How Do Virtual Phone Systems Differ From Traditional Landlines?

This article originally appeared on news4technology.com

In today’s world, it’s important to have a reliable phone system. For your business to succeed and thrive, you need a phone system that is easy to use, reliable, and cost-effective. A virtual phone system can help you achieve these things.

A virtual phone system can benefit just about any business–no matter how big or small you are. They provide many benefits that will help your company grow and succeed. Let’s take a closer look at the differences between a traditional and a virtual phone system.

What is a Virtual Phone System, and how does it work?

A virtual phone system is a communication platform that allows business communications to occur over the internet. The system combines Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) for basic phone calling and Cloud PBX for call management.

Devices such as mobile phones, laptops, and desktops connected to the internet enable incoming and outgoing calls. When compared to traditional phone systems, virtual phone systems only need a working internet connection and any hardware you already own.

Their internet calling capabilities do not solely define virtual phone systems. Many companies use them because of their increased functionality and mobility.

Additional features include SMS texting, voicemail transcriptions, advanced caller handling, and business numbers. By installing a virtual phone system, your company can expand business activities without physically expanding its communication infrastructure.

Virtual phone systems use Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP). VoIP converts your voice into a digital signal. The signal is then sent over the internet to your recipient. They will listen to the digital signal through their phone’s speaker after their phone converts it back to analog.

How Do Landlines Work?

When you connect a landline, the phone company sends a signal to your phone. Copper wires carry the signal. Phone transformers are used to connect copper wires to phones. The phone transformer converts low-voltage copper wire signals into high-voltage signals your phone can understand. It converts sound into electrical signals, which are sent to a central office for re-conversion back into sound and sent to a recipient.

Difference Between Landline and Virtual Phone Systems

1.    Network

The main difference between landline and VoIP phone systems is that the former has a physical connection to the telephone network while the latter works via data and the internet. As a result, VoIP calls are not geographically limited and may be made from any location with an internet connection, unlike landline calls.

2.    Call Quality

Fiber-optic cables are also more efficient than copper wires. A copper wire can only transmit so much data before it needs to be reset, causing dropped calls and other problems. Meanwhile, fiber-optic cables can transmit data much faster and uninterrupted.

3.    Cost

Cost is another major difference. VoIP is much more cost-effective than landline phone systems. Companies with many phone lines and locations typically find VoIP systems more affordable. It is costly and time-consuming to install and maintain traditional phone lines at each location. In addition, you can make international calls for a fraction of the cost of regular rates.

4.    Flexibility

VoIP services are also much more flexible and affordable, contributing to landline use decline. You can make calls on almost any device, including smartphones and computers. The flexibility of VoIP also allows employees to work anywhere. Therefore, a  company can also open a new location without installing a landline or a phone system. Furthermore, workers can be moved as needed without losing their phone service.

The Benefits of a Virtual Phone System

●      Cheaper

If you switch to a virtual phone system, you won’t have the installation or maintenance costs of a traditional phone system. This will save you money in the long run.

●      Easy To Scale

If you start with a small office and a few employees, you may not need a lot of phone lines. Easy to scale – If your company expands, you can easily scale your virtual phone system. You won’t have to worry about buying new hardware and installing new systems. Your virtual phone system will be able to grow right along with your company. You’ll be up and running with your new phone lines in no time when you contact your VoIP provider. This makes it easy to scale as your company grows.

●       Flexibility

With a traditional phone system, you must be at a specific location to make or receive a call. You need a phone line at every location where you want to make or receive a call. With a virtual phone system, you can make and receive calls from any computer with internet access.

●      Easy To Use

Virtual phone systems are designed to be user-friendly and easy to use. Employees can quickly learn how to use them, so you won’t have to worry about training. Virtual phone systems are also designed to be used on different devices, including desktop computers, laptops, tablets, and smartphones.

●      Easily Integrates With Other Software

you can integrate a virtual phone system with other software. This can help you to manage your entire business better. For example, your virtual phone system can integrate with customer relationship management (CRM) software.

●      Improved Call Quality

A virtual phone system will improve the quality of your calls. Traditional phone systems use copper wires, which can cause static or noise. With a virtual phone system, you won’t have to worry about interference, static, or dropouts.

●      Real-time Reports And Analytics

Business activities can be improved by having access to reports and analytics data. It was only possible to obtain comprehensive information about business communications through advanced equipment and specially trained employees before the advent of virtual phone systems.

Call analytics and useful reports are now available to small businesses and startups. With this data, you can easily determine which days are busiest, how many calls are sent to your business line, and other important aspects of improving customer service.  Considering all this, virtual phone systems are essential in maintaining an effective business communication system in today’s world.

Summary

Traditional landlines are essentially becoming obsolete. Virtual phone systems provide cheaper and more flexible call packaging options than their traditional counterparts and offer more advanced features. As such, their popularity is growing rapidly.