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Guide to Best Telephony Services and Platforms in 2023

5 Min
Table Of Contents
Guide to Best Telephony Services and Platforms in 2023

What Is Telephony Service?

Telephony service providers that offer internet telephony solutions have become increasingly popular among businesses worldwide, including in the UK and Europe. Studies have shown that approximately 50% of European businesses utilising IP communications have opted for a hosted telephony service. So, what is telephony service? It refers to the communication service that enables users to make and receive voice calls using a telephone system. An internet telephony service provider (ITSP) is a company that offers telephony services over the internet.

The primary advantage of hosted telephony is that traditional phone lines and hardware are no longer necessary, and all calls are made through a high-speed internet connection like broadband. Hosted telephony services also relieve companies of the burden of maintaining and managing the system. Telephony service providers that offer internet telephony solutions provide the necessary software for making and receiving voice calls, and calls are managed via the provider's servers. Clients can access these calls through the cloud, and the servers are managed remotely by the provider, eliminating the need for on-premises hardware and software management.

Internet Telephony Service Provider

An internet telephony service provider (ITSP) offers telephony services over the internet. ITSPs use cloud telephony services, which allow clients to make and receive calls using their internet connection instead of traditional phone lines.

ITSPs provide businesses with a range of telephony services, such as voice calls, voicemail, call forwarding, and conference calling. These services are hosted on the provider's servers, which clients can access through the cloud. Clients can manage their telephony services through a web-based portal provided by the ITSP.

One of the key advantages of using an ITSP is that it eliminates the need for businesses to invest in expensive on-premises telephony hardware and software. The ITSP handles all the necessary maintenance and upgrades, ensuring that clients always have access to the latest technology. Additionally, cloud telephony services allow businesses to easily scale up or down their telephony services based on their changing needs.

Fixed Telephony Services

Fixed telephony services refer to traditional landline-based telephony services, which use physical copper wires to connect a business's phone system to the public switched telephone network (PSTN). Fixed telephony services offer a reliable and secure means of communication that is essential for many businesses.

Fixed telephony services provide businesses with a range of features, including call waiting, voicemail, and call forwarding. These services are usually provided as part of a monthly subscription package. Fixed telephony services also offer businesses the ability to integrate their phone system with other business applications, such as customer relationship management (CRM) software.

Clients of fixed telephony services can expect a high level of reliability and voice quality. Unlike internet-based telephony services, fixed telephony services are not affected by internet connectivity issues or bandwidth limitations. Additionally, fixed telephony services offer businesses the ability to have dedicated phone lines that are not shared with other businesses, providing an additional level of security and privacy.

Overall, fixed telephony services are a dependable and essential part of any business's communication infrastructure. With a range of features and options available, businesses can choose a package that best meets their needs and budget. As technology continues to evolve, fixed telephony services will continue to play an important role in the telephony service landscape.

Tci Telephony Services

TCI telephony services are a leading provider of telephony services, offering businesses a range of communication solutions to meet their unique needs. TCI provides both fixed and cloud-based telephony services, including traditional landline-based telephony and internet telephony services.

TCI's fixed telephony services include a range of features such as call waiting, call forwarding, and voicemail. These services use physical copper wires to connect a business's phone system to the public switched telephone network (PSTN) and offer a high level of reliability and voice quality.

In addition to fixed telephony services, TCI also provides cloud-based telephony services, which use the internet to make and receive calls. These services offer businesses the flexibility to work from anywhere, as long as they have an internet connection. TCI's cloud telephony services include features such as call recording, virtual fax, and conference calling.

Cloud Telephony Services

Cloud telephony services are a type of internet-based telephony service that uses cloud technology to make and receive calls. Cloud telephony services offer businesses a range of features and benefits that are not available with traditional fixed telephony services.

One of the main advantages of cloud telephony services is their flexibility. With cloud telephony, businesses can work from anywhere, as long as they have an internet connection. This makes it ideal for businesses with remote workers, as well as those that need to work from multiple locations.

Cloud telephony services also offer businesses a range of features such as virtual fax, call recording, and conference calling. These features can help businesses to streamline their communication processes and improve productivity.

