VOIP or Traditional Landline?

[Ursicles]

Hello,

We are in the process of setting up an office for our domiciliary care company and someone on another thread mentioned that we should consider VOIP, over a landline.

What are peoples thoughts on this? We will be heavy phone users, and extremely reliant on the phone for both incoming and outgoing calls, though also have mobiles with unlimited minutes and 40gb each as back up.

Id never considered voip before as an option, so wondered what people thought?

 

[Ian Sutherland]

Hi,
OK to come clean we're a reseller of a hosted VoIP system. i.e. there's no equipment on site besides the phones.
I think the main benefits of this sort of system is a) the cost compared with normal landlines both for subscription and call rates and b) that you don't need to worry about the maintenance. if it goes wrong its someone else's problem to fix.
We use it ourselves internally and wouldn't go back to an on premise PBX. I think the reliability is good, yes there are very occasional outages (i can remember about 3 or 4 in the last 3 years but no longer than an hour each time), but I imagine it's the same with other landline based systems.

Best wishes
Ian

 

[Xpress Docs]

If I was in the position of setting up an office again, I wouldn't give landlines a second look - provided the infrastructure to support VOIP was up to the task (each provider should be able to tell you what their minimum BB/fibre requirements are).

I have a box that plugs directly into the router, and a telephone plugs into that. It came with me when I moved office (12 miles down the road, different county) - plugged back in, same number, same service etc etc. I believe I could do away with the box, and use kit that Ian described above, but I've had no need.

Cost wise, I don't think landlines can get anywhere near.

You get a lot more flexibility with the control of your setup as well (typically - mileage may vary by provider), like changing switchboard functions, adding new lines/phones etc. You'll normally get a mobile app as well, which means you can make/take calls as though you were in the office, dialling from your desk.

 

[Ursicles]

BT are saying the fasted speed they can provide is 19mb - would that be enough to allow calls to 2 phones and run a decent internet connection to 2 computers constantly?

 

[Xpress Docs]

I've just tried searching for the minimum spec from my provider, and can't seem to find one (!) - I'd hazard a guess that 19Mb down would be more than ok, but each provider will be different - and it should be noted in any T's & C's.

You also need to know what the uplink speed is for the broadband, as this affects what you do from inside the office i.e. outbound traffic [such as speaking on the voip phone]

 

[adzeds]

Increasingly moving to VOIP now... The services have improved massively over the past couple of years.

 

[MartinCivil]

We use Vonage, service is great and we pay I think £12 a month for the line with unlimited calls to landlines, although for me its mainly incoming calls that the line is used for. Very easy to move about too, simply plug and play if you need to relocate,

 

[Ursicles]

I did look at vonage as well - it seemed pretty damn good value!

Was it just a case of plugging their phone into a broadband connection and away you go?

 

[MartinCivil]

Yes, it was as simple as that. The handset comes preset with all the information it needs, you just plug it into your router and away you go. Its easily expandable with multiple lines if you get to the stage when you need that kind of thing

 

[Darren Fletcher]

its not the download you need its the upload each call should use around 110kb to make a HD call.

both hosted and onsite pbx are an option but VoIP is a massive game changer and will massively help you save. we have it and also install it.

also plug and play is ok but it needs setting up properly really.

 

[n_s_simpson]

Check out:

• Yay.com
• Voipfone

We're trying to move over to Yay.com so not sure how good they are yet but both offer similar pricing.

 

[Richard Shire]

I personally prefer having the VOIP system, very flexible solution. I use Dial 9, I have never had any problems before and their customer service is great.

 

[GraemeL]

Voip definitely. Gives many easy options for use, including choosing your 'landline' number and diverting calls to mobile wherever I am in the world. Have used @cjd company Voipfone for several years now. Very easy to deal with, no sales pitch and totally reliable.

 

[Michelle Blueface]

VoIP is how the world is going, From 2020 you will no longer be able to purchase integrated services digital network (ISDN) and public switched telephone network (PSTN) circuits in the United Kingdom. However, the main benefit to choosing VoIP is the savings you will make, at least 40-50% compared to a traditional phone system.

 

[OuterbridgePen]

It's worth looking at antheus.co.uk - they are VoIP experts and can help you with the latest technology.

 

[Mike_Cartwright]

VOIP but find a provider that can give you a local presence, adaptability, and good customer channels. If you are using a CRM or any system of record, integrate your VOIP with it using CTIs. Integrating systems can give you more efficiency and it can also maximize all your pieces of technology.

 

[Chris Rickard]

For years I've always been upset at having to pay BT for a phone line, especially as I've used it less and less over the years. But that's partly because I prefer email and partly because I'm tight.

Hosted VOIP is, as others have said, a real game changer, no equipment (other than the phones themselves) on site, no rental, assuming you either have good enough Internet or a low enough number of handsets needed it's a real no brainer in my opinion.

I have two phones, one in the office and one in the house, both ring the same number but both have separate extensions so calls can be passed around as needed.

The other thing that's great is you can pick up the phones and plug them into another Internet connection elsewhere and they'll still work.

If you just want a simple service you can DIY it, but anything that requires a bit more complexity I'd definitely speak to a VOIP supplier, there are lots out there who will do a monthly deal too, no need to lock in for multi-year deals.