You’re probably heard about VoIP phones and how many businesses are changing over from traditional phones to an internet-based system. That’s because VoIP offers you many advantages over traditional phones, including
- better connectivity with your teams and clients wherever they are,
- lower costs overall,
- scalability,
- enhanced call quality, and
- additional multimedia features, etc.
In today’s business world, these benefits are becoming essential.
We’ve written a lot about VoIP in another post, so in this article we’ll discuss 10 of the questions businesses have been asking us as they consider changing over. Let’s dive in.
1 Can I Use a Normal Phone for VoIP?
Yes you can! You can use both your smartphone via an app or use a landline.
However, VoIP phone systems do not require physical connections. For your normal landline phones, therefore, you need to have a VoIP adapter – your existing ATA box or an analog phone adapter somewhere along the phone line. This would be configured to allow you to use your normal phones for a VoIP service.
2 Does a VoIP Phone Have a Phone Number?
VoIP phones are assigned phone numbers that are not tied to one location (a physical phone line) only.
Since the calls are made and received over the internet, you can take this number anywhere that has an internet connection. You can also have several phone numbers.
You get VoIP numbers through the VoIp provider who sets you up with VoIP phone services. If you already have an existing number that you want to keep, you can opt to port it to the new service.
The cost of new phone numbers will depend on your VoIP provider’s plans and the features you want.
3 Can I Keep My Landline Number With VoIP?
As mentioned above, when switching to a VoIP phone system, you can keep your landline number and use it – but at a much lower cost!
Like with traditional phones, you only need to port your number to the new service provider and then keep it. The porting process is quick. To initiate it, simply submit the numbers you wish to keep to your new service provider and follow any further instructions. Once the process is complete, don’t forget to cancel your previous provider!
4 Do I Need a VoIP Provider?
Yes. You need a VoIP service provider to help you with the setup of your VoIP phone system. They’ll also provide you with any equipment/devices and infrastructure you may need to be able to make and receive external calls.
Without a provider, you can only make and receive internal calls over IP-PBX within your organization’s network.
5 Do I Need a Special Router For VoIP?
No. You don’t need to buy a special router for the VoIP phone system to work.
If you already have an existing internet setup for your network (a modem and router), you can use the same router for VoIP. Once the setup is done and the VoIP application is downloaded onto your device, you can make and receive calls from that device.
Your whole team can make calls from any device that has your call software downloaded. This device can be a smartphone, laptop, or desktop. You can also choose to purchase a VoIP phone and make calls from there.
6 How Long Do VoIP Phones Last?
They last as long as normal phones and hardware – subject to daily wear and tear.
In terms of the phone infrastructure, your IT support plays a large role in ensuring your systems are up to date, backed up, and well maintained.
7 How Secure is VoIP?
VoIP is obviously subject to online security threatsdue to the nature of the internet technology behind the system.
However, just because it’s vulnerable to attack doesn’t mean it’s under constant threat! With good cybersecurity practices among your office and on-location staff, VoIP can be as secure as your general business networking security.
Some of the security practices that are implemented with VoIP service providers include authentication, enabling network address translation, and the use of VPN.
8 Are VoIP Phones Traceable?
If there’s a need for it, all VoIP phone numbers can be traced. It’s easy to find the owner of a phone number if you have the original phone number. If you don’t, there are several ways you can trace the identity of the numbers. To mention a few, you can:
- Contact your provider with the caller ID and the time that the call was made.
- Set your device (phone, landline, or computer) to display the caller ID.
9 Will a VoIP System Work Without Internet?
No. It’s impossible to set up a VoIP phone system or make a VoIP call without internet access. This is because they use Internet Protocol technology to work. Either Wi-Fi or 4G/5G is fine but you need the internet!
If you have no internet connection, your ability to make a VoIP call is also lost. However, you can contact your VoIP service provider to discuss some backup methods whereby you can still have your VoIP service up when the internet connection is lost!
One way is to have all calls re-routed when the internet is down: outbound calls on existing copper lines using POTS; inbound calls re-routed by the VoIP phone provider. Discuss backup methods when you discuss your new setup.
10 Is VoIP as Good as a Landline?
The biggest difference between landlines and VoIP is the technology behind it. Modern technology – instead of a copper and analog connection! – gives VoIP phone systems many benefits as we mentioned up top.
And as more businesses and operations become digitized, VoIP becomes even more superior to landlines, due to its flexibility as your business needs change and as quality communication means the difference between keeping or losing a client.
Uprite is Your Trusted Service Provider for VoIP
Does your phone system fulfill your business’s demands for quality communication? When you partner with Uprite, you’re also leveraging modern technology with reliable, sophisticated. and secure solutions – and support.
Uprite’s managed business phone service is a modern, mobile communications solution with advanced, reliable, and scalable features. We’re Texas based – in the Houston, San Antonio, and Dallas areas. Contact us today to get a free consultation from our IT experts – and a quote.