offers HD-quality voice and video. The provider is a good fit for enterprises since it provides an omnichannel experience, lead qualification tools, management, collaboration, and performance features – all in a single software.

Key features

SIP Trunking
IVR
Call Recording
Call Routing
Contact Management

What is RingCentral missing?

Despite all the positives, RingCentral lacks many essential tools that modern businesses require.

Features like native sentiment analytics, Speech-to-Text transcription, smart dialers, or Skill-based routing are only included in Contact Centre Solution. The same goes for some agent management features, like monitoring.

The Call recording tool and Toll-free numbers are only available as add-ons for an additional cost.

Furthermore, RingCentral’s implementation can take as much as 90 days and involves an implementation fee.

RingCentral UI is also not always the friendliest to work with.

Pricing

Question 3

#3 Nextiva | Easiest to Use

Answer

Nextiva is a big player in the VoIP market, providing services to more than 15,000 customers. Nextiva is widely regarded as user-friendly — users can start calling within minutes thanks to a simple and intuitive setup process. Furthermore, the system is hosted by Nextiva, which makes maintenance of the software Nextiva’s responsibility.

Nextiva’s benefits

Nextiva offers various advanced features, including conference calling, voicemail transcription, multi-level attendant, and much more. The provider also integrates with solutions like Zendesk, ConnectWise, or MS Teams.

Nextiva’s HIPAA-compliant virtual faxing makes it a great solution for healthcare workers. Medical employees can share information without having to worry about data breaches.

Furthermore, 24/7 support means agents are always on hand to assist you.

Key features

Unlimited Calling
Video Conference Recordings
Mobile & Desktop Apps
Workflow Optimization
Omnichannel Communications

What is Nextiva missing?

Although Nextiva is a well-known VoIP solution, there are some issues you should know about when considering this provider:

Integrations: Nextiva is missing certain integrations, like Slack or Zapier. With Zapier, users can connect their VoIP telephony system with thousands of non-native systems.
Prices: Many consider Nextiva’s prices high, especially for small businesses.

Pricing

Question 4

#4 Vonage | Best Customization Options

Answer

Vonage is among the best-known virtual phone providers in the world. They’ve been in the business for over 20 years and have established an enviable market leader reputation.

Vonage’s benefits

The Virtual Receptionist automatic attendant feature allows calls to be forwarded to other departments.
Moreover, businesses can provide callers with alternatives for call routing that let them use either their name or an extension to dial. Before having their calls routed to a department, callers can also use the company directory.
Even when businesses use cloud services that consume a lot of bandwidth, such as collaboration, chat, and video tools, Vonage’s network optimization features ensure call continuity and call quality.

Key features

Stability and reliability
Auto-attendant
CRM integrations
Voice and video conferencing
Call forwarding services

What is Vonage missing?

Unfortunately for customers, Vonage has capitalized on its reputation by charging much more for its services than other comparable virtual phone software providers.

Vonage pricing also includes many hidden fees that make the service far more expensive than expected.

This can be a real downside for small businesses that need to be more discerning about how and where they expend their resources..

Pricing

Question 5

#5 8×8 | Best Solution on a Limited Budget

Answer

8×8 is an evergreen telephony solution focusing on integrations and analytics. The provider is well-suited for enterprises, but lower-tier subscriptions also work for smaller organizations. There are many benefits 8×8 can offer its subscribers.

8×8′ benefits

First of all, the provider has done a great job building an Analytics system that can effectively track large-scale business processes. 8×8’s reporting system centralizes all data in a single place, so managers can make their teams more organized and speed up their workflow. You’ll also get real-time reports.

Then, we have the solution’s comprehensive integrations with software like Salesforce, Slack, Microsoft Teams, and many more. Furthermore, 8×8 users get unlimited calling to 40+ countries. 8×8 telephony software comes with a smart dialer, click-to-call, and call recording.

Key features

Call Center Management
IVR
Contact Management
Analytics & Reporting
Call Monitoring

What is 8×8 missing?

If you own a business that works globally, there are a few things about 8×8 you might want to consider:

A crucial restriction, mainly for big international companies, is that there are regional constraints on unlimited calling. Users with the basic Express plan can only use unlimited calling in the US and Canada.

