Finest enterprise telephone techniques

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Telephone communication plays a critical role in today's business landscape. Virtually every business, regardless of size or industry, needs a business phone system.

This statement applies to freelancers and sole proprietorships for Fortune 500 companies with thousands of employees in multiple locations.

There is only one problem: finding the best option for your business. With hundreds, if not thousands, to choose from, narrowing down the choices for your business can feel like a daunting task.

Fortunately, I did all the heavy lifting for you. After spending countless hours researching and testing various business phone systems, I've selected the top six that I can recommend with confidence.

The top 6 options for business phone systems

  1. Grandma
  2. Freshcaller
  3. Dial pad
  4. RingCentral
  5. line 2
  6. Intermedia Unite

How to choose the best business phone system for you

Before we go into the specifics of reviewing each business phone system, you need to understand the methodology behind my research. There are certain features and considerations that need to be evaluated when shopping for different plans.

Keep these factors in mind as you go through this guide and read my reviews.

Deployment method

In general, there are two ways to deploy a phone system for your business: cloud or on-premises. In the past, most business phone systems were on-site. However, cloud systems and VoIP technology are growing in popularity.

If you don't want your phone system tied to physical landlines, offices, and specific devices, cloud deployment is definitely the best option. However, if you prefer a more traditional phone line, the local system will work just fine for your situation.

Physical telephone systems

Do you need to buy physical hardware for your phone system?

If you are looking for a traditional office phone that sits on a specific desk with a hardwired connection, these are the phones you need to buy. In this scenario, it is usually in your best interests to purchase hardware directly from the telephone system provider. Hardware is rarely included in your plan. So keep this in mind when shopping. Actual phones, headsets, etc. cost extra.

The beauty of cloud phone systems is that you can make and receive calls from anywhere. You and your employees can use your existing devices (laptops, desktops, smartphones, etc.) for this.

This not only makes your business phone system easily accessible, but also makes it cheaper.

User size and scalability

How many people will be using your business phone system?

Is it just you Is it 5-10 people? 500? 5,000? The answer to this question will definitely affect your decision. Certain systems are designed for individuals while others are designed for small teams and small businesses. Alternatively, there are business phone systems designed for large organizations with thousands of users in multiple locations.

Primary communication needs

There are many common business phone systems. However, some are designed for specific use cases.

For example, there are business telephone systems for customer service centers, outbound sales, and inbound phone orders. There are even solutions for internal communication, such as B. Conference calls and video chat.

So determine your primary communication needs and start your search from there.

Plan functions

Many business phone systems try to improve their market position by giving you many "extras" and features that are included with your plan for free. However, these are useless if you are never going to use them.

I'm referring to things like visual voicemail, holding music, automated answering, call forwarding, answering machines, text messages, etc. The list goes on and on. These features are either included with your plan or are offered at tiered prices.

My recommendation is: don't pay extra for features that you didn't know existed five minutes ago. Stick to the features that you know you will be using. If you get a few bonuses, that's great. But don't be a victim of the great marketing these vendors offer.

Phone numbers

Do you want to keep your existing phone number? Are you looking for an 800 number? Vanity number? Toll Free Numbers?

Some of you will be looking for all of these; others just want a single line for basic use. Most business phone systems offer a variety of different phone number options. However, the prices and offers vary from provider to provider.

Just know that you may have to pay extra for things like toll-free calling and international phone numbers.

The different types of business telephone systems

Business phone systems are actually not a one-size-fits-all solution. Most people don't realize it, but there are actually several types of telephone systems. I will detail each one below to give you a better understanding of shopping and evaluating plans.

VoIP telephone systems

Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP for short) has quickly become one of the most popular types of telephone systems for business users. As the name suggests, the system is based on an IP connection. Instead of having to set up complicated cables and landlines, a VoIP system only uses the same Internet connection that your company already has.

VoIP systems are generally inexpensive and easy to set up. However, they depend on a strong internet connection. So if you have spotty service this isn't really going to work for your business.

Analog telephone systems

Analog systems use POTS – a simple old-fashioned telephone service.

Imagine a traditional landline telephone system. This is an analog service. Copper lines and connections are used between your system and the network operator. As a result, analog telephones have exceptional call quality and reliability.

However, analog telephones lack the features associated with newer types of telephone systems. They still offer basic phone functionality (hold, mute, call waiting, speakerphone, speed dial, redial, etc.) but you don't get too much else. Overall, analog technology is pretty out of date.

PBX telephone systems

PBX stands for "Private Branch Exchange". This is also known as the digital telephone system.

PBX systems often have an extensive function list with many applications. These solutions are great for businesses looking to customize their phone system with various add-ons and upgrades.

Hybrid telephone systems

Hybrid phones offer digital and IP functionality. These solutions are enjoying growing popularity due to their versatility.

Most of the business owners who buy a digital phone system gravitate towards hybrid options. This gives them the ability to expand and scale in the future using IP protocols. It is also common for hybrid systems to include features such as fax and email integrations.

To ensure high voice quality, the hybrid telephone system must have a strong network connection. Quality is limited to the type of phone service that is providing it. A robust internet connection is the best way to ensure call quality.

Cloud phone systems

The terms "cloud" and "hosted" are often used interchangeably in the world of business telephone services. With a cloud system, you probably don't need any on-site hardware (other than your existing routers and data switches).

It is easy for anyone to manage a cloud phone system, including your employees. All customization and management can be done directly through a simple interface offered by your system provider.

Communication on a cloud phone system relies on a third party data center (owned by the company you purchased from) and a stable internet connection.

