VoIP vs. Landline: Which Is Best for Your Business?

In the last option, we have how a landline phone system works. Unlike VoIP and cellular networks, landline phones are physically connected to the area PBX system. This PBX system is then connected to the central exchange with the help of wires and switches. In landline phones, the numbers are assigned based on the street where your business is located.

VoIP Phones Features

Here are some of the VoIP phone features that everyone must know about.

·       Ring Groups

·       Availability

·       Mobility

·       Call Analytics

·       Auto Attendants

·       Call Forwarding

·       Interactive Voice Response

·       Video Conferencing

·       Call Recording

·       Messaging

·       Inbox

·       Ticketing

·       Chatbots

·       Sentiment Analysis

·       Tables, Charts, Graphs

·       Analytics

·       Service Reports

·       Performance Reporting

·       Usage Reports

·       Interface

·       Voicemail

Ring Groups

One of the most cherished features of VoIP phone systems is that it offers a ring group feature. This feature allows users to transfer calls directly to a group of workers or their phone numbers. Additionally, this feature allows multiple locations to have ringing facilities so that the calls are answered by anyone to address the issues or queries of the prospects.

Mobility

The VoIP phone systems offer seamless mobility features to users. Now, they can call and respond to queries from anywhere. They don’t have to stick to their seats to address the issues and matters pertaining to business. The users of this modern phone system let employees and businessmen answer their respective queries while driving, doing chores at home, or even watching a film with friends.

Availability

VoIP phones are available for business and personal users 24/7. It means whenever any business or person faces any issue during their business operations. These service providers are there to address their issues and queries in real-time, unlike cellular and landline, where issue resolution time exceeds the normal.

However, this is not the case with VoIP phone systems. These cloud-based phone systems offer 24/7 availability for users to enjoy an unparalleled presence.

Call Analytics

VoIP phones allow users to access call analytics. This feature consists of a reporting manual designed for businesses to monitor real-time reporting relating to all the calls made to prospects. In addition, this reporting form contains some advanced reporting aspects, such as key performance indicators, business trends, and agent performances.

Call Forwarding

This feature allows the VoIP phone system to transfer or forward all inbound calls to multiple telephone numbers. With this feature, the wait time for callers is reduced substantially. Thus letting the customers think their issues are resolved on a priority basis. In addition to this, all inbound calls are forwarded to voicemail boxes.

Auto Attendants

Auto attendants are a feature of VoIP phones for businesses and personal users. When this feature is enabled, all inbound calls are greeted with tailor-made greetings and proper guidance so that the callers can shift directly to the concerned department. With this feature, every person feels they are treated with extra care and are appropriately guided to their concerned department, thus reducing the load and time for all inbound calls on the system.

Interactive Voice Response

The IVR feature from VoIP systems enhances the performance of your customer care department. When an inbound call comes to the system, pre-recorded greetings with proper information are provided to the prospects for the agents and departments. The prospects address any organization’s IVR feature by addressing the DTMF system via touch tones.

Video Conferencing

VoIP systems allow organizations to enjoy HD video meetings via video conferencing features on all internal and external calls. Further, this feature allows organizations to have video meetings with teams. Thus enhancing the performance of the employees and departments in real-time decision-making.

Call Recording

Call recordings allow the system to record every inbound and outbound call to and from the organization. These recordings are used by business personel for addressing the matters and issues for future purposes. In addition to this, the management of the business can also listen to these recordings in order to arrive at real-time decisions.  

Transcription

Call transcription allows businesses to convert all or selected voice conversations into text. This feature allows the users to gather the data based on keywords.

Messaging

VoIP phone system provides users with another feature that allows them to chat with their prospects and workers. There are multiple options for creating chat messaging channels. These channels can easily be organized according to the project or by the department. In these messaging options, there is a to-do list, and users can easily share media and files with each other in real time.

Inbox

VoIP phones provide an inbox for every customer-related matter. This feature allows the business to put all related queries into an organized inbox so they can do it quickly if they tend to consult these issues in the future.

Ticketing

In the VoIP phone system, teams and departments can assign a ticket to each and every query. With this feature, issues can be resolved seamlessly. In addition, the departments and specialized personnel can address these matters with emails, messages, or by calling them directly via audio or video calls.

Chatbots

Chatbots are the easiest way to route your customers to the concerned departments. Now, businesses can address these queries in the pre-written answers and have the customers fill out the forms along with their contact information. In addition to these, the departments, on their own, make appointments with the prospects for the resolution of issues.

