Internet Phone Service
Make calls over the internet and manage them through a full-featured online phone service.
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RingCentral answers the question “What is an internet phone able to do for your business?” by giving you an easy-to-manage business communications system with all the features your organization needs.
In the past, you would have had to get different providers for different communication channels like voice calls, fax, PBX, and conferencing tools. As a result, the business is beset by different challenges including maintenance and repairs of different systems, paying different bills for different providers, and worst, trying to have different communications solutions work with each other. Imagine how hard it was for businesses running a call center or those with remote workers!
Fortunately, there is now a solution that meets most, if not all, your business communication needs under one unified platform. If you want to have a system that includes everything you need, then subscribing to RingCentral is the best way to go.
RingCentral is the industry-leading provider of VoIP services
Improved business communications
Improve communications and collaborations with unlimited VoIP, conferencing, and team messaging. The call routing and call forwarding functions ensure that you do not miss anything, even international calls.
Mobile and flexible internet phone service
Access your phone service from anywhere and on any device. Call, text, and fax using your business phone number from your smartphone instead of using your personal number.
Quick phone service setup and implementation
Get your online phone service up and running in less than a day. Configure and customize system settings from your online account.
Secure business internet phone system
RingCentral secures all your communications during the whole IP transmission journey. All communications go through highly-encrypted networks and layers of authentication.
24/7 customer support
RingCentral is there for you from day one, helping you implement your cloud business phone system. You can contact our award-winning support team 24/7 for technical support, consultations, and best practice recommendations.
Best value plans and pricing
RingCentral gives your business an all-inclusive cloud communications system for one affordable price. No hidden or additional costs for advanced phone features. You get a single, itemized bill each month.
Features of RingCentral’s internet phone service
This all-in-one communications solution is able to deliver the following technologies under one platform:
Voice calls
With VoIP making internet calls possible, you’ll enjoy affordable nationwide calling as well as international calls and toll-free calls for businesses.
Call Flip
Transfer calls from one device to another. With Call Flip, you can move an ongoing call from your desktop to your mobile phone even if you’re not in the office. This way, the call continues even if you have to leave abruptly.
Cloud-hosted PBX
Businesses also need to manage all incoming calls, and the hosted PBX system solves that problem. It has several features that make it easier for organizations to handle each call, including:
- Auto-attendant
- Inbound and outbound caller ID
- Call screening
- Call blocking
- Call recording
- Call waiting
- Advanced call routing
- Enhanced call forwarding
Businesses can even set up different answering rules for different times of the day. For example, all phone calls during business hours are answered and routed while calls after hours can be sent straight to voicemail.
Audio and video conference
This is especially useful for companies with mobile employees or multiple locations. It lets you and your team host and join audio or video meetings from anywhere through their laptops, cell phones, or any mobile devices as long as they have a stable and high-speed internet connection. It can be used to conduct interactive webinars as well.
Team messaging
Through its acquisition of RingCentral Video, RingCentral is able to provide users with team messaging capabilities that can also act as a powerful collaboration tool. Aside from its messaging functions, it also serves as a repository of tasks. It also allows users to create groups and teams for certain projects. But even with its useful functions, it is not a boring tool at all; use it to send emojis and even create your own company memes.
Business app integrations
RingCentral also integrates with the different business apps you use every day. This allows companies to add communication capabilities to their favorite tools like Salesforce, Google for Work, and Office 365, among others. You can even integrate it to your own in-house software using RingCentral APIs.
Virtual extensions
Connect departments and office locations with virtual phone extensions. These extensions are based in the cloud so you can enjoy flexible features that can be customized according to your needs.
The right vendor should be able to assess your business needs and provide solutions accordingly. You don’t want to go to a company whose specialty is residential VoIP and whose list of compatible phones are mostly home phones meant solely for voice communication and with no capacity to handle business phone system must-haves such as call transfers and the like.
