What are Types of VOIP Phones?

Forget all hassling heavy hardwares in your office, VOIP technology today allows you to enjoy the convenience of flexibility and portability. Regardless of where you are, just make sure you have Internet access, there should not be any problems in terms of costs and connections. VoIP systems are also accessible while you are moving around or traveling overseas.

So once you decide to move forward with a cloud phone system, what devices will be suitable for your office? Let’s see what types of VOIP Phones you have at hand is the general definition, they can be software-based or purpose-built hardware devices that look alike an ordinary telephone. The four popular types of VoIP Phones and devices supported are:

• Softphones installed on Computers or Laptop

• VoIP (IP) Phones

• Mobile Application

Softphones (installed on PC or laptop)

Softphone (software telephone) is an application that enables voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) from personal computer or laptop devices. Your softphone, whether it runs on your desktop or smartphone, will use a data connection to reach your voice service provider. When you choose to go with softphones (instead of a hardware device), they connect directly to the Cloud PBX system so you can make and receive calls from the virtual number or extension that is associated with that account. With WiFi or a direct internet connection, you can enjoy the service from your personal device.

A softphone looks the same as any other application. Once you double-click or tap the icon to load the program, you can use the mouse or touchscreen to dial a number. You can speak through the softphone like you would normally on your smartphone or through a headset that’s connected to your computer.

With these benefits associated with softphones, they are ideal choice for mobile or home users, office workers can also choose to use softphones as a convenient replacement for traditional desk phones. This can be problematic for network administrators because the traffic generated by softphones has the potential to flood a network.

Our Recommendation: Bizphone Desktop App, is our latest development application used to make and receive calls on a computer. It is a softphone client that works on either a Windows or Mac desktop.

VOIP (IP) Phones

A VoIP phone, also referred to as an IP phone, is a hardware device using internet protocol rather than the circuit-switched PSTN. In other words, IP phone connects through Ethernet cable instead of a phone jack, where is connects to the IP address of either the VoIP provider or the hosted PBX provider. From a user’s perspective, it works just like a traditional phone, but better with many powerful features analog phone does not support. IP phones come in different shapes with various operating systems from corded IP desk phones to cordless IP telephones, with or without Power over Ethernet (PoE) functionality,  conference or telepresence IP phone… Furthermore, with an extensive pricing range, it’s super easy to find out what suits your business the most.

IP Phones have changed the communications experience in this modernized world, adding new collaboration modes such as HD voice, conferencing, video, and wireless…

Our Recommendations: Some famous IP Phone brands worth mentioning are Fanvil, Cisco, Yealink, Polycom

Mobile Application

Technology has developed to the point where we can talk over the Internet as easily as on the phone. You can get a data signal almost everywhere that you can get a mobile signal. A mobile application, most commonly known as an app, is a type of application designed to run on a mobile device, such as a smartphone or tablet. These mobile apps are generally individual software units with limited function, allows us to make and receive calls via the Internet.

Our Recommendation: BizPhone Mobile (by B3Networks) is a VoIP solution with inbuilt features traditionally supported by IP-PBX only and much more. Professionals constantly on the go can switch between Internet Call and Call Back to make calls and get notified of incoming calls. With our BizPhone you will not miss a call even when you are out of office.

Conclusion

With the key advantages mentioned above, they’re undoubtedly great assistance, cutting costs to advanced functionality that can make both your internal and external communications more efficient.

If you’re new to VoIP, before purchasing a VoIP phone, first try out sipgate with a free VoIP application first (see below). There is no cost to sign up and try us out.