Which phone system does your business use? Just a few years ago most company’s would answer with a traditional landline service, but that’s quickly changing due to advances in VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) that allow voice and data to be carried more efficiently over the internet.
Yet many companies are reluctant to change from a landline because it’s all they’ve known. These analog phones come in a few different categories, but all have the same reliance on wires. There is POTS (plain old telephone service) which is also referred to as PSTN (public switched telephone network). There’s also a hybrid that allows landlines to carry voice and data, PRI (primary rate interface).
But today, VoIP is quickly becoming the preferred method for office communications and some are predicting that the end of landlines all together is coming quickly, due to both mobile phones and Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP).
VoIP is now the #1 telephone service chosen by U.S. businesses.
According to Business 2 Community, VoIP has already moved ahead of older landline phones in U.S. offices. Here’s a look at how many offices are using each type of technology.
- VoIP – 36%
- PSTN/POTS – 24%
- PRI (primary rate interface) – 11%
Connect2Geek helps companies enhance the way they do business with our VoIP services. They can gain more phone system “bells and whistles” without paying the high cost of those same features on a landline.
While many companies recognize the benefits of VoIP right away, some still wonder about the pros and cons of each system and aren’t sure whether they want to switch.
We think it’s always a good idea to get as much information as possible before changing a major office function to a new technology. So, to help you compare VoIP vs landline phones, we’ve got a match up below with the pros and cons of each service.
Pros & Cons of Landline Phone Systems
Just because something’s older, doesn’t necessarily mean it should be replaced. But in certain cases (think corded phones vs cordless), technology does offer a better way to do something.
Here are some of the considerations if you’re trying to decide whether to keep or lose that older analog phone system.
Landline Pros:
- Not Impacted by Power Outages: You can still plug an older phone into a landline jack and get a signal even if the power’s out. However most business handsets rely on electricity, so this is a “pro” for you only if you’ve got a non-electric phone to use in the event of a power outage.
- Not Reliant on Internet: If your internet goes out, it doesn’t impact your landline phone system. You also won’t have problems with lag time or call quality due to a poor broadband connection. For some businesses in rural communities, the high-speed internet needed for quality VoIP might not be in place yet.
- Excellent Audio Quality: Landline technology is time-tested and offers excellent call quality, so you don’t have to worry about static (unless there’s a bad wire connection) or poor call quality.
Landline Cons:
- It’s More Expensive: The cost to install and add lines to a landline system is much higher when compared to VoIP. The cost of dialing internationally is also more expensive. Some VoIP services market their long-distance as up to 80% less than analog phone plans.
- Not Very Flexible or Scalable: If you’re bringing on employees it can be expensive to run extra lines to add more handsets. Then if you end up scaling back at a later time, it’s not as easy to reduce your landline costs.
- May Not Be Supported in the Future: According to the National Regulatory Research Institute, as many as 41 states have either reduced or stopped all together their oversite of wired telecom, for some this means an end to copper wire servicing. This move indicates a possible end to landlines in the future.
Pros & Cons of VoIP Phone Systems
Now let’s take a look at the pros and cons related to VoIP.
VoIP Pros:
- Less Expensive: From the setup to the calling costs, VoIP saves companies a significant amount of money on their telephone costs. They also have the flexibility to be answered using a headset or mobile device instead of an expensive desk handset.
- Feature-Rich: VoIP phones have multiple features that are easy to set up, such as call transferring, auto-attendant, and voice mail to text. These allow your office to do more with your phone system than is possible with landlines.
- Flexible & Scalable: If a natural disaster makes your office unusable, you can still answer your VoIP phones from anywhere, keeping your customers happy and your business up and running. It’s also easy to add or remove users with a few clicks, paying only for what you’re using.
VoIP Cons:
- You Need a Decent Internet Connection: VoIP phones do rely on an internet connection, so if you don’t have a reliable one, your call quality will suffer. If your Wi-Fi goes out, it also takes your phones down with it.
- Relies on Power: You need to have power to use your phone system if you use VoIP. Although in the event of a power outage, you can route calls to cell phones until the power is restored.
- It Has a Learning Curve: As with any new technology, your team will have a slight learning curve when switching from a landline system to a more flexible VoIP system with more features. Connect2Geek offers VoIP training to help everyone hit the ground running.
Learn More About the Benefits of Switching to VoIP
If you’ve been wondering exactly what VoIP would look like and sound like at your office, we can give you a demo and answer all your questions to help you make an informed decision.
Schedule a free VoIP services demo today! Reach out online or call us anytime at 208-468-4323.