VoIP Cordless Phone: What is it And Why You Should Have One

The telephone has been one of the most important methods of communication since the early 1900s. Whether it’s connecting with loved ones, conducting business, or finding information, the humble phone call doesn’t look like it’ll be replaced any time soon. 

But with most people now having access to the internet, the telephony landscape has gone through some changes. 

Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) phones bridge the gap between telephone communication and internet communication, providing a smartphone system for business.

The benefits of VoIP phones are plentiful, and with RingCentral’s cordless VoIP phones, it just got even better. 

So, follow this guide on VoIP cordless phone: what it is and why you should say goodbye to your corded phone forever.

What Is VoIP?

VoIP stands for Voice over Internet Protocol. Quite simply, it means your voice call is sent over the internet rather than a telephone line. 

VoIP may also be referred to as IP telephony, IP phones, SIP phones, or even in terms such as ‘cloud voice’ or ‘hosted voice.’ 

How does VoIP work? 

With VoIP phones, analogue voice signals are converted to digital data using packet-switching technology. 

In other words, the sound waves produced when you talk become digitised and compressed so that they can be sent across the internet. When this data reaches the receiving end, it is uncompressed into the audio that you hear on your handset or from your speakerphone. 

Here’s how it looks: 

Voice signal > digitally compressed > sent > uncompressed > received  

Unlike traditional phone calls which use telephone lines or cell towers, VoIP phones utilise your existing internet gateways to make and receive calls. This means there’s no need for the hassle of setting up a landline. 

We’ll look more into the benefits of IP phone systems throughout this guide. 

What you need to prepare when starting a VoIP system

Getting set up with a VoIP system doesn’t need to be difficult. The following sections will explain everything you need to get started. 

1. A reliable connection 

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A VoIP phone system is no use without a reliable internet connection. Just like poor phone compatibility with existing tech or bad lines, an unreliable internet connection will negatively impact call quality. 

Fortunately, the required internet speeds for VoIP phones are relatively low, so connection shouldn’t be an issue. A minimum speed of 90-100 Kbps per phone is all that’s required for good call quality.

Remember, this number becomes multiplied per phone. In other words, the more VoIP phones you have on your network, the higher the connection speed required. Ten VoIP phones would require 1 Mbps (which is still low). 

If you do encounter problems, perform checks. For example, If you’re using wi-fi, make sure your routers are working and wi-fi is switched on. If you’re using a wired connection, make sure ethernet cables and power supplies are connected. 

2. An idea of must-have features

To get the most out of your VoIP phone system and help your business succeed, you’ll need an idea of what features you need. 

Today’s VoIP phones are feature-packed and the choices you make will depend on the specifics of your business. 

For example, if you accept incoming calls from different customers and new leads all day, you might want a VoIP business phone with an LCD screen to show who’s calling. Or perhaps you run an automated booking service? You’ll want HD voice capabilities for clarity and efficiency. 

Here’s a list of typical VoIP phone features: 

• Call monitoring
• Virtual receptionist
• Automated service messages
• Smartqueue
• CRM integration 
• Inbound call escalation 
• Audio conferencing 
• Video conferencing 
• Dual band wi-fi connectivity
• Wideband audio capability
• HD audio 
• Touch screen
• Wireless handset 
• Bluetooth
• Wireless headset integration

Having all these features on a business phone puts VoIP phones miles ahead of traditional phone systems. The affordances of the digital world we live in have opened up new and improved opportunities for business communication. 

3. Number of handsets or VoIP cordless phones needed

VoIP phone systems can operate as single phones or as a network of multiple phones connected to the same internet network. The number of handsets or cordless phones needed will simply depend on how many your business needs.

Do you want one phone for every staff member? Then you could opt for a desk phone like the Cisco 8861. Integrating with seamless compatibility paired with tech such as DECT software including DECT base products and DECT handset models, the Cisco 8861 is ideal for scaling your communications network. 

Do you only need certain staff members to have a phone? Then you could opt for a cordless handset like the Yealink W69P for greater portability and sharing potential. 

While the Cisco 8861 and Yealink W69P are both top products for business needs, other VoIP cordless phone suppliers such as Gigaset, Panasonic, Snom, Grandstream, Jabra are also worth checking out. 

Whatever it is, you’ll have to decide your business’s needs before choosing how many phones you need. Fortunately, many providers offer multibuy offers on their VoIP phones. For example, say one phone costs $120, you can get four for $400, or eight for $800, and so on. 

4. Number of lines needed 

Setting up a phone system usually requires phone lines and engineers. However, in the VoIP world, this isn’t the case. 

Unlike traditional landlines, VoIP phone systems don’t require physical wiring, instead, they connect directly to your internet either through an ethernet cable or wirelessly. This makes them super portable and much easier to set up.  

With VoIP, you can say goodbye to messy cables and installation costs. 

5. VoIP provider

There are numerous VoIP providers, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. A quick online search will throw up plenty of results. 

But with so many different options and services on offer, how do you pick the best one? 

Again, your choice of provider depends on your needs. A startup or small business may want to go with a cheap service provider. Be careful though, as you grow you might find the more basic packages to be lacking in features. 

For large scale businesses, you may want to go for a higher-priced service packed with extra features and the ability to download mobile versions for iOS and Android. The better packages also come with wider integration into other important software tools, such as CRMs and emailing software. 

Looking at online reviews is a good place to start exploring the available options. 

RingCentral offer some great VoIP packages as well as a free trial. And with a fantastic range of VoIP phone systems available to choose from such as cordless phones, desktop phones, video conferencing phones, and more, there’s a solution for all. 

What is a VoIP cordless phone? 

Quite simply, a VoIP cordless phone is a wireless phone that sends and receives calls over the internet without needing to be plugged directly into a phone line. 

