{"id":57831,"date":"2025-05-24T23:04:01","date_gmt":"2025-05-25T06:04:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newrcblog.wpengine.com\/us\/en\/blog\/?p=57831"},"modified":"2025-05-28T04:50:27","modified_gmt":"2025-05-28T11:50:27","slug":"voip-vs-landline","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"\/us\/en\/blog\/voip-vs-landline\/","title":{"rendered":"VoIP vs. landline: Which is best for your business?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Both VoIP and landline communications systems are still used by businesses around the world. There are pros and cons of each, but in the VoIP vs. landline debate, it\u2019s the former that\u2019s becoming more and more dominant.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you\u2019re interested in securing the future of your business communications, then you need to fully understand the ins and outs of VoIP versus landline. Read on to learn what each type of system is, how they work, what they offer, and which is likely to be best for your business. <\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"voice\" class=\"heading h2\"><strong>Voice over IP vs. landline: Key takeaways<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Voice over Internet Protocol technology allows phone calls\u2014and other means of communication\u2014to be carried out over the internet, rather than traditional telephony networks.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A landline-based telephone system connects to the traditional public switched telephone network (PSTN) for making calls.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">VoIP phone systems typically offer a wider range of features, better scalability, and greater cost-efficiency among a wide selection of benefits.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some countries around the world are phasing out support for their PSTN infrastructure, making the landline vs. VoIP debate both more vital and more one-sided.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 id=\"what\" class=\"heading h2\"><strong>What is VoIP?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">VoIP is technology that can connect callers and transmit voice signals over the web, rather than using a traditional public switched telephone network (PSTN)\u2013also sometimes known as the plain old telephone service (POTS)\u2013to make a call.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When making a call using VoIP telephony, you dial a number with a virtual phone or VoIP service that connects to another VoIP or landline network. Many VoIP providers offer the option to get a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ringcentral.com\/can-i-buy-a-specific-phone-number.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">custom phone number<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> that\u2019s memorable and aligned with your brand.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">VoIP phone services enable businesses to stop relying on hard-wired phone lines. Instead, they only need a mobile phone, computer, or VoIP-enabled desk phone with a VoIP app and internet access (be that via broadband, WI-FI, Ethernet, whichever).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">VoIP phone systems offer many more advanced features than a traditional private branch exchange (PBX).<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"heading h3\"><strong>How does VoIP work?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Externally, a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ringcentral.com\/us\/en\/blog\/7-business-benefits-of-moving-on-premises-pbx-to-the-cloud\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">cloud PBX<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and other VoIP services work much like any other type of phone. It\u2019s what\u2019s happening behind the scenes that\u2019s different.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">First, you need your virtual phone to connect to your intended destination. Session initiation protocol (SIP) is the universal tool. It\u2019s responsible for starting, establishing, and terminating real-time conversations.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When you speak on the phone, your voice is converted into digital packets that travel over the internet. Real-time transport protocol (RTP) carries these media streams back and forth between callers.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Once they reach the recipient, the data packets are transformed back into your audible voice on the other end. It\u2019s a binary alchemy that happens thanks to codecs, such as G.728 and Opus, that convert and un-convert human speech. This happens continuously as each caller takes their turn to speak.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For both callers, the entire experience is instantaneous. You speak, and the person on the other line hears your voice like any other phone call.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"landline\" class=\"heading h2\"><strong>What is a landline?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At the simplest level, a landline is a copper wire connected to a physical location, such as an office, that carries analog phone signals.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It\u2019s the same hard-wired technology that you\u2019ve likely used for personal phone calls in your home, simply referred to as the plain old telephone service (POTS).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Landline telephone systems have experienced some evolution, but are essentially based on century-old technology. Today, businesses that still rely on landlines use a PBX phone system for both internal and external calls. Using a PBX enables multiple team members to use different phones with the same number. <\/span><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"heading h3\"><strong>How do landlines and PBX systems work?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You\u2019re probably already familiar with the mechanics of placing a phone call through a PBX. You pick up the phone and listen for a dial tone. After dialing a number, you connect to a phone provider on the PSTN which routes your call to the recipient. When you speak into the phone, an electric signal carries your voice across physical phone lines. The electric signal reaches the phone of the person on the opposite end of the line.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A landline PBX is great for businesses that only need to make calls in the local area and have no plans to expand or move.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Those who need more features like call analytics, unified communications, AI-powered insights, and more, can look for virtual and cloud-based PBX solutions that use VoIP for phone and video calls.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"voip\" class=\"heading h2\"><strong>VoIP vs. landline for business: Key differences<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Today, both VoIP and landline phones are used by businesses all over the world. Some prefer the trusty POTS and its 100-year-plus track record. Others desire their phone systems to offer more freedom and greater capabilities. Each organization has its reasons for sticking with the phone systems of their choice.