Your organization needs voice calls to take care of business. But if you’re turning away from landline phones in favor of options like standard cell phones or voice over internet protocol (VoIP), you might wonder which option is best. Mobile phones and VoIP work differently, and both have their pros and cons. Learn how VoIP differs from company cell phones so you can make the best choice for your organization.
How cell service works for your business
When you make a call on your cell phone, it transmits a signal to a cell tower. The signal bounces between mobile networks until it reaches the recipient. As long as cell towers are close enough, you can make a clear call almost anywhere in the United States.
If your employees rely on cell phones for work, they’re a convenient option for an on-the-go and remote workforce. If you work in an industry with emergency or on-call support after hours, cell phones are a great way to keep your team in touch.
The issue is that coverage varies in certain areas of the country, so you might experience dead zones if you rely only on cell service. That could cause problems if you’re experiencing an emergency or have an urgent problem to attend to but tower reception is down due to say weather or manmade disruptions.
How a VoIP phone system works
Unlike cell phones, which rely on cell towers to make calls, VoIP digitizes audio and transmits it over the internet. This means you can make a VoIP call on any internet connected device, including cell phones, laptops, tablets, and more. Because VoIP often works via an app, it comes with smart features that don’t come out of the box with a standard company cell phone, including:
- Call forwarding
- Email voice to text
- Smart rules
Since VoIP transmits calls over the internet, it’s ideal both in large cities and in rural areas where cell phone service isn’t available or local area networks aren’t always reliable. As long as you have Wi-Fi, your company can unify communications through your VoIP phone system.
Choosing between company cell phones and VoIP
So, should your organization opt for company cell phones or VoIP?
Generally speaking, VoIP is more affordable and flexible than company cell phones. If you’re switching your communications over, VoIP is usually a better fit for these six reasons.
1. Additional features
VoIP comes with several powerful features that are either not as available or as user-friendly as what’s offered with standard, traditional cell plans. VoIP allows you to:
- Easily host group voice calls
- Automatically route calls to the right person
- Integrate chat with your phone service
There’s no need to pay more for additional add-ons to your cell phone plan. If you go with VoIP from the start, you’ll have everything you need to better manage your communications.
2. Device flexibility
With a company cell phone, you not only have to buy the smartphone but you also have to pay for monthly service. The average cost of a company cell phone is more than $600 per phone, which can add up to hefty costs for your organization.
Instead of shackling your organization to expensive cell phones, VoIP allows you to make calls from any internet-connected device. If you don’t want to budget for new smartphones now or just want more flexibility, you can make phone calls via your existing laptops or tablets with VoIP.
3. Scalability
VoIP is a digital service, which means you can increase or decrease your subscriptions with a click. Company cell phone plans aren’t that flexible, which means you either pay for unused phones or you have to limit which employees receive a company phone. If you experience seasonality in your business where you need additional support at certain times of the year, VoIP is an efficient and cost-saving option that’s easier to scale.
4. Bring your own device (BYOD) friendly
Like we mentioned above, if your organization isn’t ready to foot the bill for all new devices, VoIP gives you the freedom to implement BYOD policies. Employees can use their own devices, download your VoIP app, and start accepting calls. This is a great way to ensure employees have everything they need to securely stay connected on the go and while working remotely — without revealing their personal phone numbers to clients or the public.
5. Enjoy e911
If you call 911 on a cell phone, emergency responders don’t receive all the information needed to quickly locate you. However, certain VoIP setups will automatically transmit your location and more to first responders via enhanced 911 (e911).
6. Boost security
How secure are your internal phone calls in protecting against cyber threats? Even if you protect your organization’s network, you still might fall prey to scammers listening in on your calls. Fortunately, VoIP calls are encrypted, which ensures outsiders can’t listen in on your conversations. If you need an extra layer of security, VoIP is the way to go.
Switch to VoIP with an experienced provider
Organizations need to operate at max efficiency. While company cell phones can certainly keep your teams in touch, they aren’t always the most efficient, secure, or affordable solution.
If it’s time to get more out of your communication technologies, go with VoIP solutions from Dice. Get in touch with our communications experts to design a unique VoIP solution tailored to your organization’s needs.
