Communication is vital in today’s fast-paced world. Whether you’re a solo entrepreneur or a large corporation, having a reliable and efficient means for communication is critical for success.
The traditional landline phone system has been around for decades, and there is admittedly still some merit in such a system. Cellular phones, however, have all but completely replaced the landline for consumers, and mobile devices have even become the preferred method of communication for many businesses. This shift should come as no surprise, as cell phones are better suited for a mobile workforce.
The issue with cell phones has always been the reliability of the connection. In rural areas, cell signals are often weak and result in dropped calls. The same can be said of using cell phones in more highly populated areas where the network can become highly congested during peak usage hours.
There is a third option, though, which may be an even better solution for many businesses. It is called Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP), and it may be the best solution for you and your business. Keep reading to learn how to make calls from a computer and why VoIP makes it possible.
Here’s How to Make Calls from Computer
As a business owner, you may be wondering if it is possible to run your communications system right from your computer. This is a capability VoIP enables, and VoIP has been supporting this capability since the technology was first implemented in the mid-1990s.
A VoIP phone system allows calls, messages, and video conferences from virtually any Internet-connected device. If you have an office filled with employees that need a phone system at their desk, VoIP provides a lot more flexibility than having a traditional landline system set up. For example, the system can use special desk phones to send and receive voice calls utilizing the internet rather than the standard landline.
Related: Why Should I Use an IP Phone for Business?
Using the same service, your users can also do all their calling through a desktop computer application. Rather than having a desk phone, you can set up all your employee workstations with a computer-based application and headsets to do all their voice calling or video conferencing from the computer system. This adds a lot of conveniences.
Can I Make a Phone Call from My Laptop?
Yes, you can. Here’s how to make calls from a computer or laptop using VoIP. A VoIP desktop application is not particularly demanding of your hardware. Any decent laptop will be able to make and receive phone calls just as well as a higher-powered desktop computer. Laptops may be even more preferable as most have built-in webcams to make video conferencing simple without the need for external cameras.
The ability to run VoIP software directly from your laptop is beneficial if you have a team that travels frequently and may need to set up a temporary workspace while on the road. A laptop, in addition to a VoIP app, is a perfect pairing for a mobile workforce.
Does VoIP Work on a Cell Phone?
VoIP service isn’t limited to only computers, either. A good service provider will also have a mobile app to use the same system when you are away from your computer as you do when you are sitting at your desk. This app can use any internet system available, whether that is mobile data or Wifi.
Having a consistent communication experience, whether you are at your desk or on the road, is critical. It should not be overlooked how unified communications lead to superior efficiency and boost productivity and ultimately, your bottom line.
Can I Use My Computer for Phone Calls and Texts?
We also don’t want to neglect the growing popularity and convenience of text messaging. Phone calls are great for longer conversations to nail to many details and for situations that require a more human touch. However, it is often more helpful to send a quick text message for sharing quick bits of information.
Fortunately, a good VoIP service includes text messaging capability as well. Received messages will show up in your phone account’s inbox and can be viewed on both your computer and your cell phone so that you can reply from either location. This means you won’t miss any important messages, regardless of where you are and what device you have readily available to you.
While many businesses utilize email for text-based communication, there is a growing acceptance of the quicker and less formal SMS message—especially for internal communication.
Are There Other Benefits of VoIP?
Sometimes businesses decide to use personal phones for business as well. Using a personal cell phone for business isn’t necessarily a wrong choice, but you certainly do not want to be using your personal phone number for business operations.
Related: 10 Benefits of Using a VoIP Business Phone System
A significant benefit of a VoIP service is the ability to get a business phone number that you can set up to ring your cell phone through the mobile app. This is crucial to keeping a healthy work-life balance and preventing business contacts from calling your private phone number.
The beauty of this business phone number is that you can use the same number for making phone calls from your computer and your cell phone. Employees of many businesses provide their clients and other business contacts with both their landline and cell phone numbers.
With a VoIP system, you only need to provide one phone number to be assured that you won’t miss your calls whether you are at your computer or not. In addition, all your information will sync between the desktop application and the mobile application, ensuring that your contacts are available on all your devices.
Video conferencing is another feature that is becoming increasingly popular among businesses, especially those with a remote workforce. Rather than using a third-party service to conduct video conferences, there is a certain elegance in the ability to do this within the same system through which all your other communications are run. Consistency means less time training new employees on multiple systems, which is always a net positive for a business.
Final Thoughts
A reliable and modern VoIP service is an excellent choice for a business of any size. Whether you require staff to communicate through an office workstation, a mobile phone, or a combination of the two, there is a lot of flexibility when you choose the right service.
Find a business VoIP systems provider with a variety of plan options to accommodate both small and large businesses with various features offered. You may want every bell and whistle, but you may prefer to be able to choose a plan with only the features that meet the needs of your organization right now. Your best option is to work with a provider with scalable solutions to fit your requirements as you grow.
If you already have a communication system for your business and are looking to switch, choose a provider that makes it simple to transfer your phone numbers right over to the new system. You can save significant time if you don’t have to update contact information with all your clients.
Unlike many of the more traditional phone systems, Phone.com requires no contracts or forced long-term commitments. When you sign-up with Phone.com, you are free to leave whenever you want with no fees or penalties. We are confident that you won’t want to go after you’ve experienced the benefits of a consistent and efficient communication system.
To get a full view of the plans and features available, you can read more at Phone.com and feel free to contact us with any questions.