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The question is, where do you fall in the VoIP phone vs. landline phone debate?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Answering that question starts by understanding the differences between VoIP and landline phones:<\/span><\/p>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><b>Aspect<\/b><\/td>\n<td><b>VoIP<\/b><\/td>\n<td><b>Landline<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><b>Equipment and setup<\/b><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The back-end infrastructure is handled by VoIP phone system providers. Businesses just need internet-enabled devices and access to VoIP software.<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Significant onsite infrastructure is necessary and must be physically connected to the PSTN.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><b>Features<\/b><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A wide array of call management features. Plus, many are also UCaaS platforms, meaning they combine multiple communication channels in one place.<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Basic call management features such as call forwarding and voicemail, but fewer more complex functionalities.\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><b>Costs<\/b><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Less significant upfront investment, plus a predictable and often more affordable monthly subscription.<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Higher installation and maintenance costs. Ongoing charges may also be less predictable.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><b>Scalability<\/b><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Easy and quick to scale up and down with demand. Users, features, and more can often be added or removed in a few clicks.<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Difficult, disruptive, and expensive to scale. Adding more users can mean installing new physical landlines and hardware.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><b>Security<\/b><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Trusted to the VoIP phone system provider. The most trustworthy utilize end-to-end encryption and more.<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In your own hands, so can provide peace of mind but also means more responsibility and expenditure.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><b>Reliability<\/b><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Very reliable. Top VoIP providers boast excellent uptime and systems are less susceptible to natural disasters.<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Also highly reliable. However, landlines can be damaged by extreme weather and some nations are phasing out support for the PSTN.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><b>Mobility and flexibility<\/b><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Highly mobile and flexible. Users can access VoIP systems on virtually any internet-enabled device, wherever they are.<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Usually limited to use at one physical premises. Not particularly suitable for remote, hybrid, or mobile workforces.\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h3 class=\"heading h3\"><strong>Equipment and setup<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Chances are, you\u2019re already using a landline for your business. The equipment is already on-site, such as copper wires, phone jacks, and desk phones.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Of course, someone spent a considerable amount of money to create that infrastructure. Those costs are likely baked into the costs of your location overhead.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But what if you hire more employees and need new user extensions? You\u2019ll need to purchase and install new equipment, including phone lines. Line installation can take days to weeks, and cause disruption to operations. A phone number may also need to be set up with your local phone company.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Installing and setting up a new landline phone system requires an even greater upfront investment of time and money.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Conversely, VoIP phone systems are hosted by vendors, and you access them online. You\u2019ll need minimal equipment as long as your business already has an internet service provider\u2014you can simply use existing laptops, PCs, and mobile devices. Once you sign up with a virtual phone system, download and install the desktop or mobile app.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can usually set up a number and account in minutes. Setting up a system for your entire business may take up to a day.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"heading h3\"><strong>Features<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A solution like a landline-based PBX can often do more than just make and receive calls. Features include auto-attendants that greet and route callers with pre-recorded messages and menus that enable callers to dial extensions that ring the right department or individual.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Other landline features include voicemail, call transfer, three-way calling, and call forwarding.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">VoIP services offer all of the same features as landline telephones and much more. Instead of a basic auto-attendant, you may get <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ringcentral.com\/contact-center\/interactive-voice-response.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Interactive Voice Response<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (IVR) menus. IVR menus enable callers to use voice commands to navigate to the correct phone line.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Advanced call routing lets you create ring rules and other ways to make sure customer calls are never missed. Some business phone platforms, too, come with AI-powered capabilities.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-57833\" src=\"\/us\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/image5-7.png\" alt=\"RingCentral RingEX AI automatically transcribes conversations and creates smart notes for every call.\" width=\"1256\" height=\"1096\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For example, RingCentral RingEX can come with a built-in <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ringcentral.com\/ringex\/ai-assistant.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">AI personal assistant<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, whichautomatically transcribes conversations and creates smart notes for every call.