‍What if I am in contract with my phone carrier provider?

Unfortunately, if you are in an existing contract with another phone service provider, there isn’t much to do but wait until the contract has ended. Call your current provider and find out the length of the term you have left. You may have already fulfilled your term and are now on a month-to-month plan, but make sure to get the information straight from them. Once you establish your end date, you can start to investigate which VoIP plan is right for you. 

Is VoIP expensive?

The cost of VoIP service, much like the cost of anything, will vary depending on your provider and any extra features you may add on. Despite this variable, VoIP is almost always cheaper than a traditional phone system. Since VoIP companies have lower overhead and smaller mandatory infrastructure, they are able to pass their savings onto the consumer. 

Another cost-saving benefit to VoIP is the ability to place long-distance and toll-free calls at no additional charge. Even with just a few saved dollars here and there, the cost saving benefit of VoIP will add up in no time. 

What are some of the features of VoIP phone systems?

In many ways, VoIP phones, or IP phones, work exactly the same as a traditional phone. You can pick up the handset, dial a number, and make a regular phone call. Although they look and operate similar to a regular phone, the inner workings of the phones really set them apart. 

1. The hardware in an IP phone is more complex than a traditional phone. These phones connect to the internet in order to be used with your CMS or AMS software and for remote upgrades and help. 
2. Your phone connected to a mobile app means more than just phone calls. Monitor office activity and check your voicemails no matter where you are. 
3. Call recordings will be easier to access than ever. Not only will they be accessible from anywhere, they will be immediately available once the call is over.

What are the best VoIP phones to use for my business?

Here at Lightspeed Voice, we recommend IP phones made by Grandstream. However, there is a vast array of desktop phone options out there that may be provisionable by your phone company. That means you can keep your favorite phone. Polycom and Yealink are also popular brands. If desktop phones aren’t your thing, many VoIP providers have softphones, a type of phone that can be used exclusively on your computer without any phone hardware. 

I’ve heard VoIP has a lot of issues. Is this true?

One of the biggest concerns we hear about VoIP phones is - what if my internet isn’t compatible? Our onboarding team works with your existing office setup to ensure that it isn’t an issue. We run speed tests, check your firewalls and routers, anything that would prevent your VoIP service from working perfectly. 

Another worry is what happens if the internet or power goes down? If you lose power or the internet, there are multiple, immediate options on how to handle it. Since your service is cloud-based, it means that a data center is still operating even if your office isn’t, and that means it can still control where your calls end up. We call these Health Redirects, meaning that if your phones go down for any reason, calls automatically redirect somewhere else, and it’s up to you where they go.

Can my business keep our existing numbers?

Sometimes switching phone carriers means new numbers. New numbers mean changing all of your publication materials, website, and social media, not to mention alerting all your clients on a new way to reach you.

Fortunately, you won’t have to give up existing telephone and fax numbers if switching to VoIP! They’re your numbers and VoIP companies will gladly transfer them from your existing carrier onto their own system. This process is called Porting or Local Number Portability. If you’re in need of new numbers, no worries! Most VoIP companies can get you new numbers for a low rate.

How does the phone installation process work?

It depends on your provider. Lightspeed Voice exclusively offers remote installation; your phones will arrive ready to be plugged in and utilized. Our onboarding team will assist with any questions that may arise during the setup process and will provide you with remote training. Other companies may do the same, or they may send a technician to your office to get everything set up. 

Who is VoIP right for?

VoIP is right for any business, big or small, looking to save money with a reliable, easy-to-use phone system. The typical Lightspeed Voice customer has between 3-250 employees, is located within the United States, and is in any type of industry. We currently have customers within trade organizations, schools, engineering firms, churches, insurance agencies, and customers who work in multi-site locations.