Cloud VoIP Phone Systems

A cloud phone system, also known as cloud telephony, is an internet-based telephone system hosted in the cloud and managed by third-party service providers. It is not hosted at your business location but in the off-site data centers of a service provider.

Unlike traditional telephony, a cloud-hosted phone system uses Voice over Internet Protocol or VoIP for calling. It sends data digitally over the internet instead of copper wires and routes calls using a cloud-based PBX.

Cloud VoIP eliminates the need for on-premise hardware and other telecommunications infrastructure. You can make and receive calls from anywhere with a stable internet connection.

Cloud-based telephone systems store all data and information in the cloud, which increases data safety and reduces maintenance costs. Also, the system often works on a subscription-based model – you can purchase it from a service provider by paying a monthly subscription fee.

Since cloud VoIP telephony doesn’t require you to invest in hardware and infrastructure, it is generally less expensive than traditional and on-premise phone systems. The actual cost of a cloud-hosted phone system may vary from one service provider to another based on the features and functionalities they offer.

VoIP service providers often have different calling plans for businesses. For instance, Ringover offers a basic package with all essential calling features that will cost you a monthly fee of $21 per user with annual billing. The advanced plan has additional features and integrations and will cost you a monthly fee of $44 per user. You can also custom-create plans based on your unique business requirements.

Since such subscription-based plans include unlimited calling to several destinations, you can significantly cut costs on local and international calling. They offer additional features and functionalities, including SMS, internet fax, and others.

You can find quite a few cloud VoIP service providers in the market. Though they offer similar services, their features, functionalities, and pricing vary. Some of these systems are ideal for solopreneurs and small businesses, while others suit large enterprises.

Ringover is one of the best cloud phone service providers for businesses of all types and sizes. It offers three plans at highly competitive prices and has several calling features and functionalities to enhance your communications.

Given below is a list of popular cloud phone service providers for businesses:

1. Ringover
2. Ooma Office
3. Grasshopper
4. Vonage
5. magicJack
6. Go-To Connect
7. Zoom
8. Google Voice

Many cloud telephony service providers offer you 7-day or 14-day free trials. You can book a demo, try the service for a few days, and choose one that best suits your requirements.

Ringover is one of the best cloud-hosted phone systems for call centers. It has a complete suite of inbound and outbound call center software solutions, and the system offers flexibility, scalability, and easy integrations with your CRM. The plans by Ringover are cost-effective, and you can add more users to your existing account as you hire more agents.

Further, it has many features and functionalities that increase the productivity of agents and supervisors. These include power dialing, click-to-call, call monitoring, call forwarding, Interactive Voice Response (IVR), voicemail drop, call recording, analytics and reports, and others.

Depending on your budget and business requirements, you can consider the following service providers:

1. Ringover
2. Freshdesk
3. 8x8
4. TalkDesk
5. CallHippo
6. Grasshopper
7. Five9
8. GoTo Connect

Changing your business phone number can be a hassle, but the good news is that Ringover lets you keep your current number. This process is called "number porting," and it allows you to transfer your number from your old provider to the new service.

Both VoIP and cloud-based phone systems allow voice communication through the internet, but there’s a key difference. Cloud telephony usually involves hosted phone systems that are managed by third-party cloud providers. These systems offer a broader range of features, such as instant messaging, call analytics, virtual phone numbers, and click-to-call capabilities, all in one platform.

While VoIP allows for voice communication over the internet, it typically involves a more basic setup where the voice service is often self-hosted or managed by a third party with limited additional features. VoIP is primarily focused on voice calls and might not include additional features that cloud-based phone systems offer.

Security with cloud phone systems is managed by your service provider, who takes on the responsibility of maintaining the equipment and verifying its security. By outsourcing this to experts in the field, your IT team can focus on other priorities, while the cloud provider handles all aspects of system upkeep and protection.

A business that uses a cloud-based phone system does not necessarily need an IT support team for basic operations. Ringover's cloud-based phone system is designed to be user-friendly and does not require extensive technical expertise for setup and maintenance. Ringover handles the infrastructure, security, and system updates, so many small to mid-sized businesses can manage the service without dedicated IT support.

However, if your business has more complex needs, such as custom integrations, advanced configurations, or troubleshooting issues beyond the scope of Ringover's customer support, an IT team or external IT support may be helpful to optimize the system and resolve any technical challenges efficiently.