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ringcentral.com\/us\/en\/blog\/voip-technology-primer\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">VoIP technology<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is evolving. Incorporating AI technology means you can only expect progressively more advanced call features.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"heading h3\"><strong>Costs<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Installing new landlines requires a heavy investment. You\u2019ll also pay a monthly or annual fee to the local phone company. In addition, you\u2019ll need to buy a desk phone for every number, extension, or employee. If anything on-site breaks, you\u2019ll also need to pay to replace it. As systems age, they become more challenging to maintain as parts become harder to source and limited supply makes them even more expensive.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With VoIP, you don\u2019t need any equipment besides an internet-connected device. Some services even let you make calls from a browser-based app. Simply sign up with a provider and then create your account and set up your phone number.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You\u2019ll pay a monthly or annual fee per user of your VoIP system. There are no extra costs unless you add more features or users. These kinds of affordable and predictable costs are a particular benefit of VoIP vs. landline for small business.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"heading h3\"><strong>Scalability<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Both VoIP and landlines are scalable. However, they arrive at your destination from different pathways. With landlines, you\u2019ll need to connect new phones to the CPU and operating console. Once you run out of phone lines, you\u2019ll need to install new lines and equipment.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">VoIP services offer nearly unlimited scalability. With most providers, you can add new users or phone numbers in minutes. Did you hire a bunch of new team members? VoIP makes instant productivity a breeze. A bring your own device (BYOD) policy lets them use a device they already own and are comfortable with. Create an account and have them install the VoIP app on their desktop or smartphone.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Thinking about handling customer support instead of outsourcing? AI-powered platforms like RingCentral offer fully integrated cloud contact centers for rapid deployment.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"heading h3\"><strong>Security<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A landline-based PBX gives you full control over communication security. Only those with physical access can gain entry to the system. Having measures in place such as on-site security teams ensure only authorized personnel use your phone lines.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Any time data is transmitted over the internet, there are associated risks. VoIP is just as vulnerable as any other hosted service for business. With VoIP-based PBX systems, you may worry about sensitive customer data stored in call recordings and other formats.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">That\u2019s why it\u2019s critical to choose a provider with end-to-end encryption, single sign-on, and other security features.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"heading h3\"><strong>Reliability<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Traditional landline phones are extremely reliable\u2014that\u2019s why they haven\u2019t changed much in over 100 years. If the power cuts out, analog phones and lines will still be working. Telephone line infrastructure is so widespread in places like the US, that it\u2019s unlikely you\u2019ll experience service downtime. But landline systems that aren\u2019t properly maintained may experience downtime, and you\u2019ll be solely responsible for restoring service. And if you need to source parts or experience downtime during the evening or on a weekend, you may be facing an extended outage.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ringcentral.com\/office\/voip-phone.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">VoIP phones<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> are also extremely reliable. Sure, you may be more susceptible to power outages, but it\u2019s likely your laptop and mobile phone will still have plenty of juice for conducting business communications.<\/span><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-57834\" src=\"\/us\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/image7-1.png\" alt=\"RingCentral provides a service level agreement uptime of 99.999% in 46 countries \" width=\"1993\" height=\"1157\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Virtual PBX providers also use redundant data centers spread around the US and the world. If one site goes down, your service will automatically connect to the next closest location. Industry leaders RingCentral provide a service level agreement (SLA) of 99.999% uptime in 46 countries.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"heading h3\"><strong>Mobility &amp; flexibility<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Landlines were never designed to be mobile. You go to your desk to make or receive a call. There are wireless handsets that offer users the ability to wander a few hundred or even a few thousand feet from the base. Your mileage may vary as the signal strength is affected by the thickness of the walls at the business location.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What about landline flexibility? Well, this isn\u2019t its strength either. An analog PBX system\u2019s stability and reliability is founded on its lack of flexibility. The lines are always in the same place. The phones are always in the same place.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As a result, a landline PBX isn\u2019t particularly suitable for remote and hybrid teams.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">VoIP business phones offer maximum mobility and flexibility to users. First, you can access the service from anywhere with a network connection. Your team can handle calls while stepping away from their desk or when off-site.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Virtual business phones empower a BYOD policy. Your employees can work from their preferred devices, whether it be a laptop, cell phone, or VoIP desk phone. Features like Call Flip with RingCentral give added flexibility, enabling you to seamlessly switch between devices without interrupting the conversation.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A VoIP platform also includes and supports your remote teams. Everyone in the company can access the system from anywhere in the world.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"why\" class=\"heading h2 h3\"><strong>Why switch to VoIP? Pros and cons for businesses<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The differences between landline phones vs. VoIP phones may not produce a clear-cut winner. It depends on how your business operates today and its plans for the future.