Though cellular phones have been all the rage for years, landlines remain a staple in millions of households nationwide. They’re tried and accurate, reliable, and offer exceptional call quality. But with various landline phone alternatives on the market, choosing one is complex.
Costs
While it’s easy to write off landlines as old-fashioned, they’re tried and accurate business phone systems. The proper landline for your office can help you communicate with callers from different locations and connect remote team members using a single main phone number. However, these traditional systems require expensive hardware (hubs, switches, phones, headsets, and more) and may not be as scalable as modern VoIP services. Unlike traditional lines requiring copper wires and a physical connection to the PSTN, cloud-based VoIP solutions, one of landline phone alternatives, operate over the Internet and can be easily configured for any device with an Internet browser or smartphone app. Moreover, while cell phones have come a long way in terms of call quality and connectivity, they still suffer from power outages and require strong internet connections that can be costly if you’re not on an unlimited data plan.
Service Area
In areas where cellular networks are weak, landlines are a lifeline. Bundled with television and the Internet, they are also affordable. Most providers offer a mix of equipment fees, contracts, and month-to-month plans. They also have different call quality standards, so finding one that best suits your needs is essential. Some landline providers offer unlimited international calling, while others offer allotments of minutes each month. You can also get various features, including caller ID, three-way calling, and call waiting. While many households have ditched their landlines, they still provide a valuable service for business owners. They can be paired with VoIP systems for additional cost savings and flexibility. The key is to choose a provider that offers the services you need, including caller ID, voicemail, and forwarding to multiple devices, as well as call blocking and screening. The right option can help reduce costs and keep your team connected from anywhere.
Call Quality
One lingering objection to ditching POTS - plain old telephone service - is that cell and internet-based calls don’t have the same voice clarity as landlines. But that’s changing. Modern VoIP network technology turns incoming and outgoing audio signals into digital data packets, then sends them to the recipient’s phone through the Internet. And thanks to blazing-fast fiber internet connections, it’s become possible for internet-based phone calls to rival the quality of traditional landlines.
Features
While cell phones have entirely eclipsed landlines, the old-fashioned home phone still has a few advantages over its modern successors. Traditional landlines are incredibly reliable and can continue working during blackouts or lousy weather when cell towers go down. This consistent connectivity can be significant for business calls that must remain uninterrupted. Landlines also typically include features that make it easier for users to manage incoming and outgoing calls. For example, many home phones can easily be paired with services that block unsolicited telemarketers. This is a feature that many cellular phones don’t offer, and it can be a massive relief for people who are sick of being pestered by salespeople every day. VoIP systems have many of the same benefits as landlines but use different hardware and work over the Internet rather than copper wires. VoIP solutions are often less expensive and allow businesses to connect with customers, partners, and employees through various devices, including smartphones.
