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Do you know any business that doesn’t need phone service? Almost all enterprises involve speaking to customers, vendors, coordinating with employees, and tracking metrics with spreadsheets. Of course, there are smartphones, chat apps, and email to communicate.

However, nothing matches the reliability of a hosted business Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) phone service. It’s always available and dedicated to your business so that you can focus on your work. But don’t mistake every phone system as being equal. There are some things you need to consider when choosing a VoIP service.

What Is VoIP?

VoIP is a technology that allows you to make voice calls via the internet. It’s a digital alternative to the traditional telephone. It’s cheaper as there are no maintenance costs and more affordable equipment. For example, you’re paying for the company to maintain the switchboard to connect calls with a regular landline phone.

With VoIP, the network is the switchboard, and the provider doesn’t need to maintain any equipment. On the other hand, landlines are better when the line is physically severed. VoIP depends on the internet, which means it can go down too.

Things to Consider in a Business VoIP Service

A reliable VoIP plan gives you the flexibility you need for your business. It can be helpful for both big and small businesses. Let’s look at what you should look for in a business VoIP service.

1. Quality of Service

When choosing a VoIP service, make sure it comes with the quality of service (QoS). QoS allows the provider to prioritize one kind of traffic over others. This is important, especially when there’s a high traffic volume, as it can ensure that your VoIP calls are never dropped.

To make your VoIP service more reliable, you can also require a QoS policy to guarantee that a certain percentage of calls will never be dropped under a certain threshold of service. This is useful if your company uses VoIP.

2. Call Features

Most VoIP calls are free of charge, but this isn’t the case with business VoIP services. If you want toll-free calling, you need to pay an extra cost. Unlike a landline, your business VoIP provider won’t give you a local number.

If you choose a business VoIP provider that also comes with a toll-free number, you can still have unlimited free calls. If you want free calls, select a provider that doesn’t require you to have a toll-free number.

Other call features may be included in your plan. For example, you may be able to call outside your local calling area for free or for an extra steep price.

3. International Calling

International calling is included in the most basic plans. Choose a provider that offers the best international calling rates if your business is global. This way, you won’t have to worry about how much you’re spending on international calls.

If you need more international calling minutes, choose a plan that gives you unlimited calling to a set number of countries for a flat rate.

Conclusion

Finding the right business VoIP plan is crucial for your business’s communication needs. To choose the right plan, you have to consider the number of employees in your business, the time you need to make calls, and the types of calls you need to make. This way, you can determine the right VoIP plan for your business.

SIP Oasis is a reliable IT solutions provider in Birmingham, AL, immediately responding to your calls and needs. We can provide and support your servers, network infrastructure, phone system, phone service, internet service, wifi, mobile phones, email, storage, security, disaster recovery, etc. If you need VoIP services in Birmingham, AL, get in touch with us now!