Most VoIP cordless phones come with a base station that is powered over ethernet (PoE) meaning they won’t need to be plugged into a power line either.

RingCentral’s cordless phones utilise digital enhanced cordless technology (DECT) for secure connections and excellent call quality. They’re also super practical too.

Cordless VoIP phones can be neatly docked on a desk or attached to a wall mount with no wires running around everywhere. This is great news for those who take pride in a tidy desk. 

Why should you invest in a VoIP cordless phone?

There are many reasons to invest in a VoIP cordless phone, let’s look at some now. 

1. Ease of use 

Cordless phones are a breeze to use. 

We live in times where most of us use smartphones and other devices daily, so a cordless VoIP phone should be a walk in the park, even those with added features. You’ll feel the familiarity of a VoIP cordless phone even if you’ve never used one before. 

Straight out of the box, simply switch your cordless phone on, connect it to your internet and away you go. 

2. Cost-efficient

A VoIP cordless handset is much more cost-efficient than traditional phone systems. 

Traditional phone services usually require pricey monthly fees and per-minute costs on top. This can become very expensive for businesses that make international calls. 

Then there are things like setting up a PBX and the installation costs which brings the price up even more, especially if installing your lines involves a fair bit of physical work. 

Because cordless VoIP phones use the internet to make calls, expensive costs are reduced and there are no hidden extras. 

3. Features 

Cordless VoIP phones are better described as packed with features not found on traditional phones. They’re better described as conference phones than telephones:

• Call monitoring
• Virtual receptionist
• Automated service messages
• Smartqueue
• CRM integration 
• Software integrations such as Microsoft Teams embedded dialler
• Inbound call escalation
• Audio conferencing
• Video conferencing
• HD audio
• Touch screen
• Bluetooth

More like smartphones, today’s VoIP cordless phones have vibrant displays with touch screens, making them perfect for running apps with ease. 

These features will help you tailor the experience and keep your customers happy. 

4. Keeps phone number when you move 

Your contact numbers are important for business. These are the numbers that you have built up a customer base and contacts with, changing them could be a disaster. 

When you choose a VoIP system, your provider should be able to easily transfer your old landline number across. Just ask them beforehand and follow any instructions they give you. 

Changing numbers is always a hassle, but with VoIP phones, it doesn’t need to be. 

5. Flexible

VoIP cordless phones offer practical business flexibility. 

Businesses are more agile with VoIP phone systems. Having a cordless handset that you can walk around with and share amongst staff brings greater flexibility than older landline phones. 

In the old office days, staff would have to find an available phone and then ask to sit at someone’s desk to use it. It’s all rather long-winded. But now staff can stay connected on the move at all times. 

This level of freedom also benefits team morale as staff won’t feel glued to their desk all day waiting for calls. In fact, they can be anywhere they want as long as they have a connected wireless VoIP phone with them. 

6. Convenient 

The convenience of being able to make free calls from anywhere as long as you have an internet connection is a game-changer. 

Whether it’s business trips, holidays, or remote work, no longer needing to be in the office has opened up greater business potential. And for greater convenience, you can set up your device to redirect calls to another colleague if you’re busy on the golf course! 

You’ll never miss those important business calls again. 

RingCentral for your VoIP cordless phone:

Who is RingCentral? 

RingCentral is a top provider of cloud-based communications and collaboration products and services for businesses. They offer phone, video, messaging and faxing services, all for a low cost with great features. 

RingCentral is king when it comes to all-in-one communication products and services. Over 400,000 businesses agree. 

Why should you work with RingCentral?

RingCentral is an innovative VoIP provider with plenty of choices. 

Catering for all businesses, RingCentral offers different packages for different needs. Choose from essential, standard, premium, or ultimate depending on your requirements and away you go. 

As well as affordable pricing, RingCentral also has a user-friendly admin portal that includes useful features like call user management, line sharing, analytics, and many more. There’s also a good level of security with features like single sign-on and the ability to create implement permissions levels for each user and department. 

RingCentral also offers mobile apps for smartphones, meaning you can continue important work even when you’re away from your VoIP. 

Overall, the features and affordability given by RingCentral make them a no-brainer for your VoIP needs in Australia. 

Features of RingCentral’s VoIP cordless phone

RingCentral offer two cordless VoIP phones from Yealink that come with great features. Let’s take a look:

You can find a full list of features for each phone by clicking these links:

• Yealink W69P
• Yealink W60P

Buying one direct from RingCentral is the best option as you’ll get a warranty and top support. 

And if you already have your own cordless phone, simply add a RingCentral analog adapter to your laptop or computer and you’re all set. Any standard SIP phone will also work with RingCentral. Read this document for a list of recommended devices and how to configure them. 

Take a look at RingCentral’s VoIP cordless phones

To find out more about RingCentral’s VoIP phones and for more info about their cordless phones, head to their product page here where you can compare features and find one for your needs. 

Conclusion

Hopefully, this guide has given you a better understanding of VoIP cordless phones and why you should use them. Their ease of use, range of features, and practicality make them a must-have for any modern business. 

Thanks to the internet, the old days of frustrating phone systems that had you tied to the desk all day long are behind us. VoIP phones provide the perfect communication solution to suit all types of modern businesses. And with cordless phones, the flexibility goes up a level to satisfy needs in the 21st century. 

RingCentral has a good range of phones and devices that meet the needs of both small and large businesses alike. It’s easy to set up an account and ordering and shipping is fast. You can be up and running with your new RingCentral VoIP service in as little as five days. Great.

So, what are you waiting for? Make the move to VoIP now and enjoy all the benefits it has to offer. 

Originally published 07 Jun, 2022