Question: Free business phone number through VoIP cloud technology?
Common Asked Question
If you’re in business, you need a dedicated business phone number. Besides adding some business creditably, a business number makes a distinction between business and personal calls. A separate business line keeps your personal number private from public viewing. Most business phone services whether they are a conventional landline or voice-over IP (VoIP) business phone system provide clients with a business phone number as part of the service.
Traditional landline phone services generally assign a local area code number for hard-wired business phone systems. For an additional service charge or an activation fee, you can even choose a toll-free 800 number, or sometimes called a “vanity” business number designed with memorable numbers. Although landlines have a long history of reliable service, it’s not always the most affordable choice for business calling plans. Some of the call features offered by VoIP providers are not available, while other advanced features may have add-on costs increasing the monthly bill.
By signing up with a VoIP provider, you can get a free virtual business number. If you already have an existing business number, you can move it over to the new service provider. You will need to authorize the move called porting. The caller sees the existing phone number not the virtual number. The same process happens when calls are forwarded to a private cell. The virtual business number works with cloud-based protocols for sending and receiving calls according to the selected call plan features.
Businesses can also get a free virtual business phone number through networks like Google. Signing up for a free Google business phone number is done online. Follow the directions closely because Google is going to verify and authentic the information before assigning a free Google phone number. Once the process is completed, businesses download an app that forwards the call to a cell phone, tablet, or a traditional landline number. Businesses can now call, text, and receive voicemail messages using the allotted plan minutes. The problem with choosing this route is the lack of business call features, additional extensions (team members or groups) and toll-free number selections.
No matter how you get a free business phone number at some point all businesses need to upgrade the call features. Now it comes down to cost. Unlike traditional phone services, VoIP calling plans have built-in call and service features for much less than the cost of a standard landline service.
When it comes to choosing a phone number and the carrier, businesses need to examine which type of phone number work best for business. Consider the cost, features, quality, business phone system, and the provider’s experience in the industry. Ultimately, the provider should be prepared to deliver these business features and services without any interruptions to your business.
RingCentral remains the VoIP industry leader, offering service plans that work for physical office sites, home offices, and remote (mobile) locations. Noted for its reliability and multiple layers of security to protect data and connections makes this VoIP the right choice for all sizes businesses. The company’s attention to detail keeps your business running without any interruptions.
RingCentral has all of the business phone system features you need to conduct business. The call features have outpaced most traditional phone services. Setting the trend are mobile integrations, unlimited SMS messaging (texting between mobile devices), and business scalability. Choose a plan that’s designed to fit the business by size, location, number of users, and call features.
U.S. and Canada calls are unlimited, with free minutes for toll-free (800) calls. Businesses can change plans at any time as the company grows, and communication needs advance or expand. Going global? RingCentral connects the business to the world with international business numbers and calling plans. The best part of working with RingCentral is that there are no hidden fees at the end of the month. Choose the financial option that works best – an annual contract or month-by-month subscription.
RingCentral has been around the block several times becoming a recognized brand name. They have affordable plans that fit businesses of all sizes, making the selection process easier with options to scale up at any time. There’s a reason they are still the leader in this industry. They know the market and understand what companies need to move forward and flourish.
8×8 quotes the cost of VoIP services individually because no two businesses are the same. To get pricing, businesses, need to call in or chat with a representative. By tailoring the call package, 8X8 delivers a customized package to fit the budget. Companies looking for more than just the basics at a cost will find this provider accommodating.
A notable claim by 8×8 is their all-in-one communication solution comprised of secured cloud solutions, video collaborating, team chats, and performance analytics. The plans offer unified communication and mobile solutions with flexibility to work with the company’s infrastructure.
Two business calling plans available for business include Virtual Office and Virtual Office Pro. Each offers a variation on unlimited, metered, and global calling plans with standard call features. A virtual business phone number connects to your existing broadband connection. Companies can take advantage of the CRM integration (customer relationship management) and instant messaging through mobile apps.
8×8 is an accomplished provider offering the professional aspects to running a business, like auto-attendant, virtual extensions, and scalability. Features outside of the listed standard features may come at a higher price than some companies are prepared to pay. Business should do some homework and comparisons before scheduling a quote. More knowledge and information can help enterprises design a plan with the necessary features intended to perform day-to-day business functions, saving time and money to off-set any additional costs.
Ooma is well-known as an innovator. Although they are open to all sized companies, the programs offer more advantages to a small business. For companies exhausting their communication budgets, these competitively priced plans could be the solution.
Users can move an existing number or chose a new free business phone number. Purchase of the Ooma business phone system equipment is necessary to take advantage of the phone service. Plans include standard call features with cloud-based protocols to make sure the calls get received quickly.
The Basic plan is free with limited standard features and a one-time fee for activating an existing business number. The Premier plan offers an inclusive call package with standard and advanced calling features. The plan includes the cost of porting the existing business number. Calls within the U.S. are unlimited. Calls to Canada, Mexico and over 60 countries are discounted per minute.
Overall, Ooma offers practical business tools with the Premier call plan to run a business effectively. The set of features allows the business to control the call flow with tools like call hold, blocking, and voice to text. messaging. There are several advanced calling features and an instant second line that’s included in this plan.
The popularity and demand of VoIP phone service is pushing boundaries in every market segment. Driving the trends are customer demands, changing workforces, and economic challenges. These providers provide business numbers and share similar features that most businesses expect from a business phone service. They each offer a cost-savings alternative to traditional phone services within their calling plans.