A reliable and easy to use phone system is an essential part of business infrastructure.
Without the ability to contact clients and properly route information, operations would quickly come to a standstill. Many business owners unfortunately struggle when choosing between VoIP systems and traditional landline phone systems.
This article will cover some of the biggest differences between VoIP and landline systems and help you discover which one is right for you.
Reliability.
Comparing business VoIP and landline reliability brings two totally different systems together. VoIP relies on internet bandwidth to transmit digital calls. Because of this VoIP calls are sharing the same network with all the rest of your business’s internet traffic.
It affects the call quality and sometimes also leads to dropped calls. As your internet speed raises so does the reliability of your VoIP system.
Landline calls rely on the dedicated copper wires of the telephone network. These are designed solely with making calls in mind. Because of this the call quality of landline networks is generally excellent.
Another important point regards power outages. Because landlines are transmitted on copper wires they’ll function just fine without power. VoIP systems will not.
Features.
When you’re comparing VoIP and landline business phone systems features always come into play. For most businesses there are a set of basic features they have to have plus some new ones that can be really nice when used properly.
In-demand features for modern businesses include things like:
- Call Forwarding
- Number Portability and Mobile Use
- International Calling
- Software Integration
Portability and Call Forwarding.
Number portability and call forwarding refers to the ability to have calls sent to your work number instantly forwarded to another phone. This can be achieved either through the use of digital switchboard systems or an application.
VoIP.
VoIP systems are designed to be as mobile friendly and portable as possible. Most business VoIP solutions have smartphone apps you can download and use. They allow you to take a single number with you no matter where you end up in the world.
Landline.
Landlines have limited call forwarding abilities within an office setting but no mobile portability options. If you choose to go with a landline system you’ll also need to get a business cell number that you can be reached at when out of the office.
International Calling.
With the rise of globalization, the ability to call anywhere in the world is more important than ever. VoIP and landline systems both allow international calling, but at vastly different prices and capabilities.
VoIP.
VoIP systems were designed from the ground up to be friendly to any type of call. Because they rely on the fiber optic network that runs the internet there’s no real reason international calls should cost more than local calls.
VoIP services even offer things like international specific numbers for people to call you from their home countries. There are tons of different ways everyday people can use VoIP to make free international calls, with businesses paying just slightly more.
Landline.
While landlines have been making international calls since the invention of the telephone, they don’t do it as well or as cheaply as VoIP. Trying to call an international number from a landline will cost you significantly more on a landline than it will on VoIP.
Software Integration.
One of the places where VoIP has completely surpassed landlines is in software integration. Because VoIP is entirely software based itself it’s easy to connect useful programs like CRM to your phone system.
This allows you to maintain detailed records of incoming and outgoing calls and customize your phones to fit your needs.
Cost.
In just about every situation a VoIP phone system will beat out a landline. Because VoIP runs on top of your existing internet connection there’s no expensive infrastructure to install.
VoIP is substantially cheaper than landline phone systems basically across the board.
The Takeaway.
When you sit down and compare VoIP to landline phone systems it’s pretty clear who the winner is. As long as your office has enough bandwidth to support a VoIP system it’s pretty much always going to be the better option.
It’s cheaper, includes far more added features, and gives you substantially better service.