With RingCentral, your VoIP phones are so much more than mere communication tools. All the features above are included in one internet phone service, priced under one bill, with no hidden costs, and with package details clearly communicated. That is why RingCentral is trusted by more than 400,000 companies around the world.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of internet phone services against conventional phone lines
Conventional phone lines
- Requires expensive on-premises hardware
- Pricey and complex installations
- Requires customers to sign long-term contracts
- Upgrades and updates require additional costs
- Premium technical support is reserved for premium customers
- Specialized IT team needed for maintenance
- Phone service change requests require lengthy processes
Internet phone service
- Doesn’t need any hardware, ever
- Quick and free implementation
- No commitments or long-term contracts
- Upgrades and updates are always free
- Free premium technical support for all customers
- Self-manage the phone service from your mobile device
- Easily add or repurpose digital phone lines
RingCentral Business Communications plans for your small business
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FAQs about Internet Phone Service
A cloud internet phone service, as its name says, is a phone system rooted on the internet, which allows users to make and receive calls from anywhere using their laptop or mobile device. Internet phone services provide businesses with the mobility, flexibility, and advanced call features that weren’t possible with on-premises phone systems. The best part is that it comes in affordable plans and pricing, perfect for small business needs.
Internet phone service providers combine the best of regular landline phones – highly secure, with clear call quality – with the flexibility of modern communication services like texting, conferencing, mobility options, frequent upgrades and updates, and 24/7 customer support. Traditional business phones and PBX (Private Branch Exchange) systems are just no match for this.
An internet phone call is one that is placed over the internet and made possible by VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) technology. There are multiple ways to make internet calls, including:
- Through a landline phone with an analog telephone adapter (ATA) - A phone adapter connects a landline phone to a VoIP system to enable internet calls. Just plug your phone cable into the device and you’re good to go.
- From PC to PC - Download a VoIP-enabled program, set up an online account, and start making internet calls. Call quality depends heavily on your infrastructure and bandwidth, so it doesn’t always make for an ideal business phone system especially for small- and medium-sized businesses. Examples of this type of VoIP programs are Google Voice and Facebook Messaging.
- From PC to phone - Partner with a third-party software provider to connect your computer to a landline phone and make PC to phone calls. You’ll be able to leverage their VoIP services for a price, which is still considerably lower than what a traditional phone company would charge.
- Using softphones and apps - Connect to VoIP using any handheld device. This setup is ideal for businesses with a number of field or remote workers.
Internet phones leverage VoIP technology to enable phone calls. Hence, internet phones are also called VoIP phones. Here’s how internet phone calling works:
- The voice signals you generate are converted into data packets.
- These packets travel over the network and out through the internet until they reach their destination.
- VoIP converts the packets back into voice signals for the person on the other end to understand the message.
Internet phones can either be actual desk phones that look much like your regular landline phones or any VoIP-enabled devices connected to the internet, such as cell phones, laptops, or tablets.
With VoIP, there is no one way to place a call. There are connections that allow free local and international calls with a few restrictions. Others may require a small fee, but that’s still much cheaper than traditional landline calls. Depending on your specific needs, you can find a type of VoIP connection that makes the most sense for your business or specific departments.
Computer to computer only
Generally free of charge, a computer-to-computer connection is the fastest and easiest way to make a call over the internet. All you need is a computer with a sound card, a microphone, and an account through a VoIP-enabled program.
Setup is a breeze. Just download the program over the internet, install it on your computer, create an account, and you’re good to go. As long as the person you’re speaking with is also signed up to the same service, you don’t have to pay anything—even for international calls.
Call quality depends on your bandwidth and computer system. If you experience lag time or frequent dropped calls, you may need an upgrade. This is almost never an ideal setup for a business.
Computer to any phone
With a computer-to-phone connection, you’ll be able to use a computer running a VoIP-enabled program to connect to a traditional landline phone. For this, you will need a third-party software provider who will be responsible for the setup. You’ll be able to use their service to place out-of-network calls for a premium.
Still, the price is considerably lower than what you’d pay a traditional phone company, especially for long-distance calls. Here, the program takes the data from your computer and converts it to analog so it can be sent to and understood by the person on the other end.
This type of connection is particularly helpful to businesses that regularly make international calls to areas without a stable internet connection.
Mobile softphones and apps
Whereas the first two options work with fairly stationary devices, this connection works with any handheld device. That means your employees don’t have to stay at their desks to leverage VoIP functionality. They could be queueing for coffee or catching a plane ride home and still be able to make and receive calls with only their mobile phone in hand.
