Compare Business VoIP Phone Systems

VoIP is much cheaper than traditional telephone systems. This is especially true if a business makes a lot of international calls.

VoIP takes your audio and turns it into digital signals using your broadband connection to send the data. The data is then transferred back to audio for the person on the other end of the phone. The process is as quick and seamless as using traditional telephone systems but with added features.

VoIP is as safe as traditional telephone systems as long as the internal IT infrastructure is secure. Many VoIP providers have added security to ensure calls cannot be intercepted by hackers. All exchanges have strong security as the hosted phone platform is a closed, data-encrypted system.

According to a report published by Accenture Security, as many as 70% of business leaders are concerned about cyber security. This inevitably means that there are going to be some questions asked about VoIP security. 

The truth is that VoIP is as secure as your current IT infrastructure. If your business already has strong protections in place, there should not be an issue. 

In addition, most high-quality VoIP phone system providers have a data-encrypted system to ensure that calls cannot be intercepted by hackers. 

You should switch to a cloud phone system as soon as possible. You will be able to use your traditional phone system until your area is 'switched-off' - BT will have started their gradual switch-off with the aim to be fully digital by 2025.

You may want to purchase VoIP phones for your office. However, it is not essential to purchase any specialist VoIP phones as you can link your computer or mobile device to the system. Your current office phone may also be compatable.

All you need is a good internet connection.

We have a range of cloud-based VoIP system packages available. You can compare different phone systems here and get ahead of your competition today.

A VoIP caller is someone who is calling you using a VoIP phone system. From 2025, everyone will be using a VoIP phone to communicate as the public switched telephone network is closed.

Using a VoIP phone system will not be free but it costs much less to make calls than using traditional phone systems.

If you have decided that VoIP is right for your business, you can switch to a VoIP package with us. Our experts can help you build the perfect package for your business. 

You should carefully consider your specific requirements and user needs. We offer a variety of specialised VoIP packages to suit every business's needs. You can get a quote here.

Business VoIP phone systems are suitable for small, medium, and large businesses. These systems are not constrained by the same rules as traditional analogue systems that require copper wiring. In fact, cloud-based phone systems can scale up or down with ease. Business owners can add new phones (or other communication devices) to their contracts as they gain new clients and customers. Business VoIP phone contracts charge customers on each new line. 

We recommend VoIP for business owners who see growth in their futures. Startup companies love VoIP systems because they can increase or reduce the number of lines that they pay for at any given time.

Back in the earlier days of VoIP, it gained a reputation for poor call quality. Those days are long gone and VoIP now offers great call reliability. 

Many providers offer 24/7 customer support to ensure that should the worst happen, you’re back online as soon as possible. Service agreements usually depend on the package you choose. Should you have any issues, your provider will have multiple data centres as a backup. 

The only thing you will need is reliable fast fibre business broadband to support a VoIP system. The more VoIP lines your business requires, the stronger the internet you require. Many large companies opt for a reliable leased line - a more powerful internet connection with reliable upload and download speeds with no slow down during peak times. 

As with any service, the cost varies from provider to provider. VoIP is much cheaper than traditional analogue phone systems. This type of system does not rely on physical copper lines, which eliminates a lot of the costs associated with monthly fees. 

In general terms, business VoIP phone systems cost around £10 per month per user. The initial hardware cost is around £100 per user. 

Browse through our VoIP for business deals to find exact prices. 

It is much quicker to install cloud-based phone systems than it is to install traditional analogue systems. Despite this, there are a few important factors to think about. 

The number of employees within the business can impact the installation time. Providers have to consider how many lines they need, and whether or not the existing broadband connection can support that many employees. It is not uncommon for new business VoIP phone customers to increase their bandwidth before they begin using VoIP hardware. 

Even with all these moving parts, business owners can have a new VoIP system set up in anywhere from 10 to 13 business days. One of the biggest benefits of VoIP for business owners is that it guarantees quick, hassle-free installations. 

A hosted PBX has many of the advantages of a traditional PBX but with some additional plus points. Mobile phones are increasingly standard in many businesses, nevertheless, many customers and suppliers still want to be able to reach a traditional landline number.

A hosted PBX is safe and secure and is generally a much cheaper option than installing a server. A hosted PBX provider eliminates the need for on-site professionals to support the day-to-day operation should anything technically go wrong with your hosted PBX system.

One of the reasons hosted PBX are popular is because if you run a business with multiple locations, even overseas, they allow call routing internally for free. It offers a much better customer experience if you have an integrated phone system if you have different teams in multiple locations.

Both hosted and traditional PBX allow you to transfer phone calls and initiate call recording; however many providers offer hosted PBX with analytics data to manage functionality and reporting.

Many growing companies opt for a hosted PBX phone system as they're accessible to upscale when hiring new employees. Your service provider will be able to add a new line to the cloud phone system and all you need is a new handset.