MS Office is required: You need an office where you want to call to get a number from there.

Geographical restrictions for SMS: You can only use the SMS feature within the US, and 8×8 does not cover costs for mobile numbers in Brazil.

Integrations: 8×8 doesn’t partner with telco companies, so users won’t have native integration with specific solutions like Whatsapp. Non-native integrations must be set up by the tech team.

Features: 8×8 lacks features like call tagging for more efficient calling processes, call masking for protecting your personal information, and API for connecting with the tools you love. Automation tools like IVR, skill-based routing, or automated callback come only with high-tier plans. You have to pay extra to get call recording.

Pricing

Question 6

#6 Dialpad | Best Voice Intelligence Features

Answer

Unless you’re new to the VoIP telephony market, you’ll surely have heard of Dialpad. It’s a reliable, unified telephony solution with simple built-in AI and advanced analytics. A live chat, phone hotline, and knowledge base make it a great deal for customer support teams.

Dialpad’s benefits

Dialpad’s main advantages are voice intelligence and uptime between 99% and 100%. You’ll get conference video calls, sentiment analysis, voicemail transcriptions, call tracking metrics, Speech-to-Text for an automatic call recording, and much more.

With Dialpad, you can call the US and Canada for free and from anywhere in the world. Inbound and outbound calling within your country is also free of charge. The provider has a modern, well-organized UI, plenty of training videos, and a well-built mobile application.

Key features

Call Recording
Machine Learning
Call Analysis
Customer Scoring
Call Routing

What is the Dialpad missing?

While Dialpad offers a Power dialer, it lacks a Smart and Predictive dialer. The Power dialer feature is limited, as it only works with Salesforce. Unlike the CloudTalk app, the Dialpad app only allows users to only dial phone numbers manually.

The Preferred agent feature only works through API.

Dialpad also lacks a visual flow editor for its Call flow designer. Furthermore, you can’t send SMS messages outside of the US and Canada, although this feature will soon become available to those in the UK.

The provider offers a limited integration stack, and Voicemail drop comes only with Dialpad Sell.

Pricing

Question 7

#7 GoTo Connect | Best for Growth

Answer

GoTo Connect is a frequent go-to choice for scaling businesses. Let’s take a closer look at this VoIP provider’s offering, examine its strengths and weaknesses, and determine whether it delivers on its promises.

GoTo Connect’s Benefits

Seamless integration with other GoTo products for improved communication.
Provides a unified communication solution for remote teams.
Offers an easy-to-use interface for call management and administration.
Provides scalable solutions for businesses of all sizes.
Excellent customer support.

Key Features:

Voice and video calling: Make and receive calls from anywhere.
Screen sharing: Share screens with others to collaborate on documents and presentations.
Virtual meetings: Host and join virtual meetings from any device.
Call management: Manage calls and voicemails through an intuitive interface.
Mobile app: Access GoTo Connect features from a mobile device.

What is GoTo Connect Missing?

GoTo Connect does not provide advanced call center features such as Automatic Call Distribution (ACD), skill-based routing, or smart dialers. It also does not provide local phone numbers for all countries, which may be a disadvantage for some businesses.

What Type of Business Is It Best For?

GoTo Connect is an ideal solution for small to medium-sized businesses looking for a unified communication solution that can support remote teams. It’s also suitable for businesses that need an easy-to-use interface for call management and administration, as well as excellent customer support.

Pricing

Question 8

#8 Ooma | Best for Legacy Handset Hardware

Answer

Ooma is an ideal solution for smaller companies with up to 500 employees or a home phone service. It is mostly used for call logging, alerts, and escalations.

Ooma Benefits

Simple set-up: you can install the phone system without any technical expertise, and it comes pre-configured.
Feature-rich mobile app that is compatible with both iPhones and Android devices.
Ooma’s Virtual Receptionist is a great option for managing calls for your company. You can program a personalized welcome, direct callers to various extensions, or offer a menu of choices that can direct callers to the appropriate party.

