VoIP (voice-over-internet-protocol) is a technology that allows you to make and receive calls using a broadband internet connection rather than a traditional telephone system. To put it simply, you use an internet-based phone line for calls rather than the good old copper wire telephone lines. In this article, we will explore the two types of VoIP services—fixed and non-fixed VoIP—and how to identify the one that is right for you.
How VoIP Works
When using VoIP service, you use a computer system, laptop, tablet or smartphone, basically any device with an internet browser, to make calls instead of a traditional telephone system. However, the browser must use the open source framework WebRTC (Real-Time Communication) to be able to make or receive calls. If you wish to dig deeper at this point and understand all the details about copper wires, digital transmission and analog signals, read how VoIP works .
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When you make a call over a VoIP system, the receiver sees your caller ID, which contains your business name and VoIP number. You can choose to have a fixed or non-fixed VoIP number when you sign up for a VoIP service.
A fixed VoIP number is attached to a physical address. However, non-fixed VoIP is a virtual phone number allocated by your VoIP service provider as per your choice of location and doesn’t need a fixed physical address. Non-fixed VoIP numbers are also called virtual phone numbers.
Both fixed and non-fixed VoIP have their own pros and cons. Let’s dive in.
Non-Fixed VoIP Pros and Cons
Having a non-fixed VoIP number enables small businesses to have a local presence without being physically available. You can choose to have a VoIP number based on the geographical location of your customers without having a physical office there. When your customers wish to contact you, they dial the local number irrespective of where your help desk is physically located. This is especially beneficial for businesses having customers in multiple geographical locations, sometimes globally.
But this ease of use has a flip side too. As it is so easy to obtain non-fixed VoIP numbers, fraudsters and scammers can also easily obtain them. This makes non-fixed VoIP numbers less authentic and reliable.
But if your company handles lots of international calls, this downside more than compensates for international call charges you would have paid otherwise.
Fixed VoIP Pros and Cons
As fixed VoIP numbers are attached with a physical location, they lend greater authenticity to your business. You also get advanced calling and call routing features. For instance, you can mask the numbers of your team members and forward a single business number instead so that your customers know the call is from your business.
Fixed VoIP numbers can also be used to make calls to public safety answering points such as 911 because they share the exact location of the caller. This makes it straightforward for the services to trace the location where they must respond, which is not the case for non-fixed VoIP numbers.
However, services that provide fixed VoIP numbers are generally more expensive than non-fixed VoIP service providers. Also, it is much more difficult to get a fixed VoIP number because the VoIP service provider’s network must connect back to a PSTN (public switched telephone network), i.e., networks used by traditional telephones.
Fixed vs. Non-Fixed VoIP Comparison
Here is a comparison of the major features of fixed and non-fixed VoIP for easy reference.
| Fixed VoIP | Non-Fixed VoIP | |
|---|---|---|
|
Pricing
|
Expensive
|
Cheap; free services available too
|
|
Need for physical address
|
Yes
|
No
|
|
Need connection to legacy telephone system
|
Yes
|
No
|
|
Ease of acquiring
|
More difficult to obtain than non-fixed numbers
|
Easy to sign up
|
|
Call emergency services
|
Yes
|
Not advisable
|
|
Handle text messages
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
VoIP number quality
|
Reliable and authentic
|
Not so reliable; frequently used by scammers
|
Types of VoIP Services
VoIP technology has multiple uses but these are the most common types of VoIP services.
SIP Trunking
SIP trunking is a service provided by communications service providers to enable VoIP connectivity because it offers greater flexibility at lower costs. With the old TDM (time division multiplexing) systems, customers had to pay for a minimum of 23 voice channels but SIP trunking can be purchased in any number. And above all, SIP trunking can be delivered over the public internet.
SIP trunking uses session initiation protocol (SIP), which supports instant messaging, video conferencing and other multimedia sessions besides the voice data.
Business VoIP
Business VoIP is another VoIP service that helps businesses modernize their communication
systems while improving productivity and lowering costs. It makes calling easier and quicker at a fraction of the cost incurred by traditional business telephony systems. Business VoIP also supports advanced features such as video conferencing, screen sharing, collaborative whiteboards, call routing, etc.
Call Centers
Call centers or call center platforms enable your business to handle large volumes of incoming and outgoing calls efficiently. The call center agent can receive or make calls from their desktops without a traditional telephone. Besides being efficient and cost-effective, call centers provide advanced capabilities such as better call quality, unified customer experience, omnichannel presence and better agent productivity.
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1
RingCentral
$20 per user, per month (paid annually)
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Starts at $10 per user, per month
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Yes
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Is Non-Fixed VoIP Better Than Fixed VoIP?
It really depends on how you are going to use that VoIP service. If you run a call center or need to make lots of international calls, non-fixed VoIP makes more sense. However, if it is more important to represent your brand as authentic and reliable, you should choose fixed VoIP service.
Bottom Line
VoIP is a cost-effective and technically better alternative to the traditional business telephone system using PSTN. Both fixed and non-fixed VoIP services are right according to business use cases. With so many VoIP service providers available on the market, you must weigh the pros and cons of each and match them to your business needs before choosing one
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is a non-fixed VoIP?
Non-fixed VoIP is a virtual ID allocated by your VoIP service provider when you sign up for its service. It is not attached to any physical address and hence also called a virtual phone number
What is the difference between a fixed and non-fixed VoIP?
A fixed VoIP is attached to a physical address whereas a non-fixed VoIP is not attached to any physical address. All you need to get a non-fixed VoIP is an email address and sometimes payment information if there is no free plan.
Who uses a non-fixed VoIP number?
Businesses that need a local phone number without a physical presence in that location use a non-fixed VoIP number. They can give their customers a local number when they need to call them.
Is a non-fixed VoIP traceable?
A non-fixed VoIP cannot be traced accurately because it is assigned an area code irrespective of where the business or the caller is physically located.
Can I text a non-fixed VoIP number?
Yes, a non-fixed VoIP number can be configured to receive or send text messages. Your customers using the non-fixed VoIP number would not even know they are texting a VoIP number.
