How to Ensure Reliable Phone Service for Your Company

No matter what industry your business is in, reliable phone service is a must. Without effective communications, you can’t continue operating. But, downtime isn’t the only phone service challenge your organization may be up against. To pull off uninterrupted communications, your staff needs to be able to access high-quality voice services from anywhere. Let’s look at your options for phone systems, which is the most reliable, and what factors you can control to ensure reliability.

VoIP Phone System vs. Analog Landline Phones

When it comes to business phone systems, there are two main categories: VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) and analog phones. Both are reliable. However, there are potential vulnerabilities of each system.

VoIP phone systems

VoIP phones rely on the Internet to make and receive calls. The technology works by converting analog voice signals into digital signals and then sending them as data over your business’s broadband line. A phone system that relies on Internet-based call technology is often referred to as a cloud phone system because the phone service provider maintains and owns hardware in the cloud.

This type of system isn’t dependent on one setup. It can function in different ways.

• On a desktop or laptop that has the proper software installed and is equipped with a microphone and speakers
• On a VoIP phone – these phones can look like traditional office phones and often have robust features executive-level professionals prefer
• Through a smartphone that has the right voice application downloaded

Your business can also benefit from cloud technology through your existing phone system. With SIP Trunking, your phone service is no longer dependent on the phone company – which means scaling is easier and less expensive. Also, you can still experience excellent service reliability.

To ensure reliability with SIP Trunking, choose a provider that uses enterprise-grade data centers and has a solid uptime service level agreement. For example, Intermedia’s Voice Cloud comes with a 99.999% uptime guarantee.

Reliability pros and cons for cloud phone services

• VoIP phone systems are very reliable as long as you have a strong broadband connection.
• Because VoIP phones rely on the Internet and can function without physically connecting to an on-premises system, remote employees can make and receive calls from anywhere. As we saw during the pandemic, being remote-capable is vital to business continuity.
• The downside of VoIP is that sound quality can suffer if you have a poor Internet connection. This is why it’s so important to choose the right provider.
• Another reliability risk is the Internet itself. If your Internet service is hacked or there is a lapse in service, you could experience dropped calls or other communication issues.

Landline phone systems

Traditional landline phones send analog signals through copper wire. They aren’t dependent on the Internet to function and are known for delivering consistent sound quality.

Reliability pros and cons for analog phone services

• Traditional phone lines often remain functional when there’s a natural disaster or bad weather.
• For businesses with unreliable Internet service, analog phones ensure sound and call quality regardless of what is happening with your broadband connection.
• The problem with a purely analog system that relies on physical hardware and plugging into the on-premises phone system is a lack of mobility. If your teams need to work remotely, you’ll have to adopt a cloud phone system.
• Another reliability risk is the hardware used. Legacy systems may rely on outdated hardware that’s difficult or expensive to replace. Repairing or replacing a phone or specific hardware may impact business communications for longer than what you’d experience with an Internet-based system.

Which Is More Reliable?

While both have strengths when it comes to reliability, sticking with a legacy system presents more risk as we adapt to the new business normal. Cloud-based phone systems are the inevitable future.

• Voice technology is changing. The reality is, Internet-based phone services enable businesses to keep up with modern phone technologies and features.
• When you can “plug” your phone system into the cloud, your business also can enjoy the benefits of a unified communications system – users access voice, video meetings, SMS messaging, file collaboration, and email from one place.
• With advanced Internet-based phone systems designed for enterprise-grade quality and reliability, you gain all the flexibility and mobility benefits of VoIP without sacrificing the sound quality that comes with traditional phones.

The Key to Ensuring Reliable Business Phone Service

To ensure reliable phone service for your company, work with a provider that makes it easy to experience the best possible call quality and uptime. Even better, choose a cloud-based phone system that integrates with important communication tools and empower your teams to stay productive working from wherever.

Intermedia Unite is a cloud-based PBX phone system that offers users an integrated combination of over 90 enterprise-grade features, as well as industry-leading network call quality and uptime. Employees can make and receive calls, SMS messages, video meetings, email, and more from their mobile phones, enabling on-the-go productivity. They can also access a comprehensive suite of collaboration and communication features from their desktop, whether they’re in the office or working from home.

You can equip your remote teams with Intermedia’s preconfigured phones – simply plug into any location with a broadband network connection, and the phones work in the same way as PBX phones in the office do. Virtual faxes, voicemail, and screen sharing are also included, so communications aren’t just reliable, they’re fully-empowered with today’s technology. Read the Unite Overview Brochure and dive deeper into the benefits of reliable cloud-based business phone systems.