# 1 – Ooma Review – Best Phone Systems for Small Businesses

Ooma offers VoIP phone systems specifically designed for small businesses. The system is easy to set up and you can make calls from anywhere using the Ooma mobile app or the desktop computer app.

You can fully customize your Ooma phone system based on factors such as the number of employees who need a phone, fax connection, conference calling, physical hardware, and more.

Here's what I like best about Ooma's business phone system:

  • Boot up the system in less than 15 minutes
  • Keep your existing number or choose a new one
  • Easily set up a 1-800 or toll-free phone number
  • Features like call recording, virtual extensions, overhead paging and more
  • Create "ring groups" (like sales or customer service)

Ooma's phone system starts at $ 19.95 per user per month. There are no contracts or hidden fees. You can even get a new phone number for free.

# 2 – Freshcaller Review – The Best Business Phone System for Contact Centers

Freshcaller is somewhat unique when compared to other business phone systems on the market today. This solution was specially developed for customer service teams.

There are no hardware or download requirements to run Freshcaller. As a cloud-based PBX system, your customer service representatives can access the software from anywhere.

More than 40,000 companies worldwide trust Freshcaller. If their reputation isn't enough to convince you, here's a quick rundown of the key features:

  • Ability to port your numbers or buy new numbers from over 90 countries
  • Advanced forwarding functions for incoming calls
  • Supervisor controls for conversation monitoring, call queuing, and more
  • Easy to use for remote customer service teams
  • Smart escalations, call forwarding, agent notes and conferences
  • Use AI Voice Bots to get in touch with your customers

While Freshcaller is definitely geared towards support teams, the phone service could also serve as a solution for sales reps.

Local phone numbers start at $ 1 per month and incoming calls start at $ 0.016 per minute. You can try Freshcaller free of charge for 21 days.

# 3 – Dialpad Review – Best Business Phone System for Remote Teams

Dialpad is another modern solution for business phones. This provider uses cloud technology and VoIP for its telephone systems.

Plans start at $ 15 per user per month, and you can try it for free for 14 days.

The dialpad has created a niche in the remote work area. A quick visit to their website and you will see #WorkFromAnywhere in big letters on the homepage.

These are some of the reasons why I recommend Dialpad:

  • Easily provision, add users and change numbers in real time
  • Seamless integration with tools like Zendesk, Salesforce, G Suite, and more
  • SMS, MMS and group chat business messages
  • Create smart call routing paths to the right sales rep, agent, or operator
  • Tools for sales, contact centers and conference calls

More than 70,000 companies worldwide use Dialpad. So, you know it is a trustworthy and reliable business phone system.

# 4 – RingCentral Review – The Best Business Phone System for Large Businesses

RingCentral has quickly become one of the most popular service providers in the business communication sector. They have a wide range of solutions based on company size, industry, and business needs.

You can use RingCentral for cloud phone systems, video conferencing, remote customer service, contact centers, global expansion, and more.

RingCentral is used by more than 400,000 companies in almost every imaginable category and is the industry leader in this area.

Aside from popularity, these are some of the other reasons I like RingCentral so much:

  • Provision new users and start scaling in minutes
  • Automatic receptionist, shared lines and extensions to ensure you never miss a call
  • High quality audio
  • Ability to switch live calls between mobile and desktop with just one click
  • Automated visual voicemails
  • Set up local phone numbers from 200 area codes
  • Robust admin portal for dynamic call forwarding, usage monitoring and quality control
  • 24/7 customer service from the friendly team of experts at RingCentral

Overall, the extensive range of functions of RingCentral is definitely designed for larger teams. You have small business plans, but most smaller teams don't need these extra features.

RingCentral starts at $ 19.99 per user per month. Try it with a 15 day free trial before you buy.

# 5 – Line2 Review – Best for individuals and small teams

Line2 is exactly what it sounds like. With this business phone system, anyone can easily add a second line to their existing phone.

Your new business phone number can easily be managed directly via the Line2 mobile app.

The whole process is as simple as 1, 2, 3 – sign up, dial a number and download the app. That's it! Now you can make and receive business calls from your smartphone without revealing your personal phone number.

Other features worth mentioning are:

  • In addition to smartphones, Line2 also works on Macs, PCs and tablets
  • You can still add multiple lines as you scale your business
  • Deployment is easy with no hardware or IT requirements
  • Line2 is constantly adding new features for calls and messages

Overall, the concept behind Line2 is pretty simple. It's perfect for individual users, freelancers, and small business owners.

Plans start at just $ 9.95 per month with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

# 6 – Intermedia Unite Review – The best all-in-one platform for business communication

Intermedia Unite is more than just a business PBX phone system. You also get tools for video conferencing, live chat, file management, and screen sharing.

All of these functions are combined in a fully integrated platform for unified communication and collaboration.

If you're just looking for a simple business phone system, this option is probably not for you. But for companies looking for an all-in-one solution, I can't find a better option than Intermedia Unite.

  • Automatic referral to connect customers with the right person
  • Wide range of integrations to build efficient interactions
  • The system works via the mobile Intermedia Unite app and the desktop app
  • Telephone support on pre-configured desk phone devices
  • Award-winning customer service around the clock
  • Administrators benefit from custom management tools and actionable analytics

Pricing for Intermedia Unite starts at $ 27.99 per month per user. Given all the features you get in this package, this is a steal.

Summary

To say that there are many options for a business phone system to consider would be a drastic understatement. However, this guide can help you make the right decision based on your needs.

In a market that is saturated with business phone systems, I really only like the six options outlined above.

So start your search there and use the buying guide described earlier in my guide. This will steer you in the right direction.

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