Phone Systems Software

What is the best Phone Systems Software?

Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology allows us to make and receive calls using an internet connection. These cloud-based phone systems also provide tools for video and chat communication to improve collaborations within a business by centralizing communication tools in one easy to use, affordable platform. 

Cloud-based VoIP providers are becoming the most embraced business communication option for companies of all sizes. Landline and traditional on-site PBX systems are being phased out increasingly every year due to the vast benefits of VoIP such as robust feature sets, cost-savings, and impressive productivity hikes. 

Whether you have a small business or an international enterprise, there is a VoIP solution provider on the market to fulfill your needs and improve your business communications with new features and efficiencies. Reading virtual phone system reviews from companies like yours can help you identify the best communication tools for your business.

The features offered by VoIP phone service providers are the tools that will help enhance your company communications. While your business needs, users, and budget will all work together to help you choose the best VoIP phone services for your business, there is a list of core features offered by most phone system providers that you will want to make sure are included in whichever option you choose.

The core, must-have features of top VoIP companies looking for the best office phone system include:

  • Call forwarding
  • Number porting
  • Call routing and transferring
  • Call recording
  • Voicemail
  • Auto-attendant or virtual receptionist
  • Mobile apps
  • Integration capability with other business software
  • Call conferencing
  • Data and screen sharing
  • User-friendly dashboards
  • Reporting and analytics
  • Video Conferencing

The top 10 business VoIP providers and best office phone systems, like RingCentral, 8x8, and Vonage Business Communications are definitely companies to watch for innovations and new feature offerings. 

Using the best office phone system for your business can bring many benefits (for communication and otherwise) to your company, including:

  • Enhanced communication, both internally and externally
  • Increased collaboration opportunities
  • Increased mobility and flexibility
  • Improved efficiency and productivity
  • Reduced costs
  • Competitive advantage and profit opportunities
  • Advanced reporting and analytics

VoIP solution providers are more affordable than PBX and provide companies with increased mobility and efficiency, so the majority of new software implementations or upgrades are trending toward the cloud. Doing a business phone systems comparison and carefully reviewing the best VoIP pricing, features, and tools will help you understand the best office phone system for your company. VoIP and virtual phone system reviews can also help your company know which functionality will benefit you most and help you plan for implementation.

5G is also positioned to upgrade speed and quality for VoIP products and should be taken into consideration in your business phone systems comparison. 5G will boast network speeds upwards of twenty times faster than the current 4G technology. The upped speed and bandwidth also mean fewer dropped connections, higher quality, and the ability for more devices to work much more quickly at the same time in a remote or voice over IP office.

The size (and projected growth) of your company is undoubtedly going to influence which voice over IP phone company and best office phone system will serve you best.  

If you have a small company, you’ll need to look for a voice over IP company with tools and features aligned with growing your business that also fit into your budget. Hosted voice providers often offer customized packages for SMBs as well as VoIP deals for small companies.

As an enterprise, you’ll have more complex communication needs and will benefit from a more robust voice over IP platform with extensive features, integrations, and security options to support your larger teams in all the collaboration that’s needed to maintain relationships and continue building upon your large company. Any VoIP company you’re considering can provide a system demo to show how features work at scale for large corporations. 

If you’re a mid-sized business, you should focus on VoIP solutions with a good combination of tools and features for the best value, as well as scalability options to give your company more opportunities for improved communication and growth. A VoIP review of any systems you’re considering can be very useful in determining what other medium-sized companies like best and choose most often.

There are many excellent VoIP vendors in the marketplace with a wide array of plans and pricing options to accommodate the needs and budgets of all companies. With so many options, choosing the best VoIP system for your company can be tricky, but if you are thoughtful and prepared in your approach to implementing a new communication system, you’ll be able to choose the best option for your business using our VoIP pricing considerations and comparison tools. Comparing VoIP packages, VoIP plans, and VoIP reviews will help you form a full picture of what you need and which Voice Over IP product will best suit your company.

Top 10 Phone Systems

PanTerra - Streams / Vonage / RingCentral MVP / 8x8 X Series / GoToConnect / VirtualPBX / VoIPstudio / Sangoma Technologies / Nextiva / Ooma Enterprise