Best Business Phone Systems Of 2023

Ring Central

With a basic plan starting at just £19.99 per user per month (or £29.99 per user if paid monthly), this provider offers unlimited calling within the UK and Canada, voicemail to text, call log reports, document sharing and team messaging.

For businesses that require more advanced features such as international calling or toll-free numbers, this provider also offers higher-priced plans with these options included. Additionally, a range of add-ons are available, including vanity numbers for a one-time fee of £30 and high-volume SMS for £0.0085 per message sent or received.

Grasshopper

For UK-based small businesses or solopreneurs, Grasshopper can be an excellent choice for telephony services. Instead of charging per user, the service offers a flat monthly fee of £22 (if billed annually), which can be a cost-effective option. Grasshopper's service includes business texting, call transfers, custom greetings, extensions, call forwarding and virtual fax features that can help businesses stay connected with their clients.

Inflection Point

Inflection Point puts a focus on working with businesses of all sizes. They provide an array of solutions that give businesses the scope to scale up with ease. Their services are delivered by industry experts and their packages are tailored to the needs of the client. As a result, businesses will benefit from a bespoke solution that fits their needs perfectly.

8X8

8x8 is a cost-effective option for businesses in the UK that are looking for a scalable and reliable VoIP service. With its affordable pricing and flexibility, 8x8 can be an excellent choice for small businesses or startups. The 8x8 Express plan is their lowest-cost plan, which comes with essential features, such as unlimited chat, content sharing, unlimited video conferencing, visual voicemail, unlimited domestic calling, A/V conferencing for up to 100 participants, and meeting recording and transcription.

Vonage

Vonage's VoIP service is a perfect option for UK customers who need to tailor their service to their specific requirements. The service offers a host of features such as unlimited calls and SMS, 24/7 support, and an impressive 99.999% uptime. Vonage also offers add-ons, including toll-free numbers, advanced IT support, call recording and visual voicemail.

However, the service can be costly, as certain features are only available on more expensive plans. While the base VoIP service is affordable, on-demand call recording is only available on higher-tier plans. Nonetheless, the most affordable plan includes unlimited calls and SMS messages, along with team messaging, which makes it an excellent budget option for customers who need only basic features. With Vonage, you can customise your service to fit your unique needs, making it an attractive option for businesses of all sizes.

Dialpad

Dialpad is a flexible cloud-based VoIP service, perfect for UK businesses who want a feature-rich system. Their basic plan includes unlimited calling, custom voicemail greetings, unlimited SMS and MMS, voicemail transcription, call forwarding, and integration with Google Workspace and Microsoft Office.

Their Pro plan is perfect for those who need more advanced features such as CRM integration with Salesforce or HubSpot. Additionally, Dialpad can integrate with other popular apps such as Zapier, Zendesk and Slack, and allows for API and webhooks for further customisation. One unique feature of Dialpad is Voice Intelligence which can take notes, follow up on tasks and identify unknown numbers, all while generating call highlights and clips.

MagicJack

MagicJack is a cost-effective VoIP service that provides unlimited calling to the U.S. and Canada, along with free voicemail transcription. Existing phone numbers can also be ported to the service. International calling is free and unlimited when both the caller and receiver have a magicJack device, or rates start at 2.2 cents per minute.

The affordability of magicJack makes it one of the most attractive options on the market. For just £43, you can enjoy 12 months of service with magicIN and magicOUT. You can even get 15 months of service with magicIN and magicOUT one-way service at the same price.

Nextiva

Nextiva is our final pick for the best VoIP service for UK businesses due to its user-friendly interface and wide range of features. With unlimited calling within the UK and Canada, as well as toll-free numbers, unlimited internet fax, and integration with popular email clients such as Outlook and Gmail, it's a versatile option for businesses of any size.

Nextiva's control panel is simple to use, making it easy to manage your account and add or remove users as needed. With a 99.999% uptime guarantee, you can rely on the service for clear and reliable call quality. Whether you need to make calls, send faxes or hold online meetings, Nextiva's feature-rich service has got you covered.