The term UCaaS stands for Unified Communications as a Service. It describes a cloud-based communications service that incorporates a wide range of communications tools and brings them together in a single platform. For businesses, it offers a number of advantages including flexibility, easy scalability, and top-tier data security.
In this post, we’ll be giving you a round-up of articles that explain the ins and outs of UCaaS in granular detail—with a particular focus on the basic technology, business calling, video and other collaborative channels, and online fax. We’ll also provide links so you can read the ones that interest you at your convenience.
The technology behind UCaaS
First up, we take a look under the hood as we explore the technology that underpins UCaaS platforms. You’ll find lots of information in these articles about how UCaaS works, how it compares to other tech like VoIP, and the valuable role cloud communications play in day-to-day business operations.
UCaaS meaning
Learn about how the technology behind UCaaS works and explore 11 of the main benefits you’ll see if you decide to make the switch, from better cost efficiency to vastly improved team productivity. There’s also a run-down of the main questions to ask when you’re considering choosing a UCaaS provider.
VoIP technology primer
An exploration of VoIP (which stands for Voice over Internet Protocol), which has been established as the main technology for making voice calls over the internet since the mid-1990s. This article goes into some detail about the technical side of VoIP, including an overview of the different types of VoIP protocols such as TCP and RTP.
UCaaS vs VoIP
If you’d like to see a head-to-head comparison of VoIP and UCaaS, you’ll get that here. It explains how both technologies work and what the differences between them are. It also takes a look at how to decide which of the two is the right choice for your organization.
Cloud services for small business
An in-depth examination of what kind of cloud services are available for small businesses and the benefits of each type. You’ll also find a list of popular cloud platforms and applications, alongside detailed explanations of cloud storage, cloud backup, and cloud hosting.
Cloud communications
A general overview of cloud communications and the advantages for business. This article goes into detail about the technology used, lists some common cloud communication platforms, and sets out the benefits of making the switch to cloud services.
What is jitter?
Jitter can be an annoying aspect of any internet-based communications system. Here, we take a look at what it is and what causes it. There are also some useful recommendations about how to address the problem and suggestions for practical steps to take to eliminate jitter as far as possible.
Business calling
Although we all do a lot of communication via digital media like email and messaging apps these days, phone calls are still extremely important for doing business. The following articles cover all sorts of aspects of making phone calls, focusing mostly on how to do it online and take advantage of related tools and processes within the context of a UCaaS platform.
Business phone number
This page looks at the different types of business phone numbers you can get on a UCaaS platform, including local, international, toll-free, and even so-named “vanity” numbers, which can be terrific for reinforcing brand recognition. There’s also a checklist comparison of regular landlines and virtual phone services.
Virtual phone number for business
An exploration of what virtual phone services are and the reasons why you might want to consider them for your organization. This article also looks at how virtual phone services work and the benefits having a virtual phone number can bring to businesses.
Toll-free number
Read about the benefits for your business and your customers of using a toll-free number. This page explains about toll-free number bundles and has a handy FAQ section that provides answers to common questions.
Virtual phone number
A more detailed article about virtual phone numbers. It explores how they work and why you might want to use them, highlighting benefits such as how useful they are for distributed teams and how they can play a role in tracking the effectiveness of your outreach campaigns.
VoIP number
The page looks at the relationship between VoIP numbers and virtual phone services. It sets out an explanation of how VoIP works and lists several ways choosing to use VoIP numbers can benefit businesses.
Custom phone number
Many businesses prefer to use custom phone numbers to reinforce their branding. This exploration of the different types of custom phone numbers available also covers the reason to use them and how to buy them.
Phone number
This is an article specifically about local phone numbers that explains the advantages of choosing local numbers, including how it can help with marketing campaigns as well as lead to significant cost savings for businesses and their customers.
VoIP phone
If you’re interested in learning more about VoIP phones in particular, this guide explains what a VoIP phone is and examines a few of the benefits such as cost efficiency and scalability.
How to record a phone call
This article runs through the procedure for recording phone calls on an iPhone or Android device. It lists a few third-party apps that you can use to do this and explores the legalities you should consider before you begin.
Softphone
An overview of what a softphone is and how it works. Also including a guide to how to set one up and a list of typical features you’ll be able to take advantage of when you decide to use one.
Business voicemail greeting
A deep dive into business voicemail greetings including what makes a great one, along with 10 example templates of different messages to use if you’re stuck for ideas. There’s also a quick overview of the role of voicemail in optimizing customer service delivery.
