A virtual business phone service allows you to replace your landline with a professional-grade business phone system on any computer or mobile device. It also makes it easy to manage a business phone number across different locations.
It’s great for remote workers and growing businesses who want a simple way to make and receive calls from wherever they are in the world. Plus, it’s a cost-effective alternative to a premise-based business phone system.
Features
When choosing a virtual business phone service, look for a company that offers more than just phone features. You want one that can integrate with your CRM system and help you communicate with clients more effectively.
The best virtual phone systems for small businesses offer a wide range of telephony features, including call screening and routing, voicemail transcriptions, call transfer, team messaging, and more. They also support a number of devices, including smartphones and tablets.
A good virtual business phone system is also easy to scale, which means your business can grow and evolve quickly without having to worry about changing the way your phone system works. Many companies offer flexible options and monthly plans with multiple service levels, so you can choose the features your business needs and avoid paying for extras that won’t serve your goals.
Reliability
If your business handles sensitive information or handles payments, you need to ensure that your virtual phone service is highly secure. That means making sure that it is PCI compliant, HIPAA, and SOC2(r) Type II certified.
Reliability is the probability of a system or component functioning correctly under specific conditions for a specified period of time. Reliability is a key element of a product’s design, and reliability engineering uses proven mathematical techniques from probability and statistics to measure a system or components’ ability to perform its intended function under a specified environment.
The best business phone systems are highly reliable and have low downtime, so your company can stay connected with clients even when the internet isn’t available. These systems also give you more control over your calls and texts, and many providers offer features like customized messaging, hold music and vanity numbers to improve brand awareness.
Security
A virtual business phone service may take a few measures to keep your calls and data secure. One example is using encryption and other security protocols to protect your calls, text messages and emails from prying eyes or hackers.
The technology behind a virtual business phone system is Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP). VoIP converts analog voice calls into digital packets and sends them via the internet just like email, online chat, or even text messages.
In a nutshell, a virtual business phone service can help your small business make more sales, boost productivity and provide better customer service to clients around the world. There are a lot of options out there, and the best one for your needs will depend on your budget and business goals. The key is to find a provider that has a solid product, the features you need, and great customer support. With the right tools in place, you can build a reliable and scalable phone system that will grow with your company for years to come.
Cost
A virtual business phone service is a great solution for small businesses that want to offer remote work opportunities. It allows employees to use any Internet-connected device for business calls, such as a smartphone, laptop or tablet.
Its telephony features include call forwarding, auto-attendant, voicemail transcription, ring groups and more. Plus, it integrates with top CRM tools like Salesforce and HubSpot.
Grasshopper is a web-based VoIP solution that’s easy to set up and manage. It supports calls, texts and voicemail and offers three plans, starting at $26 a month.
Nextiva offers a wide range of telephony features and has integrations with more than 100 business apps. The company also lets you mask your existing number with a virtual one. Its pricing plan is tiered based on user count and includes a free trial. It also offers vanity numbers for businesses, which help increase brand awareness.