Sentiment Analysis

This feature is getting more and more attention from businesses and personal users to address the tone of customers’ attitudes towards them. In this, the system automatically identifies keywords within the conversation. This feature plays a pivotal role in determining the call reports and feedback from the prospects.

Tables, Charts, Graphs

VoIP phone systems offer to report to business or consulting departments through colored data. This visualization makes reports easy and easily understandable for the decision-makers to make real-time decisions.

Analytics

This feature allows the users of the VoIP phone system to get perfectly assembled data for analysis. This data lets users predict future growth patterns and customer behavior towards the product and services. These analytical features of the system allow the users to predict future trends.

Service Reports

The VoIP system provides detailed reports on services and the business’s overall performance.

Performance Reporting

Performance reporting is a splendid aspect of VoIP phones. The data gathered from within the system to analyze system performance. In addition, the system also provides data relating to agents, departments, and locations where the business is operating. The data provided by the system include

·       Number Of Calls

·       First Call Resolution

·       Inbound And Outbound

·       Missed Calls

·       Call Hold Time

·       Average Talk Time

·       Customer Satisfaction Score

·       Resolution Time

·       Average Answer Time

Usage Reports

The usage report shows statistics for each department, team, and agent. Above all, the system provides data for resolving issues.

Interface

The user interface for VoIP phone services is simple and easy to understand. In addition, there are no additional costs associated with the training of the employees to make them proficient at working on the new system. These systems boost a seamless interface that can easily be understood by the user the first time.

Voicemail

The most anticipated feature of VoIP phone systems is its vast features offered for Voicemail. Voicemail is a system that saves incoming calls and messages. There are three types of voicemails, which are mentioned below.

·       Voicemail Transcription

·       Voicemail Drop

·       Virtual Voicemail

Voicemail Transcription

This feature of VoIP allows businesses to see their voicemails getting translated into text messages. Thanks to the Natural Language Processing technology used in the modern phone system to facilitate businesses. It automatically converts voicemails into text. With this, the businesses and personnel have a better experience while addressing the issues of their prospects.

Voicemail Drop

Here is another feature of voicemail. It is called voicemail drop. It is a feature that allows all outbound voicemails to be sent with a pre-recorded message. These messages go directly into the customer’s voicemails.

Virtual Voicemail

This is the third form of Voicemail. In this type of voicemail, businesses can organize their voicemails to and from prospects in an organized manner. This Voicemail can be treated as a space for prospects where business personnel can listen, send, receive, play, delete, and forward messages in their inbox.

Moreover, these voicemail inboxes can be saved with their unique names, and anyone can search them by their names, keyword, date, or by their phone number.

Key Difference Between A VoIP Phone System And A Cellular Phone System

VoIP and cellular communication systems are two different phone technologies. These technologies offer voice communication for businesses and personal users. Here are some of the key differences.

VoIP phone system has features that include

·       Cost Savings

·       Efficient

·       Flexible

·       Integrations

This phone system offers applications that we discussed in the article’s upper section.

Furthermore, cellular service providers offer mobile communication. They rely on mobile network towers for communications. This phone system ensures businesses stay connected efficiently and collaborate with business applications.

Critical Difference Between A VoIP Phone System And A Landline Phone System

The critical difference between a VoIP phone system and a landline phone system sets them apart.

·       Cost of installation

·       Services

·       Setting Up

·       Maintenance

·       Prices

·       Hardware

Cost of Installation

The overall cost of getting these modern VoIP phones is comparatively less than that of the landline phone system. Landline phones are expensive when compared to the modern phone system. The primary reason behind the landline phone system being expensive is that it solely relies on infrastructure. On the other hand, VoIP phone systems do not require any additional infrastructure, hence reducing the overall cost of installation to a bare minimum level.

Services

The number of services offered to consumers by the VoIP phone system does not match that of the landline phone system. Landline phone systems are designed to provide calling services. No more services are being provided by the landline phone system. When you compare that with the VoIP phone system, there are tons of features, third-party integration abilities, and services.

Setting Up

The overall cost of setting up the VoIP phone system is slighter and heavier than the landline phone system. In the VoIP phone system, the consumers are offered packages that contain features and services. These features and services are being charged to the consumers. No additional or hidden costs are attached to these systems.

Moreover, comparing it with the landline phone system, they do not require setting up costs. All you need to have is a telephone device to make calls.

