Having a reliable phone service has been an essential part of many businesses for decades, both for external and internal purposes. With the trend for mobile and remote working in an upward trajectory, the advancements in technology over the last few years have made the traditional desk phone look severely outdated. Phone systems for businesses are being upgraded from analog to digital, internet-based systems that might be faster and even cost-effective. Communication channels like ip phone systems that can handle more traffic and also route calls faster through the internet are increasingly being preferred.
With the demand these days for all-in-one solutions that covers many different tasks, a lot needs to be considered when choosing a business phone service. Here’s our handy guide to the main things to look for when choosing a service.
Hardware or No Hardware?
One of the biggest considerations in 2021 is whether you need to have physical business phones, both desktop and mobile. Gone are the days where it is necessary to have a separate phone or device to make or receive calls, although this option is still available. Instead, call apps and programs for your device that does the same are easy to find. Generally, the best business mobile phone these days is something you already own – your personal mobile device. Rather than needing to supply employees with a separate physical business phone, you can use a business phone app instead that does this and more. Rather than use your personal mobile plan and number, this type of app will provide you with a separate line and keep all business-related contacts separate, meaning no crossover of personal and work life. By utilising this type of service, you can save huge amounts of expenditure on telecoms and replacement or repair costs too.
Security Measures
In today’s world, mobile devices are a ubiquitous part of business operations, and as such, they have become a prime target for cybercriminals. With the sensitive data stored on business mobile phones, securing them is of paramount importance. Mobile devices are easily lost or stolen, which makes them vulnerable to unauthorized access. As such, it is crucial to create a secure mobile device for each employee by implementing measures such as passwords, encryption, and remote wipe capabilities to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive data. Additionally, mobile devices should be regularly updated with the latest security patches and software to address vulnerabilities that can be exploited by attackers.
Call Costs & Call Plans
Selecting the right business call plan from Yellowcom business telecoms provider in the UK or a similar company in your area can help reduce telecommunications costs for your business. Personalized call and text packages can be a cost-effective option, especially when compared to the expenses associated with physical mobile or desk phones, including phone insurance cover. When evaluating business call plans, it’s also essential to consider the costs associated with different types of calls, such as regular network calls, VoIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol), or cloud apps. Depending on your needs, some options may be more cost-efficient than others. Choosing a mobile business phone service that operates on the GSM (Global System for Mobile) network, which is the same as your standard outgoing and incoming mobile network calls, can further contribute to cost reduction. By carefully assessing your business’s communication requirements and selecting an appropriate call plan, you can optimize your telecom spending while ensuring efficient communication for your company.
Reliable Call Quality
By considering using an alternative business phone service, you may have concerns over the quality of the calls themselves. This will depend on the service you choose and what network is utilised. Services such as WhatsApp and Skype, for example, will use your data connection to make VoIP calls. The issue with this is that you could experience more dropped calls or poor quality sound. Preferably by using a business phone service that uses the GSM network, the call quality will be much improved and typically have fewer connecting issues as it will not suffer from low Wi-Fi or poor data coverage.
Along with the above, searching for the right business mobile phone service for you will depend on your business needs. You may want to look for a service that also provides video or conferencing services, file sharing and other collaborative features too.