All posts tagged: voip software

Worried About VoIP Security and Encryption? We Aren’t

Worried About VoIP Security and Encryption? We Aren’t

Published by Webster

Any modern business using a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) phone system knows that maintaining security is essential for confidentiality, customer trust, and regulation compliance. Industries like healthcare, for example, have strict regulations governing communications, and HIPAA-compliant VoIP providers offer security, privacy, and access management tools to help companies follow these regulations — even when employees access the network from far away places. Meanwhile, poor encryption and security can also affect your bottom line, as scammers and fraudsters will find ways to exploit weaknesses to commit VoIP fraud on unsecured phone systems. Toll fraud works by hijacking a company’s phone system to make artificial and high-volume long-distance calls. The owner of the system gets charged for these calls (often without noticing), and then fraudsters are given a share of the revenue from colluding carrier services. Along with toll fraud, there are many other vulnerabilities of VoIP systems — but if you are using one of the best business phone services, your vendor is going to take over the challenging parts of VoIP security and encryption. …

Is a Multi Level Auto Attendant Worth Upgrading For?

Is a Multi Level Auto Attendant Worth Upgrading For?

Published by Webster

If you’ve ever called a company and been greeted by a friendly automated voice offering you a menu of options, you’ve encountered an auto attendant. Without a live agent, this automated system directs you to the right department or person by having you select options from a menu. Multi-level auto attendants enhance the caller experience by offering a sophisticated and in-depth menu system, fully customized to a customer’s needs. Unlike standard attendants with a single layer of options, multi-level systems provide a hierarchy of choices, allowing callers to drill down to the exact service or department they need. This results in more precise call routing, decreased wait times, and reduced caller frustration. While the benefits of multi-level auto attendants are clear, the question remains: is it worth upgrading to this advanced system? For some companies, overhauling their current auto attendant may not seem necessary, especially at a higher cost. To make the best decision for your team, we’ll explore the features and advantages of multi-level auto attendants and important considerations to keep in mind if …

VoIP Fax Might Work, But There Are More Reliable Options

VoIP Fax Might Work, But There Are More Reliable Options

Published by Webster

While it’s possible to send a fax using Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), it’s not a good idea. VoIP fax is not reliable, at all, and there is no IT person in the world who would recommend that you send a fax with VoIP. Faxing is built on analog technology that isn’t compatible with digital VoIP phone systems that make calls over the internet. I’ll explain exactly why that is and share specific problems you may run into when attempting to send VoIP faxes. If you need to send a fax without a fax machine or landline, there are simple online fax services that work far better than trying to use VoIP to send a fax. Okay — that’s the quick rundown of key information. Let’s dig into the details. 1 CloudTalk Employees per Company Size Micro (0-49), Small (50-249), Medium (250-999), Large (1,000-4,999), Enterprise (5,000+) Any Company Size Any Company Size Features 24/7 Customer Support, Call Management/Monitoring, Contact Center, and more Why VoIP fax struggles When you make a VoIP phone call, the sound of …

How to Run a UCaaS Migration Your Customers Won’t Notice

How to Run a UCaaS Migration Your Customers Won’t Notice

Published by Webster

When you migrate to UCaaS (Unified Communications as a Service), voice, video, messaging, and collaboration tools are combined into a single cloud-based platform. Employees can sign into a one service for all communications, which is more efficient and easier to secure. But migrating from a legacy system isn’t easy. Downtime, data transfer challenges, and frustrated customers can turn an upgrade into a headache. With the right strategy, though, you can work with a good UCaaS provider to ensure a seamless migration — avoid interruptions, confusion, and angry calls from lost customers. 1 CloudTalk Employees per Company Size Micro (0-49), Small (50-249), Medium (250-999), Large (1,000-4,999), Enterprise (5,000+) Any Company Size Any Company Size Features 24/7 Customer Support, Call Management/Monitoring, Contact Center, and more UCaaS migration challenges Migrating from a legacy system Moving from an older legacy system usually entails issues with compatibility, integration, and data migration. Some of the common problems include: Incompatibility with cloud systems: Older PBX systems and analog devices often lack the integrations needed for modern UCaaS platforms. Hardware dependency: Proprietary hardware …

