Whatever the size of your business, choosing a business mobile phone contract is a major decision. Innovation has driven huge change over the past few years, leading to a myriad of options that can seem confusing.
Here is some usual information to help you choose.
Which type should you choose?
The right phone system for your business depends on your needs, budget, location and more. There are a few things that you should consider when choosing a small business telephone system.
How many users do you have? If it’s more than 30, an on-site system may be your best solution, but if you have fewer users, a hosted VoIP solution is usually more suitable. VoIP stands for Voice over Internet Protocol – essentially, making calls over the internet rather than through a traditional fixed line. If some or all of your teams are remote working, it may be better for you to choose a hosted VoIP system that sends calls to wherever they happen to be.
Benefits of VoIP
With a hosted VoIP solution, you won’t notice much of a change from a fixed line setup – you’ll still dial a number and call as usual.
However, VoIP offers much more flexibility than other types of business phone systems. Because it uses the internet to handle calls, you can use a variety of internet-connected devices including computers, tablets, mobile phones, and internet-enabled desk phones.
It’s also portable, so if you’ve got your provider’s VoIP app on your phone, you can make and take VoIP calls anywhere you have internet access.
VoIP offers high call quality and network reliability and it can either be hosted on-premise or within the cloud. On-premise VoIP phone systems need to be purchased and maintained but offer the typical VoIP benefits. Cloud VoIP is different – all phone features and services are delivered through a remote server. There’s no hardware for you to purchase, and nothing to maintain, so it’s perfect for small businesses.
VoIP systems often come with a long list of handy extras, The 8×8 X Series available from Onecom is a great example, combining voice, video conferencing, team messaging, contact centre, analytics, services and support into a communications solution.
The basic plan offers all aspects of call handling and other features including team messaging, voicemail, and voicemail transcriptions, as well as integration with Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace. You have a comprehensive set of services which is ideal if you want something cost effective but also feature-packed.
PBX business phones
Private Branch Exchange systems, or PBX systems, have been used for many years as reliable networks for internal and external calls.
Since Internet telephony (VoIP) was introduced, the PBX has become an IP-PBX, which uses the internet rather than a telephone line to carry calls.
Cloud-based PBX systems can offer a range of business features to suit your business – from simple telephony to full unified communications and collaboration. The biggest selling point of PBX is that it can handle highly complex calling needs.
A service provider or host manages hosted PBX systems. Hosted phone systems free you and your staff from needing to be highly knowledgeable and trained in the installation and maintenance of the system. If there’s a problem, you just call customer support.
One of the top PBX providers is Mitel, – Onecom is a Mitel Gold Solutions Partner. A wide range of phone systems are available so that you can find scalable, reliable and powerful platforms for your business. With Onecom and Mitel you can choose from cloud or on-site business phone systems with a whole host of industry-leading unified communications solutions that suit a business of any size.
Or you could enjoy full integration with our award-winning Onecom VOX hosted PBX service to benefit from a truly unified communications experience. Click here to find out more.
Business mobile
Are you a mobile-first business? We know that today, businesses are not just restricted to 9 to 5 office hours anymore, which is why most of us rely on our mobile phones to stay connected. Enable your employees to work how, when, and where they need to with a business mobile plan.
Smartphones can be added to a business’s phone system, employing BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) features, but do remember to apply Mobile Device Management (MDM) solutions for added security.
To help your business run smoothly and profitably, we offer a range of small business phone plans.
A business mobile phone contract will work in a similar way to your personal mobile contract, however, tariffs are more tailored towards the needs of your businesses (for example, free calls and higher data allowances).
You’ll have the power and flexibility to control costs and keep track of your phones and tariffs across the business from an central dashboard. Onecom can work with you on all your mobile solutions, whether that’s just one or several handsets. You can book an appointment with a Onecom small business specialist to learn more.
Whichever solution you choose, we can help you improve productivity, get the features your business truly needs, and become an agile workplace from any location with a new business mobile phone contract and our support.
It’s easy to switch from your current provider to Onecom – just contact us today.
