Home and office lines are quickly becoming obsolete in the face of easy-to-use and low-cost VoIP software. After all, who wants to pay many times the cost for a service that’s effectively the same? So we’ve gone through to compare some of the best VoIP operators out there!
In a day and age where just about everyone has a smartphone that’s with them all the time, the need for landline-type services are on the swift decline. But Verizon, Comcast, Time Warner, and even AT&T still offer them, usually for an outrageous cost for the simplicity of the service provided. Some VoIP provider costs are anywhere from 50% to 5% of comparable landlines, but the benefits of VoIP go above and beyond that alone: most companies provide awesome additional features, such as automatic emails with transcribed voice messages, and even call data analytics.
Sure, most everyday homeowners might not need all the cool features, but for businesses wanting to consolidate costs, they can be a useful perk. Couple that with the fact that most wholesale VoIP costs are usually pennies on the dollar compared to similar landline plans, and it’s no wonder that a lot of businesses are making the switch to VoIP as fast as family users.
RingCentral Office
RingCentral Office is a business or enterprise-geared VoIP product, which can be modified to fit a business of almost any size, and has many excellent phone-features perfect for business owners and calling departments. With centers in America, Europe, and Asia, it’s one of the biggest providers and is actually a Tier-1 carrier. While it might not be the best option for a dedicated call center, for an office or business with everyday needs, it almost can’t be beat at $20.
M2 Communications
A wholesale service provider since the age of dialup, M2 Communications is one of the top-producers in the VoIP industry, with global services which even include Central America, South America, and Australia. A leader in commercial VoIP systems, M2 specializes in low-cost leadership and reliability. And it’s one of the few VoIP providers which offers fraud prevention security and easy VoIP SMS.
MCK
This is a Cloud based phone service. You can implement a cloud based contact center. This is unique provider that can help businesses implement an efficient cloud based VOIP service for their own customer support centers.
Vonage
Vonage is another well-known market leader, which offers both business-class and residential VoIP. It’s on the more expensive side, at roughly $10 with contracts and $26 without, and has crystal-clear quality and easy setup. One of its more notable perks is its enhanced 911 options, which can automatically give 911 locations the caller address. But on top of the high cost, there are additional fees for desktop use, and there’s no SMS or video options.
Skype
Skype is a desktop app which has no cost to install, and requires no special equipment. But there are some major cons; it doesn’t work for specific areas, can’t be used with phones, and charges $2 a minute for calls to cellphones, or for texts. Sure, it’s easy to use, and Skype-to-Skype calls are free, but compared to other products, this once-giant is on a downward trend.
Mitel
A great call-center VoIP provider, Mitel has a flat-fee system with ridiculously low costs; $75 per month per user, with no minute charges. Most others cost $100 per user or more, and Mitel packs a big punch with amazing software which gives agents desktops, helps with scripts, can autodial and record, and even integrates with CRM options. Doesn’t get much better than that, does it?
PhonePower
This home VoIP provider allows an easy 1 year prepay, and offers a free 30 day trial. Cheaper than Vonage, with no setup fees and unlimited minutes locally and internationally, it’s a great low-cost provider that offers all the best perks (like SMS) and even great customer service and support.