Does your organization make outbound calls as part of its business model? If so, you should know that cloud computing has enabled businesses to take advantage of VoIP calling, short for “Voice over Internet Protocol.” VoIP is a common term used for making calls using devices like smartphones, computers and other tools that can use the Internet to call and receive communications from other phone numbers.
Technically speaking, VoIP is a way of processing analog audio, like voice communication, and converts it into digital voice packets to send over the internet. When your business makes calls out to customers and clients, this is known as “outbound VoIP.”
In this article, we’ll take a look at the basics of outbound VoIP, some drawbacks associated with “softphones,” and a solution that can greatly expand your business’ marketing and communication efforts.
The Basics of Outbound VoIP
Outbound VoIP calls are processed through what is known as a “softphone.” Essentially, a softphone is mainly an application that works with hardware devices (i.e. PC, smartphone, VoIP phones, VoIP adapter).
Softphones work in a similar fashion as a traditional phone, however, instead of relying on switchboard operators and calling protocols around the world, softphones run entirely over the Internet.
Outbound VoIP has all of the traditional functions of standard phones, but it allows your business to couple this with the Internet’s reach. This means that you can contact nearly anyone around the world who has an internet connection and a compatible softphone (like Skype) almost instantaneously. Depending on the model you choose, your outbound VoIP softphone service may include specific features including video calling and instant messaging services.
Drawbacks of Softphone-Only Services
Despite their many positive attributes, softphones do have several drawbacks. First, softphone services may restrict outbound VoIP calling unless the recipients use the same softphone service or use a specific device that can receive these types of calls. This requirement excludes a large number of individuals who aren’t technically inclined or who have no interest in downloading another application, especially if they’re comfortable with the way they traditionally communicate.
Softphone adoption can also be compounded by the fact that many outbound VoIP softphone and service providers generally don’t require there to be a phone number to register with their services. This can be fine for individuals that only need to make calls to businesses, friends, and family, but when making outbound VoIP calls without an associated user phone number, there will either be no number present on the Caller ID or only a system default Caller ID from the service provider will appear. This creates problems for businesses, as these types of calls are generally considered spam and are mostly not picked up, even if they’re legitimate calls from real individuals.
A Solution for Outbound VoIP: Virtual Phone Numbers
So, is there a way for outbound VoIP service to appear with a viable phone number on the Caller ID? The answer is virtual phone numbers.
Calls from virtual phone numbers are indistinguishable from “regular” phone calls, allowing calls to be made locally without long-distance fees or dialing a foreign country code, with the ability to function in all the same ways. On a Caller ID, when a softphone service is paired with a virtual phone number, the number appears the same as a local number. This gives your business a sense of authenticity, even if your outbound VoIP phone number originates in India and calls are being made to another country, like the United States. Customers are more likely to reject a call as a misdial or spam if the area code and country code don’t match their own.
Virtual phone numbers can be purchased through Global Call Forwarding in nearly every country in the world. To make outbound calls, only your softphone needs to be connected to your virtual phone number and your VoIP service, allowing you to dial out. Thanks to Global Call Forwarding’s quality of service, outbound VoIP service can be coupled with the company’s already valuable features, like call recording, simultaneous ringing, virtual numbers, and VoIP forwarding.
For businesses and individuals that are looking to use VoIP in your business strategy, visit globalcallfowarding.com to check out the various options available around the world, as well as the option of a free trial. Global Call Forwarding is confident that once companies begin using outbound VoIP services, their businesses will be able to expand more quickly by using the power of the Internet in the modern marketplace.