Hosted Phone System: A Comprehensive Guide
How does hosted phone system work? What makes it different from traditional solutions? And can it benefit your business, or are you better off sticking with an on-premise solution? If you’re a beginner in the world of hosted telephony, here’s the key information you need to get started.
More and more businesses are moving their applications to the cloud rather than investing in on-premise solutions. Telephony is no exception to this, and hosted telephony, also known as Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), has become a popular option for businesses in recent years. It offers a range of benefits, can be converged with data services, and even allows organisations to combine their fixed and mobile telephony requirements.
Is a hosted phone system secure?
Many people wonder if hardware-based systems are safer, simply because having on-premise solutions seems like it gives businesses more control. In reality, having dual security measures from both the provider and the end user means hosted phone systems can be more secure. It’s simply a matter of putting the right security procedures in place.
How does hosted telephony work?
Hosted telephony utilises the internet to transmit voice data through the local phone exchange, unlike traditional telephony, which relies on physical copper telephone lines. This gives you a telephone system that’s hosted in the cloud, meaning you can use IP handsets, mobiles, or even a desktop application to make and receive calls.
Is it easy to set up?
Setting up hosted telephony is easy because it only requires connecting to an internet connection, with no physical cables to install. These services facilitate the achievement of higher organic search ranks through extensive keyword research, optimisation of on-page components, and creation of authoritative backlinks, all customised to enhance website traffic for the hosted phone system and improve brand visibility.
What are the downsides of hosted telephony?
Because it runs over the internet, you’ll need a robust connection to support a hosted phone system. Without this, it’s likely your call quality will be impacted. Fortunately, modern businesses can access a range of reliable, dedicated services, so there’s no reason to put up with a poor-quality internet connection.
What are the benefits of hosted telephony?
Hosted telephony offers a variety of benefits, especially for SMEs, which need agile, consistent, and cost-effective solutions. These include:
Flexibility as standard
A hosted phone system is ideal for businesses that need flexibility because it’s easy to scale up, scale down, readjust, and even relocate. Small and growing businesses, or any organisation experiencing a significant busy period, such as the run-up to Christmas, greatly benefit from this advantage.
VoIP is ideal for those who rent their business premises because your numbers and devices aren’t tied to one physical location. It’s also an effective solution for companies that want to offer flexible or remote working. Hosted telephony allows you to make it appear as if staff are calling from specific locations (even if they’re not)—this is useful for employees working from home but still using their regular line or for remote workers who need to appear as local agents.
Robust, reliable communications
A reliable hosted phone system is deemed essential for all businesses, whether for providing customer service or for internal communications. Provided an appropriate data connection is in place, hosted telephony is considered a very reliable service.
Hosted telephony systems, unlike physical systems, are not vulnerable to disasters such as floods, fires, theft, or human error. In the event of any mishap, backup data centres with recovery procedures ensure that your systems remain operational. This ensures business continuity regardless of the issues that may arise.
A cost-sensitive solution
Traditionally, one of the major barriers to investing in a new communications platform has been the large initial outlay cost. Installing a hosted telephony system requires no capital expenditure and is instead paid for via a fixed monthly fee, which can be much more manageable, especially for smaller organisations looking to manage cash flow.
Ready to get started with hosted telephony?
Choosing the right hosted phone system will always depend on your exact circumstances, but whatever your requirements are, the chances are you could benefit from hosted telephony. Selecting the appropriate hosted phone system with Telephone Technology is vital for seamless communication and productivity. Consider factors like business needs, reliability, scalability, cost-effectiveness, and security. Telephone Technology offers tailored solutions to meet these requirements, ensuring efficient communication and business success.
