The experience of using a phone has changed dramatically over the last 20 years and, in the workplace, this is most noticeable with soft phones.
The impact of working from home during the coronavirus pandemic means that many workers are separated from their office phone. And this can be problematic. Physical phones, after all, are well built for telecommunication and contain almost every phone number you need. Suddenly working from home, however, means that these benefits are not at your disposal. But there’s a very simple solution: soft phones.
It’s an innovative form of technology, but not one that everyone is familiar with. Therefore, we’re going to give you a quick guide to what they are and the best ones available.
What is a Soft Phone?
A soft phone forgoes the need for the traditional handset and dialer-base model. Instead it relies mostly on software and an internet connection. The software, which sits on your PC with a simple interface, uses Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology to mimic a standard phone service. Using a minimum of hardware, such as a headset or built-in microphone, a soft phone allows users to make phone calls over the internet. Best of all, the software behind VoIP technology allows you to use all the same options as a physical phone (call transfer, mute, phonebook) and unique features such as messaging and status messages.
Which Soft Phones Should You Use?
There are numerous soft phones available, but the best ones we recommend are:
- RingCentral: With four different versions available RingCentral provides a soft phone solution for businesses of all sizes. And RingCentral provides virtually every phone feature you could ever need. Not only does it feature unlimited business SMS, but it also allows you to set up voicemail, call recording and an auto-receptionist. There is even the ability, for those still relying on the technology, to send faxes through RingCentral. The price for the service ranges from $20 -$50 with the initial option of a free trial.
- Zoiper: Accessibility is key to the Zoiper experience and this is most keenly demonstrated in its ability to collate all your contacts (Outlook, Android, iOS and Windows) into one interface. But there is plenty more within Zoiper to improve your softphone experience. Fax, presence alerts and instant messaging ensure that Zoiper is a softphone full of features. Zoiper is available free with additional pricing plans available depending on your needs.
- 8×8: You want your soft phone to do everything that a regular phone does and 8×8 achieves this with ease. A highly visual application, 8×8 is easy to use and gives you access to powerful features such as call waiting, group calls and call forwarding. A user friendly interface ensures that all employees will be up to speed with 8×8 in next to no time. Pricing plans for the 8×8 business phone start from $12 with numerous upgrades available.
Final Thoughts
Communication is one of the cornerstones of good business and this has never been more evident than in today’s landscape. Equipping your employees with the best softphone is a sure-fire way to achieve excellent communication and ensure that your organization continues to thrive.
For more ways to secure and optimize your business technology, contact your local IT professionals.