Additionally, because the system is internet-based, employees can access a hosted PBX remotely, provided they have internet access. This is great in a world where working remotely is the new normal without employees disconnecting from the company telephone system.

Whereas traditional phone systems depend on physical infrastructure that is located at business premises, hosted PBX phone systems do not require on-site hardware to be fully operational. Most hosted systems reside in the cloud. The term cloud computing refers to online data storage and computing power. The software and services offered by the cloud operate over the internet. Businesses can use clouds to outsource their computing needs.

Hosted systems operate on either the cloud or off-site data centres. Off-site data centres are secure, physical locations. They are not located on the premises of the businesses that they serve. In this sense, hosted networks that operate from off-site premises are not entirely digital.

Hosted telephony is a popular option because it is easy to connect to the cloud and off-site data centres. Business owners pay a monthly fee and simply plug in the desk phones that their provider has sent them. The provided desk phones will automatically connect to either the cloud or the off-site data centre. Traditional networks have much longer installation times, which can pose a problem for businesses that need to react quickly to customer demand.

Hosted PBX Phone System Pros and Cons

Hosted PBX phone systems are becoming more and more popular. There are lots of benefits to these modern systems. Here are some of the reasons why they have grown in popularity.

• No upfront costs - Lots of business owners choose hosted telephony because it does not require large upfront costs. In the past, big businesses invested in expensive leased lines for improved networks. Leased lines require weeks if not months to install. Hosted customers only have to pay for initial setup costs for essential items such as compatible handsets, routers, and modems.
• Incoming calls - Hosted systems are perfect for call centres and busy offices. Employees can answer incoming calls on desk phones, mobile phones, or even applications.
• Manage international communications - An interface is all that PBX customers need to manage international communications. This feature is perfect for business owners who want to expand their reach.
• Modern alternative - Hosted PBX phone systems transmit data through a secure internet connection. They are modern alternatives to traditional analogue PSTN networks. By investing in a PBX system now, managers can avoid the disruption that will come with the PSTN switch-off.
• Range of features - Hosted phone systems come with a range of features. With hosted hybrid systems, business owners can pick and choose the features that suit their organisation. This is ideal for people who want tailored services. Hosted systems are very versatile, and can adapt to meet the needs of any kind of business.
• The provider manages maintenance - The cloud host or off-site data centre manager will maintain the network. They will complete all the necessary updates to keep the software running smoothly. People who invest in PBX systems never have to worry about expensive maintenance bills.

The biggest disadvantage of hosted telephony is that it requires a stable internet connection and suitable bandwidth. However, business owners can opt to increase their bandwidth whilst setting up their preferred hosted network.

It is important to remember that not all hosted systems are the same. True cloud-hosted phone systems and hosted hybrid phone systems are similar, but there are a few significant differences.

True cloud-hosted telephony systems are designed for small businesses. It is a common misconception that true cloud systems allow small business owners to choose features that suit them. There are only a few pre-set features available to organisations that want this type of system. This system offers small businesses communication features that they would only otherwise be able to access through premise-based, traditional phone systems.

Small and blossoming enterprises might not be able to pay for expensive premise-based systems. In this case, true cloud-hosted telephony systems are ideal.

True cloud-hosted PBX phone systems operate entirely over the internet. As with other PBX systems, this is both the biggest advantage and disadvantage. If the internet connection is not secure or strong, the communication features will not work.

Hosted hybrid phone systems require a physical data centre. The data centre is not located on the business premises. In simple terms, hosted hybrid systems are just like premise-based phone systems, except they are located off-premises. Hosted telephony systems like this prove to be a hassle-free alternative to traditional on-site phone systems. The data centre will handle any updates and maintenance tasks.

Whereas true cloud systems offer pre-set features to small businesses, hosted hybrid systems offer a much larger range of features to businesses of every size. Business owners can add features and applications to their packages as their businesses grow. We recommend this hosted PBX phone system for business owners who want responsive, flexible software.

Phone network providers have dubbed the switch from analogue to digital phone systems the ‘PSTN switch-off.’ PSTN stands for Public Switched Telephone Network. Since the early 1800s, domestic and commercial phone network users in the UK have used analogue PSTN networks for their communication needs.

In 2019, Openreach announced that PSTN networks will be defunct in 2025. Openreach is a UK-based company that manages all the telephone ducts, cabinets, exchanges, and cables in the UK. It will stop selling new systems that operate on PSTN networks in 2023.

This transition will cause a lot of disruption for business owners and homeowners who do not switch to a hosted telephony system before 2025. Essential equipment such as panic alarms, burglar alarms, and even security systems that operate on PSTN networks will stop working by 2025. We recommend switching to a hosted PBX phone system as soon as possible.