Key Features:

Voicemail-to-email forwarding
Caller ID or video conferencing
Desktop and mobile apps for Android and iPhone

What is Ooma Missing?

Although the set-up is very simple, and you can seek assistance from guides or customer support, there is no in-person training involved. Ooma also doesn’t offer predictive dialers and telemarketing management these features speed up your workflow and make your sales efforts much smoother. Ooma lacks reporting and analytics capabilities.

What Type of Business Is It Best For?

Ooma is best for smaller businesses looking for a basic VoIP service.

Pricing

Question 9

#9 Avaya | Best for Remote Teams

Answer

Avaya is a cloud contact center built for remote teams. It has the potential to boost workplace efficiency by allowing agents and managers alike to easily engage in video conferencing and instant messaging. On top of that, it integrates with some of the most popular software tools on the market.

Avaya’s Benefits:

Avaya offers an omnichannel experience with high-quality interactions across voice and digital channels — all in a single desktop view. It increases efficiency through automation, and provides advanced analytics for customer behavior insights. The provider lets businesses improve customer experience via a wide range of features. Avaya also offers easy scalability that allows businesses to increase customer service capabilities. Furthermore, it reduces costs thanks to eliminating redundant manual tasks.

Key Features:

Smart dialer
automatic call recordings
speech to text
coaching and barging
Bring your own carrier available or porting
SMS available

What is Avaya Missing?

Many Avaya users have complained about the software’s old-fashioned and difficult-to-navigate UI. The platform is also lacking in the automations department – it doesn’t offer any smart dialers, which can be a real problem for sales teams looking to reach out to prospects in the most efficient way possible.

Lastly, while Avaya does offer some international numbers, its offering is limited. Users are currently only able to acquire numbers from 40 countries.

What Type of Business is It Best For?

Avaya is best for businesses that require a robust communication platform, such as contact centers, large corporations, and organizations with multiple locations. It is also well-suited for small and medium-sized businesses that need a reliable and secure system to facilitate communication between employees, customers, and partners.

Pricing:

Question 10

#10 Cisco | Best for Meetings

Answer

Cisco is one of the biggest and most well-established companies on the market. Its Webex applications for meetings and VoIP come with big expectations. Is it worth the money?

Cisco’s benefits

Cisco is a reliable solution designed to help companies maximize the performance of their employees. It helps businesses scale easily as they grow. Cisco also provides high-level security through encryption, authentication, and access control to protect against cyber attacks. Another advantage is management tools for easy monitoring, management, and configuration. Furthermore, the provider is a cost-effective solution that saves money on both software and hardware.

Key features

Security (ASA firewall, ISE for identity and access management, cloud-based Cisco Umbrella security platform)
Comprehensive network visibility and analytics capabilities (NAE, Cisco Tetration, Stealthwatch products)
Wide range of cloud networking solutions
Network Virtualization technology
Interoperability
Mobility
Internet of Things (IoT)

What is Cisco missing?

Unfortunately, if you’re looking for a VoIP solution, you’ll have to contact Cisco’s sales team because this option is only available for custom Enterprise plans. And even then, it lacks several vital features, including

an autodialer,
ACD,
IVR,
SIP trunking,
call tagging, and more.

Pricing

Question 11

#11 Genesys | Best for Omnichannel Service

Answer

Genesys is a cloud-based contact center solution that aims to improve customer experiences with its omnichannel capabilities. The platform offers various features, such as predictive routing, real-time analytics, workforce engagement management, and more.

Genesys’ benefits

Offers predictive routing for improved customer service.
Easily integrate with other software.
Real-time analytics for better decision-making.
Omnichannel capabilities enable interaction across all channels.
Robust workforce engagement management capabilities.

Key features

Predictive Routing: Uses AI to match customers with the right agent.
Real-time Analytics: Provides actionable insights to improve performance.
Workforce Engagement Management: Improves agent productivity and engagement.
Omnichannel: Enables interaction across all channels.
Integrations: Easily connect with other software.

What is Genesys Missing?

Genesys can be a bit complicated to set up and use, according to some users. Also, the platform’s pricing structure can be challenging to understand, which may make it challenging for some businesses to plan their budgets.