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There\u2019s nothing that helps clarify the best choice of whether you should switch from landline to VoIP like evaluating the pros and cons of each communication solution:<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"heading h3\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pros<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Let\u2019s first examine the pros of switching to VoIP:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Save money:<\/b> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ringcentral.com\/how-much-does-voip-service-cost.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">VoIP pricing<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> plans are straightforward and cost-effective. You only pay for what you need. You\u2019ll save even more by signing up for an annual plan. You avoid the upfront maintenance for maintaining copper lines and other communications infrastructure. Capital expenditures in hardware like PBX servers and desk phones aren\u2019t needed. Plus, international and long-distance calls often have lower rates, too.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Gain new capabilities<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: When you switch to VoIP systems you get more ready access to intelligent call routing, call analytics, and AI-powered features.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Adapt the system easily to your needs<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Add new users, numbers, and features as and when you need for greater business adaptability.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Support flexible working<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Empower teams to work from anywhere and on their preferred devices.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Streamline workflows<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: A virtual PBX comes with native integrations to connect to your existing business tools. Connect apps like your CRM and automate manual tasks to increase productivity.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Benefit from unified communications<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Handle all of your business communications from one platform. Text, call, and chat with just a few clicks. Plus, handle video conferencing, online fax, and more, via your business VoIP solution.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Redundancy<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: No worrying about hardware failure. All your data is backed up at multiple vendor sites.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Deploy the system rapidly<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: A VoIP business phone system can be deployed in minutes to hours. Your team will be dialing on their desktops and mobile phones right away.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Have a system that\u2019s ready for the future<\/b>: In the USA, the FCC has already started to remove carriers\u2019 responsibilities to maintain the PSTN. The VoIP vs landline UK debate will end in 2025 when the government switches off its PSTN services entirely. Australia already began disconnecting copper lines in 2023.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-57835 size-full\" src=\"\/us\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/image6-5.png\" alt=\"VoIP vs. PSTN\" width=\"1250\" height=\"528\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/plainenglish.io\/blog\/voip-vs-pstn-which-is-best-for-your-small-business\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Image Source<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"heading h3\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cons<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The following are the potential cons of switching to VoIP:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Unfamiliar<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: You may already be comfortable with using a traditional business PBX. Your team must be willing to adapt to new technologies, even if they\u2019re easy to use. Some onboarding and training may be required for each employee to get the most out of the new system.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Call quality:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> The quality of calls placed through VoIP can vary based on the strength of your connection. Latency, jitter, and packet loss can all affect the quality of the call. Traditional landlines are less susceptible to diminished call quality.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Dependency on Internet Service Providers (ISPs)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Many VoIP calls will be placed through your internet connection. If your ISP frequently experiences\u00a0 outages or delivers slow speeds, the quality of calls may suffer.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Compatibility<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Some VoIP services may not be compatible with desk phones or alarm systems you already own.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 id=\"popular\" class=\"heading h2\"><strong>Popular VoIP features to consider<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Most businesses find that making the switch to VoIP is the best option. Now, the real work begins. There are so many virtual phone systems available, how do you narrow down the search?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Start by looking for platforms that offer must-have VoIP features:<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"heading h3\"><strong>Auto-attendant<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">An auto-attendant is familiar to traditional PBX users. Landline systems often come with a basic answering system that greets callers with pre-recorded messages. Callers navigate the menu by pressing a number on their phone.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A VoIP auto-attendant comes with more capabilities and plenty of customization options. Platforms like RingCentral allow users to use voice commands as well as use the keypad to get to the person they\u2019d like to speak to.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It also allows you to build much more sophisticated menu trees to handle and deflect incoming calls. Intelligent auto-attendant services can empower your customers with self-service, letting your reps focus on more complex issues.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"heading h3\"><strong>Virtual voicemail<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">VoIP business phone solutions should come with some form of virtual voicemail. It\u2019s a feature that lets you access and manage your voicemails from your cell phone or desktop app. You can <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ringcentral.com\/us\/en\/blog\/how-to-forward-a-voicemail\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">forward voicemails<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to other members of your team with a few taps.