Inbound calling
An article focusing on everything there is to know about inbound calling within a business context (with a brief mention of outbound calls, too). It also covers points to think about when you’re considering outsourcing your inbound calls, as well as how to develop an effective inbound calls strategy.
Business phone service
This page focuses specifically on phone services for small businesses, including the kind of features to look for and how to choose the best phone service for your company. It also provides a quick overview of some of the integrations you can take advantage of to streamline your workflows.
VoIP providers
Kicking off with a recap of what VoIP is and the benefits it provides, this article then gets into the detail of the different types of VoIP providers on the market and looks at how to choose a VoIP provider that’s a perfect fit for your organization.
Outbound calls
This deep dive into outbound calls takes you through every aspect of them, from tips on how to develop an outbound call strategy to guidance on how to be more effective and meet your goals when you’re on the line yourself.
Call queue
An exploration of call queues: What they are, how they work, and why they sometimes grow to be somewhat larger than you’d like. There’s also a thorough examination of why it’s important to reduce call queue times and some strategies for achieving this.
Multi-line phone system
Here you can read about multi-line phone systems and how they can benefit your business. The article looks into the role of the cloud in multi-line tech and compares multi-line to more traditional phone systems.
Teleconference
Teleconferencing is now a standard part of the business communications toolkit, but not all teleconferencing platforms are the same. This page takes you through the upsides and downsides of teleconferencing as a business practice and how to set up audio and video conferencing for meetings.
Conference call services
Anyone looking into the various free conference calling services available should read this post. It covers several topics including how to get a free conference call number, the must-have aspects of a good free conference call service, and a quick run-down of how international conference calling works.
WiFi calling
The idea of making phone calls over a WiFi connection might raise a few questions in your mind. How secure is it? Is it a free service? Are there any challenges to deal with, such as connection issues in busy public areas? This piece answers all of those questions and more.
Call management
What exactly is meant by call management? This page gives a straightforward definition and then goes into the detail of how to optimize the call management process in your business’s call or contact center.
Phone extensions
Traditionally, phone extensions were tied to a specific physical line, but modern communications platforms allow you to assign an extension to an individual or a designated team, without fixing it to a specific line or device. Read more on this page.
VoIP phone service
A detailed look at VoIP phone services and how they work. This article covers the benefits of using VoIP phone services, from their flexibility to the security they offer businesses. It also gives an overview of the different types of device you can use a VoIP service with.
Conference call on Android
This step-by-step guide to how to make a conference call on Android covers both the in-built functionality in an Android device and the method for setting up a conference call via a dedicated app.
Call forwarding
Call forwarding is an essential element of any business phone system. It allows incoming calls to be redirected according to set rules, which is useful particularly when call volumes are high. Read more detail here.
Free business phone number
Find out more about how to get free business phone numbers and the advantages adopting them could bring to your organization in terms of flexibility and cost savings. This page explains the different types of numbers available and weighs up their merits.
Free VoIP
Take a look at free VoIP services and read about their benefits including reliability, scalability, and security—as well as a few of their limitations. You can also read about how to decide which free VoIP service would be the best fit for your business.
Business phone systems
This post on business phone systems emphasizes the role of AI-driven technology in enabling innovative new features such as real-time sentiment analysis and smart note generation. There’s also a handy FAQ with answers to common questions.
Internet phone service
A broad overview of cloud-based phone services: How they work, the features you should look out for when choosing one, and a list of their benefits. There’s also FAQs with some answers to common questions about topics like security and how internet phone services compare with more traditional options.
Call transfer
This page goes into detail about the difference between warm and cold call transfers and sets out situations where you might choose each one. In addition, you’ll find a step-by-step guide to transferring a call and an explanation of the difference between a live and virtual receptionist.
How to block a phone number
Spam calls or, even worse, scam calls are unfortunately a fact of modern life, but there’s no reason your business should have to put up with them. Read more on this page about how to block phone numbers from calling or faxing your organization.
Softphone app
Learn about what a softphone is and how it works. You’ll find out about how softphone apps work, how to use one, and discover a list of the benefits you’ll see if you decide to make the switch to softphone technology.
Virtual call
Virtual phone services let you make calls without the need for a dedicated phone line. Read about the benefits of virtual phone calling and how to get your own virtual phone number so you can stay connected no matter where you are.
Call log
Maintaining records of phone calls and your calling history is crucial for any modern business. Find out more about what data is stored in call logs and how a modern unified communications solution simplifies the process of call logging.