Maintenance

There are no maintenance charges for the VoIP phones. Everything is cloud-based, and the consumers have nothing to bear for the maintenance of the system. On the other hand, when it comes to the landline phone system, they require specific hardware. And that hardware requires additional maintenance for the business to bear.

Prices

Landline phones are expensive due to their fundamental requirement for a proper land-based infrastructure. The landline phone service providers pass on the cost of operations and maintenance to their customers. This will increase the cost per minute charges for the consumer.

Furthermore, when you compare the pricing plans for the VoIP phone systems, these systems are cloud-based phone systems that do not require hardware or infrastructure. Hence, they have nothing to pass on to the consumers, so the per-call price for consumers is much lower than that of the landline phone system.

Hardware

Finally, we discuss the hardware requirements for both systems. The landline phone system requires additional hardware. These are in the form of cables, phone sets, PBX setups, and devices for communicating.

When you compare this with the modern phone system, you will see that these phone systems are free from such requirements. The only thing that is required for this system is a stable and reliable internet connection for seamless business communication.

Advantages & Disadvantages of VoIP phones

Here are some primary advantages and disadvantages to help you understand the phone system completely.

Advantages of VoIP phones

·       VoIP phones offer a lower cost for domestic and international calls.

·       These phones offer flexibility for making calls with an internet connection.

·       The users enjoy the mobility of their phone system.

·       This phone system offers easy scaling options for both upward and downward.

·       Businesses have the option of adding or removing users.

·       These phone systems offer seamless integration with third-party apps.

·       With VoIP phone systems, businesses have experienced workflow efficiency.

·       With the VoIP phone system, you get the features of inbox and ticketing.

·       Video Conferencing is an option that is much more cherished by businesses.

·       Unlimited access to internal and external messaging with prospects and teams.

·       The feature of chatbots allows the users to address the prospect queries promptly.

·       Call recording allows businesses and personal users to address matters instantly without delay.

Disadvantages of VoIP phones

·       VoIP phone systems depend heavily on the Internet

·       The overall call quality is also dependent on the bandwidth of the internet connection.

·       Poor internet connectivity may result in the disruption of the services.

·       During power outages with no internet, there will be no VoIP phone services.

·       There are security threats that prevent users from opting for VoIP phone systems.

·       The chances for hacking and eavesdropping increase with the use of VoIP phone systems.

·       Continuous security measures must be taken to ensure the safety of data.

·       VoIP phone system users require proper training to get familiar with the system.

Advantages & Disadvantages of Cellular Phones

Here are some main advantages and disadvantages to help you understand the cellular phone system.

Advantages

·       Like the VoIP phone system, the cellular phone system offers mobility.

·       This phone system offers flexibility for users during the daily operations of the business.

·       Making and receiving calls over the cellular phone system is relatively easy.

·       These phone systems are generally reliable

·       It offers consistent service.

·       These phones offer a comprehensive range of coverage for users to enjoy their services.

·       These systems offer a user-friendly system that allows everyone to operate seamlessly.

Disadvantages

·       These phone systems are expensive.

·       International calling and Internet connectivity using data are also expensive.

·       Cellular service providers charge roaming charges.

·       Cellular service providers offer only voice and internet packages.

·       The scalability features for cellular systems are limited.

·       Security measures for cellular phone systems are weak.

·       These phone systems are available in the limited coverage area.

Advantages & Disadvantages of Landline Phones

Here are some advantages and disadvantages to help you understand the landline phone system.

Advantages

·       Landline phones are known for the reliability of the services they provide.

·       They are known and maintain their reputation for being dependable phone systems.

·       They are designed to provide services during power outages or even at remote locations.

·       The call quality of these phone systems offers clarity.

·       These systems are less prone to distortions and jitter.

·       These phone systems are known to serve specific areas with limited internet connectivity.

Disadvantages

·       These phone systems offer limited add-on features for businesses and personal users.

·       To enjoy additional features, this system requires additional hardware installation.

·       These phone systems are less suitable for businesses and personal users

·       They lack mobility.

·       The costs associated with these systems are higher.

·       These phone systems offer limited flexibility.

·       They offer services in limited or fixed locations.

·       These landline phones have decreasing popularity.

                                                                              FAQs

1.     Is VoIP better than cellular?

Yes, it is. This is due to the fact that the VoIP phone system offers cost-effectiveness, scalability, flexibility, and the latest modern business communications. Moreover, VoIP phones eliminate the need for hardware and maintenance costs as they operate on the Internet.   

2.     Is cell phone VoIP?

Yes, Mobile VoIP phones require a cell phone that operates on a 4G or 5G. It can also operate on Wi-Fi.

