When you hear the term “Softphone”, it is natural to assume that it is an actual phone, but it’s not; the term Softphone actually speaks to a software program or app (i.e., Google Voice) that permits a user to place calls over VoIP. It gives your smartphone, desktop, or laptop the ability to act as a powerful business phone.
- Cost Savings—One of the best things about Softphone applications is that many of them are available for free. Oftentimes, VoIP providers will even include a Softphone application in their package. In addition, the software for a Softphone can be pushed out to users preconfigured, unlike a desk phone. With a Softphone, no one from IT needs to do anything besides provide support.
- User Friendly Features—Desk phones can often be confusing; for call forwarding you have to type a series of buttons and to put a call on hold, there’s another unlabeled button. In contrast, the user interface for a Softphone features a customizable labeling option and drop-down menus. Some of the features of a softphone (including some that you won’t find on a desk phone) are:
- Call forwarding
- Hold capabilities
- Call transfer
- Conferencing
- Voicemail
- Greeting capabilities
- Text/Instant Messaging
- Echo cancellation for improved sound quality
- Address book
- Flexibility—If a person needs to move his or her office, the phone can be unplugged from the wall and plugged into any Ethernet jack or switch. The number and programming doesn’t change. A Softphone has even more flexibility than that; as soon as the computer is powered up, the user is ready to get back to work. This is the same for a laptop or a cell phone—you simply need the Internet!
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