Softphones v/s Deskphone – Which is best for your organization?

Softphones and desk phones are two VoIP calling channels with the same purpose but different arrangements. Learn the difference between them.

Businesses take their communications seriously. A split-second delay or a lapse in communication can severely impact decisions and cause them to lose their clientele. Hence, businesses always demand cutting-edge technology and hence are making the shift to VoIP systems.

 

Benefits of VoIP phone system for business

The reason why businesses swear by VoIP solutions as reliable business communication channels are:

-       Significant year-over-year savings

-       Advanced enterprise-grade Unified Calling features

-       Scalable solution

-       Reliable and secure

Another business decision when considering VoIP systems is “which out of softphone and desk phone should they use?” While they serve the same purpose, there are differences between both. Let’s understand the differences.

 

What is a Deskphone/ IP Phone?

Deskphone, commonly called an IP Phone, is physical hardware that resembles a standard telephone but has additional hardware for VoIP-enabled features.

 

What is a Softphone system?

A softphone is a software emulation of the IP Phone that can be installed as an app on a wide range of internet-enabled devices such as smartphones, tablets, and desktop computers.

 

You can learn more about What is a Softphone, and how does it work.

 

Softphone vs Deskphone

Both serve a common purpose, i.e., making and receiving calls, as well as providing additional call management services such as call hold, transfer, park, etc., and voicemail services. However, when measuring their effectiveness in terms of versatility, cost, functionality, ease of use, and call quality, the differences are evident.

 

 

Versatility

Contrary to the popular misconception, desk phone doesn’t mean you need to sacrifice mobility. Deskphones are plug-and-play devices that can be easily operated once connected to the internet.

However, the softphone solution has an edge here as it can be installed on handheld devices, hence achieving complete mobility.

 

Cost

Depending on the features you need, a wide range of desk phones are available at different price points. The softphone gains an advantage over desk phones, as businesses can cut down equipment costs by implementing BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) policy.

 

Functionality

Softphone offers almost the same features as a deskphone, with the exception that softphones offer a better level of mobility when installed on a mobile device.

 

Call Quality

IP phone connects to the internet using an Ethernet cable, which makes it reliable compared to cellular or Wi-Fi, which relies on signal strength for providing consistent speeds.

 

Ease-of-use

This is a tie as both are fairly simple to use, and the initial set up is easily manageable.

 

Who should use a softphone?

Softphones are a good fit for businesses that have:

�-�     Telecommuting employees.

�-�     Call centers with fluctuating agent volume.

�-�     Working remotely.

�-�     Need to record calls for training purposes.

�-�     Customer support staff.

 

Wrapping Up

There is no clear victor between softphones and desk phones as both are VoIP-enabled phones with fascinating capabilities. Instead, you should choose the one that best suits your company's needs.

(Vindaloo Softtech Softphone �" Android)  (Vindaloo Softtech Softphone �" App Store)