5 Types of Webinars + 4 Formats and When They Work Best

5 Types of Webinars + 4 Formats and When They Work Best

Published by Webster

Webinar platforms have come a long way since Microsoft first launched its video conferencing software NetMeeting in 1996, but the core idea remains unchanged. Today, webinars are versatile tools for training, education, communication, and marketing, enabling presenters to engage with audiences in real time through polls, surveys, and questions. Webinars excel at generating leads, raising awareness, teaching skills, and demonstrating products. Their direct-to-camera presentation feels authentic — even when pre-recorded — and helps brands build their presence. Despite their versatility, webinar software platforms are easy to use.  However, there are many different kinds of webinars you can host, so it’s important to be aware of the best practices of each. 1 CloudTalk Employees per Company Size Micro (0-49), Small (50-249), Medium (250-999), Large (1,000-4,999), Enterprise (5,000+) Any Company Size Any Company Size Features 24/7 Customer Support, Call Management/Monitoring, Contact Center, and more The only five types of webinars Here are the different types of webinars you’re going to see: Live webinars. On-demand webinars. Simulated live webinars. Hybrid webinars. Virtual workshop webinars. In case you’re wondering… …

Why the Rate Center Matters When You Buy or Port Numbers

Why the Rate Center Matters When You Buy or Port Numbers

Published by Webster

A rate center is a particular geographic area that’s crucial for businesses relying on phone services, whether they’re using traditional PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) or making calls over the internet with VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol). These centers outline the rules for local calling, billing, and assigning phone numbers. Essentially, they determine whether a call is local or long-distance based on its origin. By familiarizing yourself with rate centers, you may be able to choose your phone numbers more thoughtfully. Essentially, you can use this knowledge to ensure your business appears local and accessible to customers, which means they’re more likely to want to work with you. It also prevents your customers from facing long-distance charges, which is especially important if your business involves regular phone interactions. By strategically aligning your communication channels with customer needs, you can simultaneously make your customers happier while reducing costs on both sides of the phone call. Understanding rate centers Rate centers are particular areas that help phone companies figure out how to organize and charge for calls. …

Can You Replicate a Key Phone System In the Cloud?

Can You Replicate a Key Phone System In the Cloud?

Published by Webster

Key phones are traditional desk phones with a central unit and handset. Able to support up to 50 users, they’re often used by small to medium-sized offices. They have a dial pad and special buttons that let users route calls to other extensions or access features like hold or transfer. A key phone system has been ideal for companies with employees who need to be reachable at their desk and behind the counter. These systems are easy to manage compared to a traditional PBX — and excel at the core competencies of a basic phone system. But as equipment ages and more flexible, scalable, and cost-effective solutions hit the market, many businesses are upgrading their landline to VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol). 1 CloudTalk Employees per Company Size Micro (0-49), Small (50-249), Medium (250-999), Large (1,000-4,999), Enterprise (5,000+) Any Company Size Any Company Size Features 24/7 Customer Support, Call Management/Monitoring, Contact Center, and more Why it’s hard to let go of your existing system For many businesses, this trusty technology has been the silent backbone …

9 VoIP Troubleshooting Tips to Fix Everything Right Now

9 VoIP Troubleshooting Tips to Fix Everything Right Now

Published by Webster

Making VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) calls is easy, convenient, flexible, and affordable. VoIP troubleshooting, on the other hand, can be frustrating and time consuming if you don’t know where to look. Some of the most common issues include dropped calls, mic echo, delay, no audio, or one-way audio. Fortunately, fixing most of these problems is relatively simple with one of the following: Move closer to the router. Close other applications. Use a different Wi-Fi band. Update router firmware. Disable SIP ALG. Check firewall settings. Change VoIP codecs. Prioritize VoIP traffic with QoS. Use a Wi-Fi booster. Bonus tip: If your router is more than a few years old, you might want to replace it with one of the best VoIP routers. I recommend give these other fixes a try first — VoIP is old technology that certainly doesn’t need the latest and greatest hardware to work well. 1. Move closer to the router (or restart it) Because of how routers work, this tip is really effective. If it’s easy for you to move with …

5 Scenarios Where Non-Fixed VoIP Is Better than a Static Number

5 Scenarios Where Non-Fixed VoIP Is Better than a Static Number

Published by Webster

When you buy a phone number that uses Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) to make calls, you’ll have to decide between fixed or non-fixed VoIP. Put simply, fixed-VoIP is tied to a specific physical location. A non-fixed VoIP number is not tied to a place at all — it’s tied to a user. You may have also heard non-fixed VoIP numbers referred to by other common names like: Virtual phone numbers. Internet phone numbers. Cloud phone numbers. Unlike traditional phone numbers, which are linked to a landline or a specific geographic area, non-fixed VoIP numbers operate over the internet and can be used to make and receive calls from anywhere in the world with an internet connection. To get a fixed VoIP number, you’ll have to give a physical address for emergency services geolocation and meet additional regulatory requirements.  This makes fixed VoIP numbers a better option if you operate from a single location and must stick to local regulations or require access to emergency services. To get a non-fixed VoIP number, you just need …