With softphones and apps, you enjoy mobility with hardly a dent on call quality. They come with full VoIP capabilities, so they’re ideal for businesses with field or remote staff.
Any landline using ATA
An analog telephone adapter (ATA) is a device that connects a landline phone to a digital network or a VoIP system. It does so by converting the sound of your voice into digital data and sending them over the internet.
This is pretty much a straightforward setup. You simply plug your phone cable into the ATA and you’re ready to make a VoIP call. Some ATAs enable users to switch between landline and VoIP. Depending on the plan you choose, your landline phone can also be outfitted with a host of VoIP features. It’s ideal for companies that are transitioning from legacy phone systems to IP-based phone options.
Unlike PSTN, VoIP doesn’t require a dedicated circuit to maintain a call between two people. This is a major reason why long-distance calls, especially the international kind, are so expensive with PSTN. You can just imagine how call costs drain certain businesses dry, like those that house a contact center.
On the other hand, VoIP uses packet-switching technology, wherein data packets (voice signals) take different routes to reach their destination. That only means cost isn’t based on time or distance. There are no expenses to cover circuit and phone infrastructure.
So if your company makes a ton of long-distance calls, you are bound to generate huge savings with Voice over IP. That’s money that can be used for other important aspects of the business.
With all the benefits that can be had from a VoIP phone system, one might wonder if the days of traditional phone systems are numbered. Is it only a matter of time before every business will have fully embraced VoIP technology?
Full adoption may take a while, but the future of business communications and connectivity indeed point to packet-switched networks. VoIP continues to change the way businesses communicate and collaborate, and it’s up to you to capitalize on this technology and stay ahead of the competition.
There may be “hurdles” along the way (see next section) but you can rest assured that experts are stopping at nothing to refine this technology. For as long as providers like RingCentral are on top of the game, internet calling can only get even more sophisticated and accessible to businesses of any size.
Still, there are many businesses that prefer to stick with traditional phone systems. This is mostly due to fear of the unfamiliar, and this points mainly to one thing—security. Let’s see if there’s a good reason for this seemingly persistent concern.
How much is a landline per month?
Monthly fees can go as high as $100 per phone line, depending on the phone carrier. Since landline phones rely on dedicated copper wires, adding more lines requires additional hardware, which in turn means additional costs. That’s $500 in your monthly bill if you have five lines. Ask any phone provider about it for more information.
Compare that to the monthly costs you’ll pay for an internet phone system, which can start as low as $19.99 with a reputable provider like RingCentral. And because VoIP phone systems rely on the internet instead of public-switched telephone networks or mobile networks, they can support multiple lines, depending on the strength of your internet connection.
What else makes an online phone service cheaper than legacy systems?
There are many other ways internet phone services let you save money. Here are a few more of them:
- Hosted VoIP providers typically don’t require setup fees
- You don’t need to pay extra for maintenance, repairs, and upgrades.
- VoIP uses the internet so international and long-distance calls are much cheaper.
- Bringing your own device to work? VoIP supports BYOB initiatives, which means you can use your Samsung Galaxy s10 or Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max to access company platforms.
Talk to a potential vendor about their phone plans and discover lower-priced options fit with your business needs. For instance, if your business requires constant communication with your offices in the USA and Canada, note that there are companies like RingCentral that offer an international calling plan with unlimited calls within the said countries, even Puerto Rico.
The big question of security has been thrown at VoIP technology, especially since it’s started to gain traction. It’s just a reality we have to deal with in this increasingly connected world. The internet, after all, is ever susceptible to various security issues. Let’s take a look at the common ones.
Service theft
Hackers can gain access to your VoIP service and network through VoIP phones. Once in, they can steal passwords, usernames, and personal information. They use the data they have stolen to perform all sorts of fraudulent acts, such as identity theft, phreaking (stealing of service from the provider or using it and passing the cost to another user), and intentional disruption of service.
Denial-of-service (DoS) attack
In a DoS attack, your network or device is denied of service or connectivity. Hackers choose one target at a time and consume its bandwidth or overwhelm its network until it’s forced to shut down. This is usually done to damage brand reputation, extort money, and, in some cases, just for kicks.
