RingEX™

Call from Computer using a Softphone

Transform your computer into a powerful phone using the softphone app from RingCentral for desktop.

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RingCentral Softphone: A Phone for your Desktop

With RingCentral, you have a complete unified communications solution. Enjoy softphone, fax, text, and video conferencing in one app.

Presenting RingCentral softphone, embedded in the RingCentral App for desktop. When you use the RingCentral app, you can experience high-quality VoIP calling and transforms your PC or Mac into a sophisticated business phone system with softphone features and options.

A woman receives a phone call via the RingCentral mobile app

What is a Softphone?

As the name suggests, a softphone is the technology that allows you to make phone calls without the need for telephone hardware. Instead, you can make a call using software installed on your existing mobile devices or desktop computers. To make a call, open the software on your device, use a headset, and connect to the internet.

Softphone software is an essential business communications feature of a VoIP phone system or unified communications platform. 

With softphones, you can offer all the functionality of regular landline desk phones, along with a range of added VoIP capabilities (auto-attendant, voicemail, video conferencing, etc.) that are accessible via a user-friend interface.

How does a softphone work?

Softphone apps operate using VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) Telephony. To use a softphone, you’ll need:

  • Internet connection 
  • Hardware or mobile device you can connect to the internet (e.g., android or iOS phone, Mac or Windows laptop, or computer)
  • Headset or device with a built-in speaker

As part of a unified communications solution, softphone software is great for organizations, as it eliminates the need for desk phones and other traditional hardware such as fax machines and hard phones. Instead, you can use a cloud-based virtual phone system on your mobile device or computer that provides advanced features and functionality for your business, promoting efficiency and productivity.

An ongoing call via the RingCentral desktop softphone app

Benefits of the Softphone

With softphone technology, even small businesses can have VoIP service without worrying about buying hard phones and other devices. RingCentral takes it further. Not only leting you make voice calls from computers, they also let you maximize business communications with the following benefits.
User List Dashboard in the RingCentral Admin portal
One of the primary motivators why companies shift to softphone telephony is cost. Because softphones are software-based, less hardware is needed. Since it uses VoIP, most providers offer lower international callling rates as well.  RingCentral offers more than just a phone service, though. Aside from making and receiving calls, you also get a team messaging, fax, business SMS, and video meetings solution in one platform.

Get a business phone system that grows as your business grows. With RingCentral, adding new phone numbers and new users is very easy and convenient. There's no need to buy hardware, and you spend less time integrating the new users and locations into your business phone system.

Why is the softphone attractive for remote workers? You're not tied to chunky hardware as you work from anywhere. With softphone software, you can install it on any internet-enabled mobile device, such as a laptop, tablet, or phone. But the beauty of the RingCentral app is it's not limited to phone calls. You can also send and receive messages, fax, and SMS. You can also host and join video meetings instantly.

Software application integrations are increasingly important, too. You want your softphone to work with the apps that your business is already using. The RingCentral App has hundreds of integrations with popular business and productivity apps like Google Workplace, Microsoft Teams and Office 36g, Salesforce, Servicenow, Zendesk, and more. If you have your own apps, RingCentral has APIs that lets you customize how you want to integrate RingCentral into your process and workflows.

The RingCentral App has an intuitive interface that makes it very easy to use. With a few clicks you can start a call or a video meeting. Access your company directory from the app and organize your contacts in teams or groups.

Since RingCentral is a cloud-hosted communications solution, all upgrades and updates to its services, including all app updates, are automatic. No need for additional licenses or additional payments to get the latest features.

RingCentral employs several layers of security to protect your data and your calls. Also, RingCentral is compliant to multiple security standards and regulations that certifies the security and privacy of your information.

How do you use a Softphone?

Now that you have an idea of what a softphone is, you may be wondering how to use one. Here are some of the things you can do when you use a softphone.
Part of the RingEX®, the RingCentral softphone feature is part of the RingCentral app, at no additional cost. To receive an incoming call, plug in a headset or use your computer’s speakers and microphone to turn any internet-connected computer into an intelligent softphone and call controller.
Seamless integration with company directory and RingCentral cloud; easily make a call to any of your contacts with a simple click. You can also use the dialer to type the phone number and make a phone call.

The RingCentral app's intuitive interface provides you with a single view of multiple calls. You can also do advanced call management straight from the app. Efficiently switch calls, mute calls, or send callers to voicemail. You can also easily park a telephone call at a virtual location, then retrieve it from any other phone or softphone in your system—even a mobile device can pick up a parked call.

