Does Your Business Need a Mobile VoIP App?
In today’s increasingly competitive and mobile business world, being "out of touch" or being chained to an office desk is no longer an option (or an excuse) for many business owners and their employees. Everyone now wants to be able to work and stay in touch anytime and anywhere. This is why smartphone apps offered by various VoIP phone system providers are becoming incredibly popular these days.
By using a mobile Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) app (which can be downloaded on an Android or iOS device at little to no cost), users can manage business communications from virtually anywhere. It’s a perfect match for companies employing home-based workers, sales professionals, and employees who are constantly on the go.
How Phone System Apps Work
Business phone system apps use VoIP technology to carry voice communications over digital networks to the internet. Instead of bringing more than one device for business and personal communications, mobile VoIP apps allow employees to just use a single device without the risk of combining business and personal calls.
Mobile VoIP apps (especially those offered by leading VoIP providers) come with a full suite of features that go beyond simply making and receiving calls. Call routing, voicemail-to-email, extensions, and caller ID are only a few examples of features available in many apps.
Things to Consider When Choosing VoIP Apps for Business
There are many VoIP apps for business today, but not all of them are created equal. To help you pick the right phone system app that fits your business, here are some tips to help you choose:
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The app should be fully integrated with your business phone system. While VoIP apps like Skype and Google Hangouts work just fine for those who want to make and receive calls and messages for free, their functionalities are very basic compared to other apps. Plus, these don’t usually link to your office phone. It is recommended that you choose an app that is fully integrated with your office phone system (such as Vonage MobileConnect) as it allows users to access the same powerful phone features they enjoy in the office. An app like Vonage MobileConnect offers free app-to-app calling and texting, import functionality to view and edit business contacts, as well as the ease of making and receiving calls with your Vonage Business phone number, and more.
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The app should be affordable and reliable. Another thing to consider is the cost. The last thing you want to do is to pay additional fees for a phone system app when there are many reliable VoIP apps that you can use at little to no cost. Jive Communications, for instance, offers an app at no extra cost to its users. Grasshopper also offers its customers free Apple and Android apps.
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The app should let you manage incoming calls effectively. A good mobile VoIP app should enable you to manage incoming calls with the help of easy to use features and tools. Features such as caller ID, call forwarding, and call blocking will come in handy, especially when you’re on the road. Phone.com’s mobile apps for Android and iOS contain these features, which make it easy for users to get the job done even when they’re away from their desks.
Final Thoughts
The popularity of business phone system apps can no longer be denied. To accompany the ever-growing popularity of smartphone use, many VoIP providers also offer VoIP phone functionality through smartphone apps. Smartphone apps are the answer for businesses moving away from conventional business phones and more towards flexible and versatile business communication solutions.