As the leading suppliers of business phone systems in the Dorset, Hampshire and Wiltshire areas, Town & Country are pleased to provide you with some quick tips for choosing the best business phone system for your company.
What are your options?
In 2020 there are plenty of options for business phone systems – you can choose between VoIP, Landline, Hosted, SIP Trunking, and Cloud-based. There are even ‘smart’ cloud-based systems, such as the HiHi phone system which allows for face-to-face conversation and extra portability through the use of a tablet device, and mobile app.
Choosing a business phone system
When choosing a business phone system, the first question you have to ask yourself is what kind of system you ultimately need/ want (such as landline or VoIP) and where you want the hardware/software hosted (on-premises or in the cloud).
VoIP
Instead of the copper wires that traditional landlines run on, VoIP phone systems will use the same internet connection that your company already uses. They provide a feature set that previously only large corporations using expensive hardware had access to, such as such as automated attendants, call queues, and computer integration, which allows computers to be turned into softphones.
It’s also worth noting that VoIP systems can inherently provide a business’s remote workers with access to their phone systems from their personal or company provided mobile, which offers the same flexibility as the HiHi phone system, which claims this feature to be advanced and unique.
You can read about the benefits of VoIP phone systems here.
Landline
Also known as public switched telephone networks (PSTNs), landlines are analogue systems that run via the telephone company's traditional copper wiring. Most landline systems today are considered hybrids with VoIP systems, such as the one provided by us at Town & Country. Please note that this phone system is not an option when opting for phones such as the HiHi business phone system.
You can click here to learn more about landline business phone systems.
Hosted
If you are multi-site business, then a hosted phone system is perfect for your company. They are a safe & secure and easy to use option – ideal for business who would prefer to save space in their office and let the professionals handle the brunt of the work.
If your business depends on crystal clear communication, then you could benefit from a hosted phone system from Town & Country Communications. Click to find out more.
SIP Trunking
Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) Trunks connect your business to the Public Telephone Network (PSTN) using VoIP as opposed to a traditional analogue or ISDN line.
SIP Trunking provides a range of benefits for businesses and is usually a cost-effective replacement for a traditional analogue phone system. In fact, one-off and rental costs for SIP Trunking can be up to 70% lower than an ISDN line - ample reason to consider making the switch.
Cloud
A cloud phone system helps small and medium-sized businesses manage their communication service in a more efficient way, reducing costs in the process. They are easier to upscale, offer a wide range of features, and are not restricted to just one location. Plus, you won’t have to worry about hosting any hardware at work.
With this phone system, the phone platform is securely hosted in the cloud, whilst the processor is kept in a secure location off site. You then pay a monthly subscription fee in order to make calls using your phone system.
Business phone system features
Choosing the best business phone system is not a one-size-fits-all scenario, it’s simply dependant on which system is best for your unique business needs – and when making this choice it’s also important to consider the smaller features provided by different business phone providers in order to get the most bang for your buck.
For example, when comparing the HiHi business phone to other less costly standard competitors you may find that the HiHi phone system boasts a bigger touch screen with HD video calling, whereas other phones may not, but will instead provide a much larger phonebook capacity and more ringtone options, and so the final choice will come down to budget and priority.