Other perks you can do to manage your calls are to seamlessly flip an ongoing call to your desk phone, computer, or mobile device and transfer a voice call to any phone number or extension. You can add up to six callers into a conference call at any time.

With a RingCentral softphone app, you can record a single call, or change your settings to automatically record all your calls.* You can also download recorded conversations, store them on your computer, or forward them to others for review.

*Automatic call recording is available for Office Premium and Ultimate editions.

Another function you can do with a RingCentral softphone is to communicate with your callers without picking up your handset. You can also set up your phone calls so your callers can hear a default message or type a personalized one to be transmitted via text-to-speech technology when you’re too busy to take the phone call. These options are available even while you’re participating in a web meeting or are on another call.

You can listen to voice messages as they’re being recorded by the caller. Not only that, you can intervene when a caller is leaving a message so you can accept the call.

  • Send and receive SMS text messages from your computer—including group messages.
  • Launch RingEX to participate in online meetings with one click.
  • Launch the RingCentral app to start collaborating on tasks, sharing files, and participating in group discussions with your colleagues
A man working with an insert of the RingCentral softphone dialpad
Video: Make a call in the RingCentral app

Why choose RingCentral?

RingCentral is a trusted VoIP solution that fits all your needs in a cloud-based communication platform.
With the RingCentral App, you can enjoy additional functionalities that can help your teams to communicate effectively and efficiently. Aside from phone calls, you can host and start a video meeting or send messages to colleagues and clients.
You can access the softphone features from the RingCentral App on virtually any mobile device—anytime, anywhere. Moreover, RingCentral can seamlessly integrate a robust list of apps that can boost your business. You can enjoy integrations with business apps like Microsoft Office 365, Google Workplace, Salesforce, and more.
Finally, RingCentral protects you with several layers of security and phone call encryption. So you can rest assured that your information and data are safe.

RingCentral Softphone Key Features

Here are RingCentral softphone features that should make it your top choice:

Shared Contacts

 Share contact lists and form a general directory available for all employees.

Presence

Show status to show if you are online, offline, busy, or in a meeting.

Connectivity

Access the RingCentral App from any device - anytime, anywhere.

Unified VoIP Communications

Make and receive phone calls, host and join meetings, and send messages from one platform.

Voicemail

Facilitate voicemail audio files to be pushed directly to user emails or as push notifications.

Advanced Call Management

Manage phone calls and more with call transfer, forwarding, recording, and interactive voice response (IVR).

Audio and video calls

Unlimited phone and video calling with high definition quality, may it be via video or audio.

Team Messaging and Business SMS

Use instant messaging to collaborate and send files without using your number.

App Integrations

Automate with tight integrations across popular business apps.

Softphone Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Yes. A softphone is a feature you can use when you get a VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) service. You can make phone calls from your computer or mobile device with a softphone. You're in business as long as you have a microphone, speakers, and a device with an internet connection. You can access softphone technology through any VoIP and UCaaS applications you can install on your chosen device.
To receive calls on your laptop, install the RingCentral App. Once the app is installed and you have logged into your account, your computer app will ring when a call comes in. You can change how you receive your calls, including sending them straight to voicemail.
Once you have chosen your VoIP provider, you can download the compatible desktop or mobile application and install it on your preferred device.
To install the RingCentral App, download the version based on your device. RingCentral is available on Windows and Macs for desktops and laptops and on Android and iOS for smartphones and tablets. 
After installing the app, you can enjoy the same calling features as a traditional phone. You can now transfer calls, send them to voicemail, mute them, or put them on hold. In addition, you can also enjoy features such as team-based instant messaging, voice and video calling.
The main difference between the two is that hard phones refer to physical phones like desk phones or conference phones. In contrast, softphones refer to the software or app installed on devices that enable them to perform telephony functions.
Both are great options when you have a cloud-based phone system. Hard phones give you the familiar feeling of having a handheld telephone. Some even have additional functionalities like noise cancellation. 
But if you cannot afford hard phones, you can opt for softphone apps that come free with your provider. 
The RingCentral App is free to download for every RingEX subscriber.
For Windows 7 (or later):
  • Minimum 2 GHz (32-bit or 64-bit) processor
  • Minimum of 4 GB of memory (8 GB recommended)
  • 400 MB of free hard drive space
  • Required minimum screen resolution is 1,024 x 768
For Mac OS X® 10.10 Yosemite (or later):
  • Intel processor
  • Minimum of 4 GB of memory (8 GB recommended)
  • 400 MB of free hard drive space
  • Required minimum screen resolution is 1,024 x 768

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