What Is VoIP?

Voice over Internet Protocol, or VoIP, is an internet-based technology that uses a broadband connection instead of a regular landline or mobile connection to send and receive text messages and phone calls. This means that as long as you have an internet connection, you can use your VoIP number just like any other phone number. Be aware, however, that the strength of your internet speed will determine the quality of your VoIP calls: the faster your speed, the more employees that will be able to make and receive calls at the same time.

VoIP works by sending your voice audio as packets of data through the internet. In the past, it was common for VoIP numbers to be attached to a physical phone that connected to the internet with an  ethernet cable. These days, you can just as easily make calls and send messages with your VoIP number via an app on your smartphone. This way, you can access your personal and work number through one device. Chances are you have made a VoIP call for free without realising it: any time you have called someone over WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger, you have been on a VoIP call.

Some providers offer free VoIP numbers, while others—usually those catering to small businesses—charge a monthly fee. The price of a VoIP number will almost always beat the cost of traditional mobile phone service. If you need a separate number for your small business, a VoIP number is likely the most convenient way to get an additional line without any substantial upfront fees (or a new phone). VoIP systems also come with several features that can be particularly helpful for small businesses. There are a range of apps in Australia, such as Aircall or VoIPline , that have been designed to enable teams to make VoIP calls, and many of these apps integrate with the company’s customer relationship management software, such as  Salesforce, HubSpot or Zendesk. These apps are often referred to as  ‘Hosted PBX’, which essentially means the data is hosted in the cloud.

Have you ever missed a phone call on a mobile because you had no signal? This can be particularly frustrating when you run a business, as each call can represent thousands of dollars from a potential client. With VoIP, calling and messaging data is hosted on the cloud, which means you’ll always have access to it whether you were online at the time of the call or not. VoIP services can take the form of a smartphone app for iOS and Android phones, as mentioned above, or as a computer app for your Mac or PC. And no dedicated hardware is required, either. In most cases, you can use your device’s built-in microphone for calling.

VoIP numbers also come with a lot of flexibility that isn’t available from a traditional mobile provider. If you’re going on holiday and want to disconnect from work calls, you can turn off notifications on your app and check them later, while with a regular mobile phone, you risk missing calls when you turn off your phone, travel overseas or spend time off the grid. Many providers also offer the ability to receive your voice messages via email and to forward calls to multiple devices, as well as team members across the globe.

Pros

Because they transmit calls through the internet, VoIP systems make it easy and free (in some cases) to make international calls. A VoIP number is particularly convenient if you regularly travel overseas. As long as you have an internet connection, you can make VoIP calls. They really come in to their own however when they are harnessed by small businesses who rely on customer calls and interaction. With VoIP companies can easily scale their work to

The fact that VoIP works over the internet also lets it do things that landlines simply cannot. For example, Aircall can log the details of each call and allows teams to annotate customer requests and feedback on its platform. Managers can easily see how many calls are missed, call duration and the daily call rates.  This alone can make VoIP worth the price of admission for many users.

Cons

The downside with VoIP is that you need a high-speed internet connection for the software to work well. Therefore, you might not want to use VoIP if you are in a rural area where stable high-speed internet simply isn’t available to you. For those customers, a landline or a mobile might be the best option.

Who Should Use VoIP?

There are many different reasons you might need a VoIP system. A VoIP number is an ideal solution if you need a flexible, affordable and powerful phone service.

VoIP can be useful for small-business owners who have multiple customer service representatives and want to use one phone number and switch between them. Many VoIP providers offer the ability to forward calls to different physical phones.

If you and your business partner want to alternate who’s available to take calls, you’ll be able to switch through your VoIP online account. This wouldn’t be possible with a traditional mobile number without exchanging the physical phone. VoIP phone numbers also allow you to set up extension lines at a minimal cost. So if your business has five team members, each can easily have a separate extension.