Call tampering
Here, the hacker targets the communication stream with the intent of degrading call quality, dropping the call, forcing a delay in voice signaling, and other critical issues. This is done by sending a stream of data packets through the PBX network. By intercepting call signals, the hacker can change the encryption key to their own public key, causing further privacy and authentication issues.
Malware and viruses
VoIP exists within the realm of computer networks and is therefore exposed to the same risks as computers themselves. These include malware, which takes up network bandwidth, and viruses that wreak havoc on software (softphones included) to compromise its performance.
A kind of malware that has the capacity to self-propagate is called a worm. It infiltrates your VoIP network, PBX, databases, and other systems to access important data and make your business vulnerable to other attacks.
Man-in-the-middle attacks
Hackers use sophisticated software tools to mislead customers into thinking they are accessing a genuine server. The attackers position themselves in a conversation between the client and the server in order to intercept or manipulate data. By eavesdropping or impersonating one of the parties, they can collect sensitive information.
Vishing
If you’ve heard of phishing in email, this is its voice-based equivalent. With vishing, the attacker uses ID spoofing to pretend they are a reputable business (e.g., a government or financial institution) and trick you into giving up sensitive information.
Simply being aware of all these threats should already put you in a prime spot to prevent or combat them. From establishing strict standards in password setting to implementing monitoring systems, there are numerous techniques you can implement to secure your network.
The thing is, as IT experts mitigate one security risk, hackers are able to find other ways to go about it. It almost feels like they are always a step ahead. But this shouldn’t be much of a concern when you get a number from a VoIP provider, as they follow stringent security measures and practices.
RingCentral, for instance, takes pride in providing optimum security with Tier 1 network centers and round-the-clock monitoring to avert any form of attack or disruption. This is a major reason why the company continues to lead the way in business communications solutions globally.
Not all business phone service providers are equal when it comes to the level and quality of their services.
There is a reason why RingCentral is considered the industry leader when it comes to business communications. RingCentral changes the way businesses communicate and collaborate with an internet phone service that is designed to keep employees connected, boost productivity, share knowledge, and improve customer relationships
With a cloud-based platform that has already surpassed what a traditional system can do, RingCentral has set its sights on providing a complete business internet phone service that is unmatched by its competitors.
RingCentral lets you save more and stands above the competition with these advantages:
- A unified communications solution – RingCentral has evolved its service from simple business VoIP calling, fax, and cloud PBX, to a unified communications solution that meets most, if not all, business communications needs. Aside from a call management system with advanced phone calling features like auto-attendant and answering rules, its VoIP services provide audio and video conferencing capabilities, which are useful for companies with mobile employees and multiple sites. RingCentral MVP subscribers also get a full-featured team collaboration tool that lets you create groups, set tasks, and track progress.
- A highly secure and reliable service – RingCentral has Tier 1 geographically dispersed data centers to ensure redundancy. This is to make sure that there are no service disruptions. In addition to this, data transmissions are also heavily encrypted between endpoints of the network to ensure that internet calls or other data passing through the service are safe in transit or while at rest
- A highly mobile solution – This virtual phone system can be accessed through intuitively designed apps so users can always stay connected to the office wherever they are. Download the right app by choosing from the RingCentral desktop app for PC or Mac, or the RingCentral mobile app for either Android or iOS.
- Open APIs and integrations – RingCentral also plays well with other productivity apps. The service easily integrates to popular business apps like Salesforce, Office 365, and Google for Work. Additionally, RingCentral has open APIs that will allow your own developers to integrate digital voice, team messaging, SMS and MMS, and fax into your home-grown key apps and workflows.
The advantages business VoIP provides are highlighted by top-tier internet phone providers like RingCentral. Sign up now and learn how the company bests other internet service providers and why it’s trusted by many a business customer around the globe.
More resources about VoIP and Internet Phone services
What Is VoIP and How It Works
VoIP Caller
VoIP Phone Systems
VoIP Provider
VoIP Network
Small Business Phone Service
Virtual Phone Service
How Virtual Phone Call Works
Important details and disclaimers