Which VOIP Provider Should I Use for My Small Business? Google Voice, RingCentral, Vonage…Help.
It may sound like I went back to the future; or that showing my “maturity” at the very least. However, I must start my discussing a bit how times have changed. In a past life the telecom industry was my home. I sold…wait for it…PBX systems, T1, T3, DS3, OC3, OC12, OC48 and OC192 dedicated lines that ran over a Fiber Optic Network.
You probably have no clue what I am talking about. As fast as mobile phone technology has changed, so has business telecom. While T1s and the like are still available, nowadays they are usually used for network redundancy instead of a primary connection. Although for very large companies, having a dedicated pipeline is a requirement. Think of a company like Amazon sharing an outside, unsecured network right along with you and the rest of the world on the same signal. Ok I’m exaggerating, but even with all the identity theft out there, there is no way we could dream of that being a reality. In essence, our private information would be on a public network ready for the taking. Not to mention how slow the connection would be. That’s not what this blog is about though.
When I first started my business, I only knew about the expensive options. There really weren’t that many affordable options out there with robust features for small business that didn’t have a T1 budget. But I had to look. I was working on a very limited funds availability if you know what I mean. I looked around a bit and found “the cloud”. The cloud is the place it seemed all small and medium-sized businesses were moving to due to the exceptional performance, cost savings, features and functionality. Cloud phone service is also known as VOIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol).
The first VOIP provider I tried is Vonage. It seemed to have some nifty Administrative Features & Functionality that can definitely come in handy. Vonage also has a wide range of options including a mobile application for a very reasonable monthly price. However, if you want additional features like conference calling or enhanced security it may cost you a little extra. Those little extras can definitely add up. Overall, it’s worth a look.
Google Voice was my next trial. I actually still use it for personal business. I’ve had the service for a number of years. When Google Voice was pretty new I signed on. The idea of layering a different phone number on top of my carrier number but receiving calls on the same device blew my mind. And wait, I can differentiate when callers are using my carrier number vs. my Google Voice number?? That was a game-changer for me as a business owner. I immediately became more efficient. To a degree. Because Google Voice asks the caller to introduce themselves before connecting, it can kind of put a client off. Clients KNOW they are being sent through Google Voice. Clients know they didn’t get your “real” phone number. If knowing is not an issue, you’re in the clear. Google Voice is obviously feature rich- it’s created by Google after all so you can’t go wrong. Google Voice may be good service to start with. Then subsequently transition to a product that will scale to your growth and reflect the professional company you are.
As business grew, so did phone system requirements. Suddenly there were employees with the need to communicate via multiple channels not only in-house, but with Clients as well. Business picked up and I needed the ability to put a client on hold. I needed the ability to keep my business communications totally separate from my personal. I needed the option to have an 800# or local numbers. Enter RingCentral. With network availability in the US, Europe and Asia you are set to grow. There are so many capabilities to tout. I’ll just name a few that helped; and a couple that didn’t when I started out.
How my company number shows up on my client’s Caller ID is my preference. It can be changed at a moment’s notice.
Extensions can be assigned to users instead of paying a monthly fee for additional Direct Numbers.
Professional hold music is just an awesome extra.
In-call recording ability. This is a very handy feature activated by pressing one button on the RingCentral phone app interface.
Oh and yes! A mobile app that allows you to SMS Text your clients separate from your personal texts. Need to send hundreds of SMS Messages a day? Explore ClickSend.
RingCentral has a feature that allows you to listen in on a voicemail then jump in on the call if you need to. AMAZING.
AI Integrations. RingCentral has several, but if there isn’t a native RingCentral API Integration available for programs you started using prior to RingCentral and want to keep said service, no worries…go check out Zapier. More on Zapier here.
Affordability. RingCentral can definitely get expensive if you start adding “extras” like direct lines and hardware. But you can get what a basic business needs with all the features I mentioned without breaking the bank.
Call Quality is dependent on available network connection. No Network? No WiFi? No Call. Sorry! It’s something to think about but keep in mind that fact applies to all VOIP services.
Look to set aside a bit of time to set up your platform if you want it to work properly. Personally, I think the interface could be a little more user friendly. I think of myself as pretty tech savvy, but several features will have you calling support.
Overall, RingCentral is where it’s at for small to medium businesses. In my opinion, RingCentral is one of the best out there when compared to the competition. Don’t take my word for it. Try it yourself.