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">AI-powered <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ringcentral.com\/us\/en\/blog\/6-things-to-know-about-unified-communications-for-beginners\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">unified communications<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> platforms like RingCentral RingEX go one step further with visual voicemail. Our AI assistant automatically transcribes every voicemail. Read your voicemails in the app when in noisy environments. Forward voicemail transcriptions to your colleagues as and when needed.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sure, a landline phone system comes with voicemail. You can listen to and delete messages. Voicemail forwarding is more difficult if it\u2019s even offered, and don\u2019t even think of accessing your messages from your cell phone.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"heading h3\"><strong>IVR<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Interactive voice response is one of the many VoIP features that you\u2019ll rarely find with a traditional PBX.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">IVR offers more submenus with advanced call flow customization. You aren\u2019t restricted to specific extensions and voicemail boxes. Callers can access a dial-by-name directory or other call-center automation.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-57836\" src=\"\/us\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/image2-9.png\" alt=\"Users of RingCentral can customize their IVR menu.\" width=\"1294\" height=\"488\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Contact centers are where IVR really shines. Multi-level IVR relieves your support agents during peak call volumes by routing callers and managing call queues. You can configure routing options based on business hours.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If a customer calls when you\u2019re closed, the IVR fast-tracks them to voicemail or other alternatives. Intelligent IVR with RingCentral enables even the smallest of businesses to offer a form of 24\/7 customer support.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"heading h3\"><strong>Call forwarding<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">VoIP phone systems come with call forwarding and other routing capabilities. Set up custom rules for incoming calls to facilitate sequential or simultaneous calls. You can also prioritize calls on set criteria, such as account history or forward customer calls straight to voicemail.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You\u2019ll never miss an important call again. When out of the office, after a predetermined amount of rings, your work phone number can forward calls to your personal number. You can set this for VIPs or for those times when you\u2019re on a call.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Alternatively, set up forwarding to ring an available team member if you\u2019re busy or away from your device.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">An on-premises PBX can also do call forwarding. Your options will be quite limited, and changing settings also isn\u2019t as intuitive. Forwarding calls based on operating hours or stepping away from your desk often just isn\u2019t practical with analog systems.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"cost\" class=\"heading h2\"><strong>\u00a0Cost of VoIP vs. landline<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In spite of all the varied VoIP vs. landline pros and cons we\u2019ve mentioned, like most business decisions, your choice may ultimately come down to your budget. Even if you have unlimited resources, you still want to get value for money. So, it\u2019s vital to consider VoIP vs. landline costs when it comes to business phone systems:<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"heading h3\"><strong>VoIP cost considerations<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Hardware<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: This is your on-premises network, including Ethernet ports and wireless routers. Your site likely already has this equipment. People doing <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ringcentral.com\/resources\/remote-central.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">remote work<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> will use their own equipment.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Internet:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Your monthly payment to your provider. (Again, you\u2019re already paying for this for normal business operations).<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Phones:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> You can purchase VoIP desk phones if you want, but they\u2019re not necessary. Team members can use either company-owned or personal desktops and smart devices.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Maintenance and upkeep<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: VoIP has minimal maintenance costs. You\u2019ll periodically replace equipment like computers to keep up with daily operations. Your provider maintains VoIP infrastructure.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>VoIP package<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Recurring monthly or annual fee based on the number of users or extensions you need. Most packages start as low as $20 per user, per month.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\"><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 class=\"heading h3\"><strong>Landline cost considerations<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Hardware<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Use your existing equipment for PSTN phone calls. You\u2019ll need to pay fees running from hundreds to thousands of dollars to replace or add new copper phone lines. If you don\u2019t have an on-premises PBX, you\u2019ll also have to buy a PBX operating console and other equipment.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Phone company<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Pay a monthly fee to your carrier for access to the local phone number. You\u2019ll have to pay additional fees for each phone line.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Phones:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> PBX desk and conference phones for employees and meeting rooms. Prices can vary widely depending on what you need. Every new team member will need their own phone.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Maintenance and upkeep<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: All equipment will need to be replaced regularly. If a line is faulty, you\u2019ll need to pay to get the experts in to solve the problem. You\u2019ll also need IT communications experts in-house for regular maintenance.