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There's no doubt that VoIP is the way of the future when it comes to phone systems for businesses. However, there are still some small business owners who are uncertain about whether to switch to a VoIP phone system or stick with their trusty landline phones. Let's take a look at the pros and cons of both options to help you make a decision about your business's digital communication needs.
How Does VoIP Work Differently from Landlines?
To the average person, a landline and a VoIP phone system may not look all that different. However, there are some key differences between the two technologies that can have a big impact on your business.
For starters, VoIP calls are transmitted over the internet rather than the traditional telephone network. This means that you can make VoIP calls from anywhere in the world as long as you have an internet connection. VoIP stands for Voice over Internet Protocol.
Meanwhile, traditional landlines use a system of copper wires to send and receive signals. When you make a call, your voice is converted into an electrical signal that travels along the wires to the person you're calling. The receiving phone then converts the signal back into sound, allowing the person on the other end to hear you.
This system is both simple and effective, which is why it has remained in use for so long. However, it does have some downsides. For one thing, traditional landlines are prone to interference from things like electrical storms or downed power lines. Additionally, they can be quite vulnerable to eavesdropping if someone knows how to tap into the phone line.
Another key difference is that VoIP systems come with a host of features that aren't typically available with landlines. For example, many VoIP plans include call forwarding, caller ID, voicemail, and even video conferencing capabilities. This can be a big advantage for small businesses that need to stay connected with clients and employees located around the globe.
VoIP or Landline: Which Is Better?
There are a few key parameters to consider when deciding whether VoIP or landline is the better option for your small business. Let’s have a look at a few:
Affordability
VoIP business phone system is typically much less expensive than traditional landline service. This is because VoIP uses your existing Internet connection to place calls, while landline service requires a separate physical telephone line.
When it comes to long-distance calls, VoIP also has the advantage. Most VoIP plans offer unlimited calling anywhere in the world, while landline plans charge by the minute.
Call Quality
There are a few factors to consider when comparing the call quality of VoIP and landline service.
Latency or the delay between when a person speaks and when their voice is heard on the other end.
For VoIP, latency can be affected by the speed of your internet connection. If you have a slow or unreliable connection, your VoIP calls may sound choppy or laggy. Landlines, on the other hand, are not subject to this type of latency.
Packet loss, or the percentage of data that is lost during transmission. This can happen for a number of reasons, such as poor internet connection or damage to the network. Again, because landlines are not reliant on an internet connection, they are less likely to experience packet loss. Ultimately, both VoIP and landlines can provide clear call quality, but landlines may be more reliable if you have a poor internet connection.
Flexibility
For many businesses, flexibility is the most important factor. And in this regard, VoIP is hard to beat. The ability to use VoIP anywhere there is an internet connection makes it ideal for businesses with multiple locations or employees who work remotely. VoIP services can be easily scaled up or down to meet the changing needs of a business. In contrast, landline phone service is much less flexible. Landlines are typically tied to a physical location, making it difficult to add or remove lines as needed.
Hybrid Work Friendly
With more and more people working from home, the question of which type of phone service is best for small businesses has become an important one. For many years, landlines were the go-to option for business owners. However, with the advent of VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol), that is no longer the case. VoIP offers a number of advantages over landlines, making it the more hybrid-work-friendly option. To start with, VoIP offers a host of features that boost productivity that is simply not available with traditional phone service.
For example, many VoIP providers offer call flows, welcome greetings, and business and holiday hours as standard features. This can be a real boon for small businesses that need to stay connected while on the go. For all these reasons, VoIP is the more hybrid-work-friendly option.
Features
VoIP is a great option for businesses that need a flexible and feature-rich communication system. VoIP phone systems come with caller ID, blocking, call forwarding, voicemail services, call recording, CRM integration and many more features that are essential for running a business in today’s digital world.
And since VoIP is powered by software, new features can be added relatively easily. Landlines, on the other hand, are powered by hardware that can't be easily upgraded.
Ease of Use
When it comes to ease of use, VoIP is generally considered to be more user-friendly than a landline system. VoIP systems are often designed with simplicity in mind, and even those with no prior experience can usually figure out how to make calls and use basic features. Landline systems, on the other hand, can be more complicated to use, as they often require the use of special phones and equipment. In terms of the learning curve, VoIP is once again the more straightforward option. With a VoIP system, users can usually start making calls within minutes of signing up for service. A landline system often requires a more complex setup process, and users may need to spend some time learning how to use all of the features.
Futuristic
As anyone who's followed the telecom industry knows, VoIP is the future. In recent years, a growing number of businesses and individuals have made the switch from traditional landlines to VoIP services. And with the UK's landline network set to be shut down in 2025, it's clear that VoIP is the way of the future.
Conclusion
Although it totally depends on your business needs and preferences, getting a VoIP phone system for your small business seems to be a much more sensible choice as the landline shutdown is about to happen and you could even lose your business number if you didn't switch soon.
VoIP systems are much more flexible and can be adapted to your specific business needs. They're also less expensive than traditional landline systems. So if you're thinking about switching to a VoIP system, now is the time to do it. You don't want to wait until the landline shutdown happens and then find out that you can't keep your business number.
