Softphones: The Present and Future of All Successful Businesses Platforms

Given the new reality we are all experiencing, softphones are not only the new normal for businesses, but they are the new necessity to survive and thrive in our digital-centric world.

We are talking about softphones here, not smartphones. Smartphones are basically your typical cell phone nowadays, where you have direct access to the internet and almost any app available in the market. Now that we know what a smartphone is let’s find out what softphones are.

A softphone is a software that is used through a mobile app and works on any internet-connected device that is used to make phone calls. Usually, the software is already pre-installed in the VoIP provider, where you would use it as if it were the same interface on the phone. You will have access to all the features that come with the VoIP you are using.

For the most part, a softphone will grant you access and help enhance the VoIP experiences. This is a clear distinction and a massive benefit for softphones because you cannot do the same things with a smartphone, even those with some booster.

This is one of the main benefits and foremost reasons that numerous VoIP providers have already pre-installed their hardware to enhance the VoIP feature.

We have already established that a softphone is best used as a VoIP feature. But do we really know what that means? Or what VoIP is?

So let us cover the basics, what is VoIP? It stands for Voice over Internet Protocol, a feature that we can access through our computers, laptops, smartphones, and almost any device with internet access. It allows us to convert the said device into a full-fledged business phone from anywhere in the world. All you need is a decent internet connection, and you’re welcomed to the new normal.

To understand the value of the softphone, we must understand why VoIP has become an essential part of all businesses. VoIP is much more than phone service. It is an all-around communications tool. By having access to cloud services through VoIP, customers can pick up a call and search for that client’s profile on their database simultaneously.

It used to be seen as a luxury of sorts, but now it has become everyone’s reality. Although the worst of the pandemic is behind us, we will start to notice the permanent switch around the world from traditional working spaces to remote working. And this will go hand in hand with the increase in demand for reliable VoIP providers.

Now that we have established the importance of VoIP and the softphone, let us take a closer look at some of the software’s features.

Standard Softphone Features

Softphones provide a hub for options when it comes to customizing the interface you are using, from simple pre-established caller settings to full customization of the interface, all to provide a more complete and better tool for your business needs.

We are all familiar with the features that we have come to expect from any phone, such as hold, mute, transfer, double lines, and instant messaging. Besides these standard features, here are some of the other features that a softphone usually provides:

• Display with multiple lines
• Conferencing and 3-way calling
• Caller ID
• Call Waiting
• Voicemail
• Call Forwarding
• Call Log
• Call Hold/Resume
• Customizable interface to enhance the experience
• Mute and Volume Controls

While those are some great features, let’s switch our focus to the benefits:

• Cost Savings
• Overhead
• Traditional landlines
• Options to work from anywhere you want
• Less bulgy equipment to carry
• High-quality video conferencing
• Always be connected

Most softphone software comes with these features pre-installed on most electronic devices, and there is no need for any physical installation or equipment. As the software keeps evolving and keeps growing with VoIP, you will see more and more businesses ditching the traditional hard lines and going exclusively online and remote.

People learn and evolve quickly, especially when it is beneficial to them. Now people do not want to work from home anymore; they want remote work. A big difference is that remote work means you have all the tools you need to fulfill your job at your fingertips. This gives freedom to choose where and when you want to do something.