VoIP (short for Voice over IP) has increased in popularity very quickly since the early 2000s. In recent years, the technology has come on in leaps and bounds, allowing more individuals and businesses than ever to benefit.
So what is VoIP? Well, essentially VoIP allows you to make and receive phone calls over the internet, instead of via a mobile or traditional landline. There are lots of reasons why small businesses are making the switch, particularly if they’ve only been using a mobile phone for customer calls up until now. Here we take a look at the benefits.
VoIP costs less
There are several ways you can save money on your phone bill by switching to VoIP. Firstly, because VoIP uses your broadband connection to make and receive calls, you don’t need to worry about having multiple phone lines. Additionally, you tend to only pay a set amount each month depending on the pricing package that best suits your needs. Our unlimited calls package starts at just £13.95+VAT a month which is one of the lowest around. Finally, there are some serious savings to be made if you make a lot of international calls. BT currently charges up to an eye-watering £1.55 a minute to make a mobile call from the UK to America - but with an international bolt-on package with us starting at just £6 a month, the savings could really add up.
VoIP has more features
You get an awful lot more features with a VoIP phone which you don’t get when simply using a mobile phone. These include call divert, hold music, video calling and multiple mailboxes to name just a few. On top of that, you don’t need to worry about missing a call outside of office hours for example, potentially dramatically boosting your bottom line.
VoIP is easily scalable
VoIP is ideal for small businesses on the grow. That’s because you don’t need to keep buying new lines or handsets because it’s all done over the internet. As your team grows, it’s easy to just add more licences if required. The only limit is your bandwidth, which is why fibre broadband is best.
VoIP calls are better quality
VoIP calls are made digitally so there’s no need to worry about poor phone signal. After all, there’s nothing worse than being on the phone to a customer and suddenly being cut off, or finding the connection is bad. Instead, the audio is far more crisp and clear with VoIP offering improved clarity (and less frustration!)
VoIP is more reliable
FaceTime and Skype have long been the leaders of VoIP innovation. With VoIP technology now having been adopted by businesses across the world for many years, it’s one of the most reliable telephony technologies around.
VoIP is very portable
In these times of remote and hybrid working, VoIP allows you to make and receive customer calls from anywhere in the world. All you need is an internet connection and either a VoIP handset or a smartphone, laptop or tablet. Not only does this mean you can set up and work anywhere, but so can your employees.
VoIP can make you look more professional
Having a VoIP phone system means you can choose a number that looks like a landline number. This often not only builds customer confidence that they're not just ringing a random mobile, but also gives the impression you have a geographical location. At bOnline, we can assign you a 'local' number for an area you're not actually based in which can help you attract customers in a certain location or of a particular demographic.
VoIP prepares your business for the landline switchoff
It’s scary how many businesses and individuals still haven’t heard of this, but the landline switch off is happening by 2025. It means that traditional landlines will be switched off, and whilst this obviously won’t affect mobile phones it’s still well worth bearing in mind. But switching to VoIP will bring your business up to date with the latest technologies, while improving efficiency and saving you money too.
Ready to test out a VoIP phone system for yourself?
If you own or run a small business and are tired of dealing with calls solely via your mobile, why not sign up for a free 7-day VoIP trial? It’s a great way to try all the features a VoIP system from bOnline has to offer, and there’s no obligation. However, if after your trial you would like to continue with one of our low cost packages, you can do this yourself quickly and easily using your online dashboard.
Everything is set up for you remotely by us, with no downtime and no technical knowledge needed by you. It’s simply a case of getting you set up and away you go. You can even keep your existing number.
Why not see our recent case studies from happy customers who’ve recently made the switch or call our team on 0203 514 1322.
