Choosing a VoIP phone system and provider is an important decision. If you’re not sure exactly how to answer this question, you’re in the right place. This post covers how to select the proper service for your individual requirements, the various forms of VoIP services available, and some top tips. There are many options available to you as a consumer, and not all are created equally. Let’s start by exploring some of the choices you have for VoIP phone systems.
A variety of VoIP service providers offer various calling features.
A few of these features include auto-attendant, call forwarding, conferencing, and call waiting. Some of these features cost additional fees, and there are plenty of low-cost VoIP phone services that offer these features for free. But before you select a voice service, decide what features you need. Depending on your calling style, your budget, and whether you want extra features or not, here are a few things to consider.
If you frequently use mobile apps on your smartphone or tablet, then you’ll need an app. If your current VoIP phone services don’t have an app, you should definitely look into signing up for one. An app gives you the ability to use your device like a traditional phone. You can still use it to make phone calls and send text messages, but you’ll be able to take it with you wherever you go. And if your mobile device is capable of supporting the necessary hardware specifications, it can even act as your VoIP server. With the server installed on your mobile device, you can establish a dedicated connection to your existing VOIP service providers, where you can then pick and choose your own VoIP phone services.
For those who frequently travel, there are many plans that offer cheap international calls. These low cost or zero rate calls are usually made using airtime purchased in advance from a top service provider. The voiP service provider then charges your card or account on an installment basis, which can save you up to 70% on international phone calls. The one downside to these options is that you’ll have to take a few trips out of the country to make your international calls because you’ll be charged a higher fee per minute than you’d be otherwise.
Another way to save money with VoIP is to decide on specific needs first and then find a plan that fits.
For instance, some people may only need basic features like voicemail and the like. In this case, a basic plan might be all they’re looking for. Other individuals will have specific needs in terms of voicemail, caller ID, call forwarding and more. In this case, they’d be better served by taking advantage of the extra features offered by some top providers. Depending on your specific needs as well as your budget, you can choose a top package that best meets your calling needs.
One important thing to keep in mind when comparing voice phone services is the starting pricing. VoIP phone services vary greatly in terms of their starting pricing, service tiers and additional features, so it’s important to understand how they vary before you compare them. You don’t want to sign up for a plan that comes with an unreasonable starting pricing because it will waste a lot of your monthly funds without providing any value.
It’s also important to compare the level of support that you receive. Some service providers only provide hardware while others provide software and/or applications to go along with their service. If you’re only going to need basic software features, you may not need to spend additional money on hardware, which makes it even more important to find the service provider that offers the most reasonable price point. Hardware-based VoIP providers may be able to provide more options, such as redundant lines or additional hardware, but if you’re only going to use the application-based features, it’s usually a better idea to purchase the software. Of course, there are some exceptions to this rule as well, so it’s important to look at all the angles.
Lastly, you should also take a look at the customer support that a particular vendor provides. Obviously, it won’t hurt to pay a little more for a good brand name, but that doesn’t mean that you should completely ignore customer service.
- Many customers report that the best VoIP providers offer the best customer support, whether it’s simply answering questions through email or sending out technical support tickets.
- By paying a little more for a good name, you can rest assured that you’ll have excellent service when you need it.
- By comparing the cost of each trip service provider and analyzing all the aspects mentioned in this article, you’ll be able to make an informed decision about your VoIP phone system needs.