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>International calling<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: You\u2019ll be at the mercy of the phone company\u2019s long-distance rates. Without the option to port local numbers, you\u2019ll spend more on external calls outside of your local area.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\"><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 id=\"vs\" class=\"heading h2\"><strong>VoIP vs. landline: Which is right for your business?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We\u2019ve greatly explored the landline phone vs. VoIP debate. After the dust settles, which one is the right choice for your business?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Well, VoIP is the best option if your business:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Plans on experiencing short-term and long-term growth, hiring new people regularly.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Expects to expand to new offices in different geographic regions.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Wants to be inclusive and empower remote and hybrid teams.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Aims to reduce expenditures and have consistent, transparent pricing for business communications.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Can benefit from unified communications and streamlined workflows.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Needs advanced call routing and greater customization of your communications.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Wants to work smarter with the aid of an AI-powered personal assistant.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If none of those reasons apply to your future plans, you\u2019re probably okay sticking with your faithful landline phones.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">RingCentral RingEX is the AI-powered unified communications platform for businesses looking for flexibility, value, and increased efficiency. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ringcentral.com\/feedback\/sales-contact.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Contact sales<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> today and find out how our platform elevates collaboration.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"faqs\" class=\"heading h2\"><strong>VoIP vs. landline FAQs<\/strong><\/h2>\n<h3 class=\"heading h3\"><strong>Can VoIP replace a landline phone?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Yes. VoIP allows you to call any other virtual or landline-based phone number just like a traditional analog system. VoIP allows you to make calls through the internet, and the best VoIP solutions aren\u2019t just about voice calls, either. They also come with greater functionality, to help you with video calling, SMS business texting, advanced call routing, eFax, and other features.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"heading h3\"><strong>\u00a0Is VoIP reliable?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">VoIP is very reliable. As long as you have a stable network connection, you can experience HD video and audio during calls (ensuring top visual and sound quality), with the right provider.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can trust VoIP more than landline systems for data reliability. VoIP providers use multiple redundant data centers. If one goes down, your data and service are safely stored at another location.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">AI-powered unified communications platforms like RingCentral RingEX provide 99.999% uptime in 46 countries. You\u2019ll always have service when you need it.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"heading h3\"><strong>Who should use VoIP services?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">VoIP service providers cater for freelancers, small businesses, large enterprises, and anything in between. A virtual PBX system that uses VoIP is a must-have for companies that work with remote and hybrid teams.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">VoIP helps SMBs professionally handle higher call volumes without breaking the bank. Features like local number portability, auto-attendants, and integrated call centers help level the playing field despite having fewer resources.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"heading h3\"><strong>What are the disadvantages of using VoIP?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There aren\u2019t many disadvantages to using VoIP vs. landline for your business. The main disadvantages are security and internet connectivity. The former relates to the fact that anything online is accessible to malicious hackers and eavesdropping.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, platforms like RingCentral protect your data with end-to-end encryption and single sign-on.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">VoIP call quality and performance are also dependent on your internet connection. If your signal is weak or your bandwidth is low, you may experience stutter, packet loss, and disconnections during a call.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"heading h3\"><strong>How much does VoIP cost?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>VoIP costs depend on what features you need and the size of your business. In general, you can expect to pay $20 to $30 per user, per month for reasonably comprehensive setups. You\u2019ll often enjoy lower costs if you sign up for an annual pricing plan instead of a monthly one.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"heading h3\"><strong>How do I switch to VoIP?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Switching to a VoIP provider is easy. Choose a service that fits your needs and budget. Contact the virtual business phone provider and sign up for a suitable package. After that, you only need a desktop, mobile, or browser-based application.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Log in to your account, configure some settings, and test out VoIP calling. The whole process can be done in minutes to hours.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Both VoIP and landline communications systems are still used by businesses around the world. There are pros and cons of each, but in the VoIP vs. landline debate, it\u2019s the former that\u2019s becoming more and more dominant.\u00a0 If you\u2019re interested in securing the future of your business communications, then you need to fully understand the &#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":29,"featured_media":57832,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[18390],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-57831","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-communication-and-collaboration"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v19.3 (Yoast SEO v27.2) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>VoIP vs Landline: Which is Best For Your Business?<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Understanding the VoIP vs landline debate is key to securing the future of your business communications. 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