3.     Is VoIP more secure than a cell phone?

Yes, VoIP phone systems are far more secure than cellular phone systems. This is due to the reason that they operate over the internet with protocols and additional security features. The calls made with the VoIP phone system are internal, giving hackers little or no chance to manipulate the data.

4.     Will VoIP replace cellular?

The most widely used mode of communication is cellular at this time. VoIP technology is gaining popularity with the passage of time. But, saying that VoIP phone systems can replace cellular phone systems is a bit early. VoIP phones offer both worlds. You can use cellular services along with VoIP services simultaneously.

5.     Does WhatsApp use VoIP?

Yes, WhatsApp is a VoIP phone system. The data transmission is done over the Internet, and without the Internet, you cannot operate your WhatsApp. Hence, it proved that WhatsApp is based on VoIP technology.

6.     Does VoIP reduce internet speed?

No, the VoIP phone system does not reduce your internet speed. If you are facing internet speed issues during your calls over the VoIP phone system it is due to the slow internet, or your service provider is facing issues in providing you with the stable speed. It has nothing to do with the usage of your VoIP system.

7.     What is the difference between mobile and VoIP?

The main difference between a VoIP phone system and a cellular phone system is their mode of communication. The VoIP phone system relies solely on the internet to transmit data. On the other hand, the cellular phone system transmits data over radio waves using cellular towers.

8.     Why is everyone switching to VoIP?

The main reason for businesses to shift from traditional phone systems to VoIP phone systems is its cost-efficiency, its flexibility to operate, and its scalability features that make businesses opt.

9.     Are cell phone calls VoIP?

Yes, but under one condition. The VoIP phone system requires internet connectivity. If the phone system is connected to the internet, you can make calls and receive calls from the VoIP phone system to your cellular phone system.

10.  Does VoIP use a lot of data?

NO, VoIP phone systems consume data that ranges from 0.5 – 1.3 MBs per minute of call.

11.  Who uses VoIP phones?

The users of VoIP phone systems are businesses and personal users in e-commerce businesses with their international clients and businesses that operate from remote locations.

12.  Why is VoIP banned in some countries?

VoIP services are not allowed or banned in many countries. This is because the governments do not want to share control of state-owned companies.

13.  Is VoIP replacing landlines?

There is a bright chance that VoIP phone systems will replace the Landline phone system. Thanks to their unparalleled features and ability to integrate with different third-party software, more and more businesses are inclined towards VoIP phones.

14.  Do I need a landline if I have VoIP?

No, there are no such requirements for VoIP phone users. As a matter of fact, VoIP phones transmit digital data over the internet. There is no use for a landline network.

15.  Is a VoIP number a landline?

No, both VoIP and landline are two different technologies. VoIP relies on the internet to make and receive calls. On the contrary, traditional landline telephones use copper wires to transmit their data.

16.  Why is VoIP better than landline?

Here are some facts that make VoIP phones more attractive for businesses. Cost is the most essential aspect of VoIP phones. They are cheaper to install and maintain. These phone systems offer the flexibility they require the internet to operate. Scalability is the third option. You can scale upward or downward in your phone system. Integration is the last factor that allows third-party software to integrate with VoIP phones easily.

17.  What are the two types of landlines?

Here are the most common types of landline phones. A corded and a cordless phone. A corded phone is connected to a cord that won’t allow the users to move away from the phone. The cordless phone allows movement in a limited space but cannot take them home.

18.  Does VoIP require SIM?

No, VoIP phone systems do not require any SIM cards to connect you to the world. The only thing they require is a stable and reliable internet connection. Let us explain it with an example of Skype. You can make audio and video calls to anyone around the globe without any SIM. All you require is an internet connection to make it possible.

                                                                                 Verdict

With the evolution of the VoIP phone system, it has exponentially. These phone systems are commonly used by solopreneurs and small businesses. The only difference between VoIP and cellular phones is the transmission mode. The same goes for the landline and VoIP phones.

This is a million-dollar question: how to choose between a VoIP phone system, a company cellular service, or a landline phone service? The answer is that it all depends upon the requirements of your business and the budget you have allocated for this purpose. Various factors allow the users to evaluate these services according to their needs and circumstances.

We bring you the most extensive comparison between VoIP Vs. Cellular or VoIP Vs. Landline phone systems. In this comparison, we tried our best to present you with the most challenging aspects along with the features of each system, primarily how these systems work to provide you with communication channels for your personal business needs.