Just a few decades ago, there was no other choice for how you could improve communications for your business. Landline phones were the main technology in use at the time because they offered the best capabilities.
But with the evolution of various technologies, more advanced alternatives have been developed. One of which is VoIP. Although VoIP had a rough start in terms of gaining traction, the entire industry is now worth billions of dollars.
This is thanks to its increased availability supplied by telecom providers like Telnum which has also been crucial in educating the public of its benefits.
Since VoIP was invented two decades ago, it has become so commercially popular that even individuals are using some features of it for themselves. But is newer always better?
For this article, we’re going to compare the two based on various criteria we believe to be important in determining your decision.
VoIP vs. Landlines: How Are They Different?
The most obvious difference between the two is technology. VoIP is considered more advanced because it works through the internet without the need for any specialized equipment.
As far as how they work is concerned, they are structurally alike. But instead of having copper wires enable communication, VoIP uses the internet as the main infrastructure for making calls. Plus, it can also be accessed through laptops and tablets, devices that aren’t originally meant for calling.
What Factors Should You Look at in Deciding Which One to Go With?
Now that you have an understanding of the technological differences between VoIP and landline, let’s go into choosing which one would work better for your company. Consider these factors in your decision:
#1. Price difference
One of the most popular advantages of VoIP local phone numbers over their more antiquated counterparts is their price. Because you can get a virtual number from practically any location, you can avoid international call costs, which can greatly dent a company’s budget.
Unfortunately, traditional phone companies can’t compete with VoIP companies at this. Because of the necessary investment they need to maintain physical infrastructure, dropping their prices can mean incurring a loss.
#2. Office location
If all of your staff are just in the office, landlines may be enough to ensure sufficient communication outside the organization. But this doesn’t automatically mean that VoIP couldn’t work.
It’s rare that an office doesn’t have WiFi nowadays. Given that the strength of the connection is enough for VoIP, that solution can work as well. If the office is located virtually, maintain the level of connectivity afforded through face-to-face working.
Between the two, only VoIP is able to improve the level of interaction that can be done within and outside the organization.
#3. Internet connection speed
No matter how top-notch the calling equipment you’re using may be, it would still be insufficient if your internet connection was poor or unreliable.
You must keep in mind that the internet powers VoIP. Therefore, there should always be enough “juice” to provide what’s needed. But if that’s not possible, analog phones may be the better option for now.
If you’re going to switch to VoIP, make sure to have your office space assessed to ensure there are no dead spots or weak signals.
#4. Features available
If you’re still using landlines, you probably know that every feature upgrade that you want means buying new equipment.
There are extremely rare instances where such purchases would make sense, especially knowing that VoIP can have those same features available for much cheaper.
Even today, it’s already common practice among VoIP providers to offer some features for free as part of the VoIP system.
These features may have been expensive to pay for with traditional phone companies.
#5. Scalability
We’ve all seen how, with businesses, nothing’s really set in stone. The pandemic decimated even the biggest companies in the world.
Just imagine what an unfortunate and unexpected event can do for a smaller company with a smaller budget.
You’ll probably end up still paying for more than you actually need because you’re locked in a contract. VoIP services don’t have contracts at all.
It follows something closer to a subscription-based model, where you renew your subscription every month.
So should you suddenly need more, you can just purchase more numbers or add more features. You can just as easily get rid of them if they’re not needed anymore.
#6. Quality consistency
Both VoIP and landlines are theoretically able to provide consistency in call quality. So if you’re going to choose VoIP, make sure that you can guarantee a strong internet connection. Otherwise, you’ll be better off sticking with landlines.
Final Words
Apart from the very specific circumstances mentioned in this post, VoIP will always be the better option for business communications. Make the switch and experience the best that technology has to offer today!
