VoIP, or voice over internet protocol, is simply using voice services over the internet rather than through installed wires like a landline. VoIP has become very popular lately, with a lot of companies choosing it over traditional landlines. Are you curious to know why?
Let’s look at all the factors that go into your choice for VoIP vs landline.
What Are the Features of VoIP?
The features of VoIP are unmatched when compared to a landline. Here are some prominent things that you’ll find particularly useful:
- Mobile Functionality: You can use your mobile phone as an extension of your office phone by having calls forwarded to you directly, no matter where you are. Also, when you make calls from your mobile phone, they will appear to come from your office line.
- Instant Messaging: Communicating with customers via text is convenient, reliable, and effective.
- Third-Party Integrations: Integration with third-party applications such as CRM software and cloud communication services are seamless and streamlined.
- Scalability: Rather than having a limited number of lines or having to install and upgrade hardware every few years, VoIP can support up to an unlimited number of lines, reducing the cost of setup and maintenance.
Again, landline doesn’t offer any of these features, so when comparing VoIP vs landline, VoIP is the way to go.
What Does VoIP Cost?
The cost of landlines and VoIPs will be different depending on your service provider, location, and number of lines required, but here are some estimates for planning purposes.
VoIPs cost $20-$35 per user (no matter how many lines per user), per month. This price includes setup, rental equipment, and ongoing maintenance costs (equipment can sometimes be bought outright, self- or cloud-hosted, and managed in-house). However, this price may not include charges for outbound calls. Some providers let you choose a call package for a set number of minutes, or, if you’d rather, unlimited calls.
Landlines vary depending on the service provider, but you can expect it to cost around $20-$35 per line, per month. Landlines include installation costs, so you don’t have to worry about that as an extra cost, but there is usually a $100-$200 base unit cost on top of the costs for each line (or headset). Some carriers will cost less when you bundle your phone service with your internet service.
You can see that not only is VoIP packed with beneficial features, but you can enjoy them all for lower costs than the price of a traditional line.
Are There Any Cons to VoIP?
Even though there are plenty of positives to VoIP, there are three cons to be aware of before making your final choice.
- If your business already has traditional landlines installed, it may not be cost-effective to transition to cloud phone services.
- Cloud phone systems are reliant entirely on internet connection, so poor connectivity will have an impact on your ability to use the system.
- Since the phone systems are online, they can be susceptible to malware or viruses.
Which Is Better Overall When Comparing VoIP vs Landline?
Generally speaking, when comparing VoIP vs landline, using a VoIP for your business is better overall. This is thanks to mobile functionality, instant messaging capabilities, ease of third-party integration, and lower costs.
VoIP uses an internet connection to transmit audio instead of installed landline wires. Regardless of this difference, the actual calling to and from VoIP is the same as a traditional phone network. However, each situation is unique and requires some time to think through the pros and cons of both VoIP and landlines for your specific situation and needs.
What Is FirstDigital’s Cloud Communication System?
The Cloud Communication System by FirstDigital is an industry-leading voice and data network that offers all the communications solutions your business needs. Whether calling with high-quality HD voice and video from any device, holding meetings via enhanced and energized video conferencing, or completing tasks with integrated apps and files, you’ll find your team and customers are more connected than ever.
Find out more about FirstDigital’s voice and collaboration services, including VoIP.