In an age where teams are distributed, and employees are always on the go, having a business communication system that enables effective collaboration is a must.

With a cloud-hosted voice over internet protocol (VoIP) business softphone, you'll have access to all the same features of a business phone system no matter if you're on your computer, laptop, tablet, or smartphone. Whether you’re at the airport, a coffee shop, or in a hotel room, a business softphone gives you everything you and your employees need to conduct business.

What Is a Softphone?

A softphone is a feature of a cloud-based phone service. It's a software-based system that turns any device into a telephone to make and receive business phone calls.

Softphones come in the form of apps that can be installed on a desktop or a mobile device. There are also web-based versions that can be accessed directly through browsers.

With a softphone, the caller ID displays your business phone number—even if you’re calling through your computer or mobile app. This means you can take your office phone number with you wherever you go, and your customers would still see a single business identity.

Ideal for remote workforces and for staff members who travel frequently, this intuitive business phone system is much more powerful than desk phones.

Since they can be operated on a computer and mobile devices, softphones come with additional features, including:

  • Video calling
  • Video conferencing
  • Voicemail
  • Chat
  • SMS

A softphone will even integrate your contacts from email clients and social networking, enabling you to stay in touch with everyone that matters to you.

A softphone is often offered as a part of UCaaS platforms. For example, the desktop and mobile version of 8x8’s Virtual Office Softphone is available for free to all the customers of Virtual Office—a cloud-based VoIP business phone system.

Key Benefits of a Business Softphone

There are many benefits of using a softphone ecosystem in your office, including:

  • Transcend geographical boundaries: They can help remote teams connect with each other. Members of your team may be in another country, but with a softphone, they'll always be available for correspondence.
  • Switch between personal and business cell numbers: With softphones, your employees can easily switch between their personal and business cell numbers. Since business calls are made through the app, employees can keep their personal cell numbers private even though they use the same smartphone.
  • Multichannel communication system: A softphone is capable of using SMS, voice messaging and other communication mediums in addition to VoIP.
  • Affordability: Having access to multiple communication mediums with just one plan gives your business the much-needed price-to-performance ratio.

Modern businesses have to use every tool available at their disposal to gain leads and convert them into customers while remaining productive. With a versatile UCaaS platform like Softphone, your team is always in reach.

Businesses rely on their technology to empower them to be as productive as possible. With 8x8's world-class technology, you get everything your business needs in one place. Call 1-833-550-2751 or fill out an online form to request a no-obligation quote from an 8x8 product specialist.