Phone technology in the business environment continues to improve as more companies shift to hosted VoIP services. Many companies have incorporated desk phone alternatives in their office environment, such as soft phones that operate on their computers.
Check with your current or potential hosted VoIP provider to see if they support soft phone products. sipVine, as an example, supports the soft phone line up from Counterpath. Full featured soft phones range in price from $34 to $45, making it extremely economical to deploy in the office environments. One key is to have a quality headset to utilize in conjunction with these phones.
Applications – Use of soft phones range from a full deployment among all associates to selected or complimentary assignment. Companies may select associates who work from
home or travel frequently to have soft phones set up on their lap top computers. Similar to having an office desk phone at home, a benefit of the hosted VoIP phone systems is that these individuals will have the appearance of being on the in-house phone system, with the ability to include them in ring groups and to extension dial or transfer calls internally. Additionally, some employees may have soft phones set up as a compliment to their office desk phone. In these cases, the soft phone is set up to ring at the same time as the desk phone. Associates only turn the soft phone on when they are working remotely.
Other Alternatives – Soft phones are also available for the Apple iPad or iPhone, allowing those devices to be utilized as an extension of the office phone. For the iPad, there are available headsets to allow for better ease of use. It is not recommended that these devices be utilized as a primary office phone, as they are dependent upon a solid WiFi or 3G/4G signal. We would not recommend use of this version of soft phone while driving or moving around. However, when traveling internationally, this is a great alternative to paying international minutes on your cell phone!
Soft phones are just another example of how a hosted VoIP service can transform your business, making associates more efficient and accessible to your customers. Contact a hosted VoIP provider today to learn more about the benefits of moving to a hosted phone system.
About the author: Mark Greim is the Vice President of Sales and Marketing at sipVine, a provider of a variety of digital phone solutions and services. Mark has extensive experience working for start-up or entrepreneurial organizations and a passion for affordable, reliable, and purposeful technology solutions in those environments.