Hosted PBX
This page explores hosted PBX systems and explains how virtual PBX differs from traditional on-premises PBX. You can read about some of the key features that come with virtual PBX including a variety of hold options, auto-attendant, and online portal management.
VoIP in business
VoIP technology is widespread in business communications, and this article goes into depth on what a VoIP phone system is, what the benefits of using it are, and how it works for businesses of all kinds.
Virtual phone system
Learn more about what a virtual phone system is and the advantages of using one. This article also compares the characteristics of a virtual phone system with a traditional on-premises solution.
VoIP caller
The term “VoIP caller” is simply an alternative name for a VoIP phone system. This page explains the ins and outs of VoIP calling and lists a few of the benefits such as low running costs and scalability.
Call monitoring
Learn about call monitoring and the important role it plays in modern contact centers. You’ll find out about a few specific features you can use with call monitoring software like call recording, call whisper, and call barge.
Video and other collaborative channels
Another key aspect of UCaaS platforms is that they bring video calls and other collaborative communication channels into the same place. In this section, we’ve listed a number of posts on those topics.
Collaboration solutions
As well as exploring the elements it’s crucial to look for when considering a team collaboration software solution, this post considers the benefits of effective collaboration in general and gives a few tips for improving team collaboration in your organization.
Video meeting
This piece about RingCentral Video gives a rundown of the key features of the software and includes an FAQ section with answers to commonly asked questions.
Conference room setup
A less technically-focused piece, this article features a handy guide to how to set up a conference room for meetings. It covers everything from making sure the layout is accessible to how important it is to investigate the lighting controls in advance so you can change the lighting levels as needed.
Video call
Learn about the features you’ll find in RingCentral Video and read more about how video calling is a key element of modern business practice.
How to record a webinar
This blog post covers how to record a webinar both in advance and live. In addition, it explains the slightly different methods for doing so on a Mac, on a PC, or on a phone.
Video conferencing hosting tools
Learn what equipment you’ll need to have in place to host a video conference. This page also includes a step-by-step guide to setting up a video conference using the RingCentral Video tool.
Virtual meetings
After a few introductory notes about what virtual meetings are, along with their upsides and drawbacks, this post gets into the details of how to go about setting one up, from figuring out scheduling to the importance of drawing up an agenda.
Screen sharing
With the rise in popularity of remote and hybrid working, screen sharing has come to the fore as an everyday business practice. This page examines the technology behind it and lists a few situations where screen sharing can be useful, such as for remote support or during video meetings.
Business text messaging
This post gives you a rundown of the seven best apps for business text messaging. It also explores which features make for a really terrific SMS app, and looks at why so many customers favor text messaging for getting in touch with businesses.
Web conferencing
Here, you can read about web conferencing and how it’s not quite the same thing as video conferencing. You’ll also find information about the different types of web conferencing and what to look for in a web conferencing solution.
Online fax
Finally, we have a few pages about online faxing. Not all UCaaS platforms support online faxing (RingCentral does, of course), so if this is a feature you value, make sure to check that the software you choose includes it.
Fax cover sheet
A fax cover sheet isn’t just decoration—it’s often a compliance requirement. Read more about why that is and how you can generate custom virtual fax cover sheets with a UCaaS platform.
How to fax from computer
As the traditional fax machine is falling in popularity, sending faxes by computer is becoming commonplace. This article explains how online faxing works and gives a step-by-step guide to sending a fax from an app, scanner, desktop, or UCaaS account.
Internet fax
A comprehensive overview of internet faxing: What it is, the benefits it can bring to businesses, and a look at the fax feature that comes as part of the RingCentral UCaaS platform.
Fax online
Kicking off with a recap of the basics of faxing, this page then goes on to explain the advantages of online faxing over traditional paper-based faxing and gives guidance on how to send an online fax from your computer.
Fax from iPhone
It’s not just your computer you can use to send online faxes—you can do it with your iPhone as well. This page looks at how that works and gives a summary of why using an online fax service is good for businesses.
What is eFax
eFax is a type of online faxing that focuses on email. This in-depth article explains how it works and examines how secure it is as well as how it’s often applied in a variety of different industries, from healthcare to real estate.
Fax software
Starting with a brief history of faxing, this post then gets into a description of computer fax software and compares how it stacks up to traditional fax machines. It considers aspects including cost, efficiency, and flexibility.
Online fax services
This guide to online faxing on the RingCentral platform breaks down the benefits of the tool and takes a look at the specifics of use cases for online faxing in a number of industries including financial services and legal practice.
Originally published Jul 08, 2023, updated Jul 23, 2024
