When we talk about VoIP services like Skype or WhatsApp come to mind. However if we are requiring these apps for professional use, with features such as virtual private business phone lines or a PBX, we have to take it a step further. You will need to look for VoIP softphone apps that go beyond making a call or video chats with friends to ensure they have the bandwidth of communication services, security and quality calling to ensure effective business communications.
There are plenty of softphone options available in the market, so it is important to do your research and understand their benefits and costs before making your selection. Softphone app solutions allow you to put the office phone inside your smartphone mobile, which frees you from the need to be tied to the table to receive or make calls with the company number.
You may be thinking, why choose portable VoIP or Softphone app solutions? Below we capture the top 3 call out advantages to make this choice.
- Softphone VoIP apps improve efficiencies & allow for significant cost savings across your business
- Softphone VoIP apps provide high quality, reliable mobile calling perfect for dispersed teams
- Softphone VoIP apps allow you to make calls while on the go, wherever you are, ensuring no call is ever missed
Let's see some of the most popular best softphone choices among those presented on the market today. Keep in mind, that using them will most likely require registering with the service first.
Professional softphone apps: what are the options and what features do they offer
Zadarma
Before talking about any other app, we want to present you the Zadarma app that is continually being updated with iterative advancements and improvements. Zadarma’s softphone or mobile app is free if you are already using Zadarma as your VoIP provider. This app operates on iOS, Android, Mac and Windows and provides a wide range of features including calls, messaging, video calling, and screen-sharing. This softphone app can be used with or without the Cloud PBX. When you use the app with the Cloud PBX, you will benefit from the full breadth of VoIP features and the phone system can be used to its fullest, providing a professional business persona. Among other novelties, there is also the renewed interface design and greater features accessibility, the possibility of copying a number and the Instant delivery of SMS messages. These features were added to those that could already be enjoyed, such as the possibility of configuring disconnection time, receiving calls only using Wi-Fi to save data, automatic integration with contacts or call cost and balance display.
With distanced working set to stay, businesses are looking beyond their standard office communication needs. Cloud communication platforms like our very own Zadarma’s softphone app provides an accessible, usable solution. Moreover Zadarma can offer their VoIP solution through both iOS and Android apps. This offers businesses seamless access to VoIP communications internationally through mobile. The sophisticated tech communication platform allows smart push notifications to work in the background so that when you receive a call, your mobile is notified and the app activated so you can accept the call.
Here are some of the core Zadarma softphone app feature-benefits:
- Smart push notifications, independent of app usage, this helps save battery life
- Integrated contacts keep you easily in touch
- Your account balance display helps you track usage costs in real time
- Text messages among the Zadarma network users are free
- Make calls via SIP or Zadarma’s free cloud-based (hosted) private branch exchange (PBX) with interactive voice response (IVR)
- Ability to set CallerID and call forwarding in app
- Send free text messages between Zadarma network users
- Send and receive SMS messages
- Monitor account balance in real time
- Use your phonebook thanks to an automatic integration
One of Zadarma's most efficient Softphone updates is that you no longer have to have it open at all times since smart push notifications have been implemented. This means that the app works in the background and when a call gets through, it is activated, and you can attend to it.
Now let’s take a wider look outside of Zadarma and investigate other Softphone apps available.
Zoiper
With both free and paid versions of the app (around 8 EUR/9 USD), Zoiper offers just the softphone. What does this mean? That by itself it is not very useful unless you subscribe to a SIP or IAX service.
The free version is sufficient and has many features such as call holding, background work, different ringtones for each account, call transfer etc. The paid version also supports video calls and offers other advantages.
It seems like an interesting alternative, however, it has a drawback of having to configure it on each phone on your own, there is no application support. Besides, beware of the fraudulent apps that use the good name of Zoiper to steal user data.
3CX
It is, perhaps, the one that resembles Zadarma app the most among those that we are presenting here. 3CX is also a VoIP services provider that does not have clear rates but works through personalized budgets, so you cannot assess the cost without contacting them first.
3CX clients work with a company account and both Android and iOS apps offer a range in features. They include detecting if you are in or out of the office, call transfer and calls on hold, status changing (busy, in transit, etc.), multi-call, see the status of colleagues, conference, chat, etc.
This app is not the easiest to install. The app requires you to enter data from your account. The PBX administrator is the one who must configure the push service for the 3CX clients so that, among other things, notifications work. So it is quite a complicated application, but if you lack a fairly advanced technical department, which is common for small and medium-sized companies, it can be difficult to carry it out.
RingCentral
The RingCentral softphone application is probably one of the most well-known options. The app is free if you are already using RingCentral as your VoIP provider. If not, you will need to sign up to one of their four packages to use the app.
RingCentral app operates on iOS, Android, Mac and Windows and provides a wide range of features including calls (obviously), messaging, video calling, and screen-sharing.
The app is frequently updated, and the company claims high-quality connection at all times. Prices vary significantly and depend on the size of your company and the number of employees; they start at around $19.99/month.
Cisco Jabber
Cisco Jabber is a softphone application that works on iOS, Android, Blackberry, Mac, and Windows platforms. It offers secure VoIP connection, HD video and screen sharing capabilities, plus other features that can assist with your communication needs.
Jabber is quite a straightforward app to use and it benefits from being a part of the larger Cisco family. However, it is only meant for internal company communication and might not work for you if you are seeking to engage with clients or partners.
To conclude:
VoIP smartphone apps provide a sophisticated tech communication platform that allows smart push notifications to work in the background so that when you receive a call, your mobile is notified and the app activated so you can accept the call. For most business communications, VoIP offers an excellent combination of advanced features, affordable pricing and maximum operational flexibility. VoIP setup is inexpensive and you immediately remove the need for heavy hardware and wiring expenses. After the set up savings, the biggest economies typically come from free or cheap long distance calls made through mobile apps. VoIP lets you easily add or subtract capacity without changing your phone lines and equipment, and most importantly your international or remote team can communicate from anywhere in the world on the same system through softphone apps (mobile applications).