WH Score
9.9
PanTerra - Streams
28reviews
Starting Price:$20 / user / per month
PanTerra Streams is an all-in-one phone, text/SMS, fax, team messaging, business analytics and file sync/share solution - all within one customizable app. Key PanTerra Streams features include:
WH Score
9.9
Vonage
68reviews
Starting Price:$14.99 / user / per month
Vonage Business Communications unifies calling, messaging, video, and an ecosystem of 3rd party integrations.  By adopting a full suite of communication tools with 50+ enterprise-grade calling features from a single provider, a business will benefit from all-in-one voice, messaging, video, and ...
WH Score
9.9
RingCentral MVP
41reviews
Starting Price:$20 / user / per month
RingCentral "Work as One."  
WH Score
9.7
8x8 X Series
72reviews
Starting Price:$24 / user / per month
8x8, Inc. is a unified communications service provider and collaboration (UCC) cloud for small and medium enterprises (SMEs), mid-market businesses and distributed enterprises. 
WH Score
9.6
Zendesk Suite
388reviews
Starting Price:$125 / user / per month
Zendesk Voice is the cloud based contact center software solution from Zendesk. It can be seamlessly integrated with the Zendesk solution. Using Zendesk Voice, call center operations can improve their efficiency and reduce their costs of operations.  
WH Score
9.5
GoToConnect
33reviews
Starting Price:$27 / user / per month
GoTo Connect is the all-in-one phone, meeting and messaging software built for SMBs. It boasts an enterprise-class phone system with 100+ features with inclusive minutes for local, long distance & international calls; video and audio conferencing with screen share for up to 250 people; and messa...
WH Score
9.4
VirtualPBX
17reviews
Starting Price:$18 / user / per month
Virtual PBX is a leader in small business hosted phone services. The company was created in 1997: it has been placed on multiple top provider lists and won various service awards for their pioneering innovations and their consistently reliable service and network. Virtual PBX’s offer is tailor...
WH Score
9.3
VoIPstudio
22reviews
Starting Price:$16.99 / user / per month
VoIP Studio provides cloud based phone services that cut hardware ownership and maintenance cost, while providing top rated features for organizations of all sizes. Bring a small company up to corporation standard communications by choosing VoIP Studio. Enjoy free internet calls, reduced call rates,...
WH Score
9.3
Sangoma Technologies

Sangoma Technologies

21reviews
Starting Price:$25.99 / user / per month
Sangoma offers one of the most popular Unified Communications platforms, available both as a cloud and an on-premise solution. Businesses can also opt in for the hybrid solution for multiple locations. All Sangoma users have complete access to the system features. Users can leverage unified communic...
WH Score
9.2
Cisco Webex
332reviews
Starting Price:N/A
Cisco Webex is a leading video conferencing and collaboration software that allows users to connect and collaborate in real time, regardless of location. With Cisco Webex, you can easily host virtual meetings, webinars, and online training sessions with colleagues, clients, and partners.

Learn more about Phone Systems Software

What is Phone System Software?

Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) Phone system software makes it possible to make and receive calls through an internet connection. VoIP software can be run on an office computer and many VoIP providers also offer apps for smartphones and tablets as well. Computer-based VoIP software is also known as a “softphone” which facilitates ingoing and outgoing phone calls over an internet connection. VoIP platforms supply phone numbers, toll-free lines, and international toll-free lines to support business communications for small companies and corporations alike. 

How Do Business Phone Systems Work?

Business phone systems work by setting up a phone number for every business phone line a company needs. Each unique phone number established by a VoIP provider has its own separate line capable of making and receiving calls over the internet. Each line will ring when a call is coming in and show lights for lines in use. Phone numbers can be customized by business needs and business phone systems also offer a variety of features like voicemail and call forwarding  to improve call quality and enhance communications.  

What Should I Look for in a Business Phone System?

When choosing a voice over IP vendor, it’s important to look for important factors such as :

  • Business needs
  • Budget
  • Call volume
  • Scalability
  • Backup lines and protocols for downtime
  • Features and Functionality

You should choose a Voice Over IP (VoIP) software that offers all the features and technology your business needs to support existing communications, but that can be easily scaled as a business grows and adds employees and lines. Choosing the best VoIP provider for your company can quickly become overwhelming, but focusing on features, functionality, and VoIP providers’ reviews can help you in the VoIP selection process. 

What are the Common Features of VoIP Phone System Software?

The most popular VoIP services and features include:

  • Call forwarding
  • Number porting
  • Call routing and transferring
  • Call recording
  • Domestic and International VoIP Calling Services 
  • Voicemail
  • Auto-attendant or virtual receptionist
  • Mobile apps
  • Integration capability with other business software
  • Call conferencing
  • Data and screen sharing
  • User-friendly dashboards
  • Reporting and analytics
  • Integrations
  • Unified Communications (Calls, Chat, Email, Etc)
  • Admin controls
  • Video Conferencing and Chat Tools
  • Directories

What Does VoIP Mean?

VoIP is the acronym for “Voice over Internet Protocol”. VoIP is also often referred to as Voice Over IP phone service, Voice Over IP software, or Voice Over IP phone solution. 

What is VoIP and How Does it Work?

Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology transforms voices into digital signals that flow through the internet and enable users to make calls easily from a computer, softphone, or smart device. In its most basic form, voice over internet providers leverage the internet to facilitate calls, and require only a simple internet to function. With voice over IP products, unlike PBX, there are no cables or landlines to restrict use to a singular location. 

Is VoIP Better Than Landline?

