Are you wondering what the best office phone systems for small businesses are?

In this article we’ll take a look at all the major options for office phone systems in 2024, and provide our recommendations about which system might be best for your situation. Learn more about the following systems below:

1. VoIP
2. Virtual
3. Landlines
4. How to Install

At Network Telecom, we’ve been in the telecommunications industry for more than 40 years, and we’d love to share our expertise with you.

Office Phone Systems for Small Business: The Options

There are three different types of office phone systems for small business: VoIP, virtual, and landline. Here is an explanation of each type and when each one would be an appropriate choice.

1. VoIP

VoIP phone systems are specifically designed to take advantage of IP (Internet protocols) technology. A VoIP phone can take the analog signal provided by a traditional phone and convert it into a digital format and vice-versa. A VoIP system works entirely over your internet connection on your existing network.

VoIP is by far the most popular choice for office phone systems for small business for a number of good reasons:

VoIP Costs Less to Setup than a Landline:

The cost associated with installing a VoIP network is generally less than installation costs for a traditional phone network. This is because all the voice and data are being sent over one physical network, eliminating the need for you to have numerous PBX lines associated with a traditional system.

VoIP uses the internet to send and receive calls.

VoIP Has Lower Monthly Fees:

VoIP has lower monthly charges than traditional landlines. You generally will pay a relatively low monthly fee to your Internet Service Provider and avoid expensive long-distance charges.

VoIP Has Lower Maintenance Costs:

The maintenance of landline systems is usually carried out by an on-site technician, whereas VoIP repairs can often be carried out remotely by a technician with access privileges making repairs less expensive. In addition, VoIP contains less physical equipment so there are fewer costly repairs.

VoIP Offers a Wide Variety of New Features

VoIP systems can offer you great features such as automated attendants, conference calling, software integrations, mobile apps and much more.

VoIP offers great features such as an automated attendant.

VoIP Is Highly Portable

Your VoIP office phone system can operate virtually anywhere that has internet connectivity. This allows your business to take your phones with you if you move to a new location. You can also connect to your system remotely when you are travelling, which allows you to use your business phone number even when you aren’t in the office.

VoIP Is Easily Scalable

Unlike a landline phone system, it is easy to add new lines to a VoIP system. You merely have to plug another VoIP phone into your existing network. There is no need to install additional physical lines.

Recommendations

VoIP systems require a reliable Internet connection. If your business has one, then a VoIP system is a great choice for you. A couple of great VoIP options include Microsoft Teams and Avaya Cloud.

Microsoft Teams is a great VoIP option. | Image Source: Microsoft Teams

VoIP Calling with Microsoft Teams

Microsoft Teams VoIP calling lets you make, receive, and transfer calls to and from landlines and mobile phones on the public switched telephone network (PSTN):

When you use Microsoft Teams you can take full advantage of their great features, including:

• Online meetings
• Calling and video conferencing
• Screen and file sharing
• Custom Backgrounds
• Instant Messaging and more!

VoIP Communication with Avaya Cloud

Avaya Cloud Office simplifies your VoIP communications. You can call, chat, meet, collaborate and share files no matter where your employees might be.

It includes more than 100 business integrations, like Google Drive and Salesforce, to give you a truly customized cloud unified communications experience. Avaya Cloud Office gives your employees and customers the features and options you want, all in one app.

Avaya Cloud office is another great VoIP option.

2. Virtual Phone Service

Virtual phone services connect calls between local phone numbers, toll-free numbers and users. Like VoIP, virtual phone services use the internet to make calls. However, to have a virtual phone service, you need another phone number that you forward calls from.

The biggest advantage of a virtual system is that it cost less than a VoIP system. The biggest disadvantage is that they don’t offer you all of the great features that a VoIP system offers.

Recommendation

If your business is really small or just starting out then a virtual phone service may be a good option. For example, freelancers and companies with very small teams who don’t need a lot of extra features will use a virtual service so that they can have a separate phone number that they keep for work purposes only.

3. Landlines

A landline is a traditional telephone system that has been in existence for decades. The biggest disadvantage of a landline is that they are much more expensive to install and maintain than VoIP and Virtual options. Landlines also don’t offer many features, usually, they only allow you to have voice and fax capabilities.

The biggest advantage of a landline is that they operate independently from the power grid and don’t rely on a reliable internet connection.

Recommendation

If your business is located in a rural area or if you don’t have a reliable or stable internet connection that can handle a VoIP system, then a landline is your best option.

Virtual systems are great for smaller businesses and landlines are an option if you don’t have reliable internet.

How Is Your Current Phone System Working for You?

Want to discover how your current phone system is doing for you? Take our FREE Business Communications Self Audit and get a grade for your phone system in the following categories:

• Functionality
• Reliability
• Financial Efficiency
• Physical State of Your Hardware

4. How to Install

For Installation Services and the Best Office Phone Systems for Small Businesses, Contact Network Telecom.

If you are looking to purchase a new office phone system, contact the telecommunication specialists at Network Telecom. We have been selling, installing, and servicing every type of phone system for over 40 years.

We can even help with training your employees on the features of your new phone system so that you can use it as efficiently as possible.

If your phone system is not working as it should, our trained technicians are available to help 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. We carry a huge selection of parts in order to quickly solve any component issues you are experiencing. If you are having a telecommunication or networking issue, we can resolve it quickly and professionally.

In addition to our accredited and certified technical expertise, we offer:

• Consultative Sales
• Cloud Services
• Ongoing Support
• Voice Mail Systems
• System Design + Consulting
• System Admin + User Training
• PA Systems
• VoIP Specialist
• Network Cabling