Landline and traditional on-site PBX systems are being phased out increasingly every year due to the vast benefits VoIP such as cost-savings, impressive productivity hikes, and robust feature sets including global VoIP calling, auto-attendants, call forwarding, call routing, hold music, and mobile apps. 

What is the Difference Between IP Phone Services and VoIP?

While IP Telephony and VoIP are frequently used interchangeably, the two are a bit different when it comes to how the technology works to facilitate calls. IP phone systems use a private data network (that is housed in a set location) that can be securely accessed by users on the network for calls in office or from remote locations. On the other hand, VoIP technology leverages the connective power of the internet to make and receive calls, without location limitations. 

Is VoIP Cheaper than a Landline?

VoIP phone systems are cheaper than landlines, typically costing less than 50% of what a landline costs. This is because a VoIP platform operates through your existing internet connection, compared to the copper wires of landlines, which must be physically installed.

What is a Cloud Phone System?

Cloud Phone Systems are also referred to as Hosted VoIP providers, Hosted PBX or Cloud PBX. Cloud VoIP providers offer a solution that is accessed via a cloud IP Network. VoIP phone providers help facilitate calls and provide other features using the internet and are managed and maintained by the provider, which reduces upfront investment costs for companies that want a more traditional telecom structure with the convenience and mobility of VoIP. 

How Do Cloud-Based Phone Systems Work?

Cloud-based phone systems work by converting voice signals into packets that are sent digitally as data on the internet to make and receive calls. The biggest VoIP providers and voice over IP programs are moving to the hosted model as their primary due to business adoption, mobility, and cost-savings. 

What are the Benefits of a Cloud-Based Phone System?

The benefits of a cloud-based VoIP phone system include:

  • Enhanced communication, both internally and externally
  • Increased collaboration opportunities
  • Increased mobility and flexibility
  • Improved efficiency and productivity
  • Reduced costs
  • Competitive advantage and profit opportunities
  • Advanced reporting and analytics
  • Advanced and customizable integrations
  • More communication controls
  • Improved customer interactions and service

VoIP phone system reviews can also offer insight into the best VoIP tools and benefits. The best VoIP reviews and VoIP ratings will convey honest feedback from users like you so you know which VoIP option matches your interests and goals. 

What is a UCaaS Platform?

UCaaS is the acronym for Unified Communications as a Service. UCaaS is a cloud-based communication platform that incorporates the different communication mediums a company may be using, into one centralized platform. UCaaS systems aren’t simply telephony providers as they typically include integrated options for voice calls, voice and video meetings, unified messaging and chat, and presence.

Understanding the difference between VoIP and UCaaS will ensure you choose the right mix of communication features and tools for your business. 

Which Companies Should Buy Phone System Software?

Any company needing a cost-effective phone system with robust features will likely benefit from VoIP. VoIP carriers offer highly customizable features and there are packages and pricing plans available for companies ranging from startup to enterprise. Top VoIP providers often offer services for as little as one user, going up to fully featured enterprise phone system tools and technology for corporations.

Reading VoIP service reviews from companies similar in size and type to your own can help you identify the most valuable VoIP features and give you a better idea of which VoIP phone provider will be the best fit for your business communications. The best VoIP reviews will mention features, pricing, and include information about the full user experience and give insights to the voice over IP companies in the market from a user standpoint. 

Many VoIP companies, particularly the top 10 VoIP providers, are also expanding into full-service communication platforms that not only provide voice calling but also contact center and customer communication tools as well as video conferencing options that can be added to your package to support all your business communications. 

How to Buy Phone System Software?

Buying the best phone system for your business and choosing among all best VoIP providers in the market requires careful consideration, and you can reference the checklist before to ensure you’re considering all the vital factors needed as you conduct voice over IP comparisons. 

  • Conduct a business review of communication needs (internal and external) to help identify what communication issues you’re looking to solve or improvements you want to make to your internal and external collaborations. 
  • Research what functionality is offered by the largest VoIP providers, and gain an understanding of what’s most critical to your company. 
  • Consider company size, growth plans, and budget to help prepare for comparing voice over IP solutions.
  • Identify the must-have phone systems tools and features your business will benefit from most.
  • Research the best VoIP services, plans, and pricing offered by the top VoIP phone services.
  • Research and read Voice Over IP provider reviews from companies similar to your own.
  • Conduct a voice over IP comparison to make a shortlist of VoIP options that best fit your business needs.
  • Make a list of top VoIP vendor choices and set up demos with your top 10 VoIP choices to determine which VoIP services provider is best for your company.

Wheelhouse offers tools and advice to help you find the best VoIP software. Compare VoIP providers, read voice over IP phone systems reviews, and check VoIP provider ratings with our dynamic tools and reports. Whether you’re looking to find a new hosted VoIP provider or upgrades with your existing voice service provider, you can use our tools to review VoIP providers and find your best fit.

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