DSL Telecom - Blog #yealinkphones

What is a softphone? An inside look at softphones and why you need them in your business

Tue, 18 Jan 2022 10:30:00 +0200

More and more businesses have or are transitioning to hybrid working. This means it is essential for businesses to adapt to newer communications solutions. Businesses in South Africa are now installing softphones for their convenient features and ease of use to improve communication with remote employees and clients.

So, what is a softphone? A softphone is essentially a software-based interface that acts as a telephone. It allows you to make, receive, and manage calls on any hardware device that utilises this type of software.

Let’s dive into everything you need to know about softphones for business - what is a softphone? Is it different from any other business phone? What can you do with it, and how will it benefit your business?

What is a softphone?

You’ve probably used a softphone-type interface without realising it. Zoom or Zoho Meeting are popular softphone examples that many businesses have recently used, when going remote in 2020.

A business softphone is actually not a desk phone or any other physical device, it is a software application that is installed on a connected device. It can be installed on desktops and mobile devices, so in short softphones allow you to make telephone calls without an actual telephone.

Softphone app users will be able to access all the same features as a hard phone, including making calls, receiving calls, setting up call forwarding, voicemail and more. It features all the buttons you might expect a business phone to have.

How does a softphone work?

It's really quite simple, a softphone app typically runs on hardware such as a PC, smartphone, tablet, or computer. To place VoIP calls, establishing a connection via the internet to a physical device is necessary. So, all you need is a device with speakers and a microphone, along with an internet connection.

The softphone app opens in the same way as a regular smartphone’s touchpad. Once you open the program to load the softphone, you can use the touchscreen or a mouse to dial a number and make calls. A softphone app includes a dial pad and features such as hold, mute, and call transfer.

The softphone app converts your voice into a digital signal and carries it to the receiver’s end on a call using integrated technology. You can speak through the softphone app just like a regular telephone if it’s on your smartphone. Alternatively, you can conduct calls from a computer through a headset.

Even though your softphone service is a web-based application, it can be affiliated with a real telephone number, complete with a local area code if desired. This means your softphone is completely accessible to landline-based phones too. If you're switching from a landline service to a cloud-based option, you can keep your current number through a process called porting, whereby numbers are transferred between carriers with minimal downtime.

A reputable provider, like DSL Telecom will ensure that setting up your softphone is quite simple. Ideally, your softphone app will be installed and operational in just a few minutes.

Call features that will make your life easier

Now that you know what a softphone does let’s explore the innovative features that you get with a business softphone.

- Presence - Employee presence enables you to see the availability of your employees: Available, Away, Do not disturb, Lunch break or Business trip. This real time visibility enables employees to avoid missing calls or call transfers which makes production run a lot smoother.

- CRM integration - The CRM integration between Yeastar and Zoho is an easy click to call and call logging action. You can integrate with Zoho One, Zoho CRM, Zoho Mail and Zoho Recruit. You can click on any number to make an out bound call straight from Zoho. You can also display inbound callers information as a pop-up on the CRM. This integration allows for a smoother flow rather than switching between different applications.

- Voicemail - The voicemail feature allows you to record, upload or write the script for a customised message to greet calls when you're away, busy or on another call.

- Call recording - This feature is an easy way to confirm details, monitor quality and guide training sessions, instead of trying to write all the relevant information down or remember it without making any notes, it's a feature that you simply click whilst on a call.

- Google Chrome extension - Linkus softphone users who install the Yeastar Linkus for Google Chrome Extension on Chrome browsers can automatically click to dial any valid phone number that appears on their web browser.

- Transfer to any extension - Extensions allow users to make and receive calls within the company. You can add extensions to every employee in your company. This feature makes it easier to quickly make a call, transfer a call, add a user to a conference call or do an attended transfer rather than searching for their name or dialing a ring group.

- Speed Dial- Sometimes you may just need to call someone quickly without having to look up his/her phone number. You can do so by simply defining a shortcut number. You can use the Speed Dial feature to place a call by pressing a reduced number of keys. This feature helps to optimise your time quickly and efficiently.

- IVR - IVR uses voice prompts to provide callers with instructions and directions for accessing information via phone. When users call into the PBX IVR, the users would operate by following the IVR prompt instructions. The PBX system has one default IVR prompt, but you can switch out the IVR prompts to various different audio files, example closing times during the festive season or which extensions to dial for the department that you want to get into contact with.

- Ring group -Ring groups are phone extensions grouped together in order to perform functions such as ringing multiple numbers simultaneously or in a specific order. The benefit of setting ring groups is having the ability to group extensions based on company departments and setting ring strategies accordingly.

Pros of using a softphone

Significant cost savings

Save up to 50% over traditional phone systems and cut costs with low per second billing VoIP rates. Softphones relieve you from the financial burden of having to purchase or lease many physical phones and the lack of equipment eliminates most future maintenance costs.

Efficiency of resources

Softphones save you from the hassle of needing to install and configure your old traditional phones. Leveraging your already owned computer hardware to migrate to a new phone system means no need to buy new phone, new wiring or new hardware to maintain. It also frees up space on your desk and eliminates wires, plugs and power cords.

Phone lines are no longer required

Softphones use internet bandwidth, therefore there is no need to install a dedicated phone line as you once did with a traditional phone. You can also add as many workstations as you want without worrying about the cost of phone lines.

Portability & Mobility

As long as users are connected to the internet on their computer or mobile device, they can install the softphone app and use every feature. Business communication does not need to stop just because you have left the office. You can work anywhere at anytime.

Ease of use and quick setup

Softphones save you from the hassle of needing to install and configure your old traditional phones. You also don't need to worry about the wiring you once did with traditional landline phone systems as in most cases all you need is a dedicated microphone and speaker. All employees need to do is bring their own device and simply install the app on their chosen smart phone and then they can work from anywhere they need to at any given time.

Cons of using a softphone

Although there are many benefits of a softphone over hard phone technology there can also be a few potential drawbacks to consider when considering hard phones vs softphones.

The biggest issue with a softphone is that your ability to make and receive calls is completely dependent on your internet connection. That means that power outages, storms, or simply your current bandwidth will impact audio quality and overall availability.

In conclusion

In conclusion when you choose softphones for your business, you’re making a wise choice to upgrade your communications. Softphones have everything you need of a traditional desk phone but with integrated functions that level up everyday interactions in a virtual world.

A softphone app is a cost-effective, portable program that can cement communication gaps and support productivity anytime, anywhere.

Do you want a free softphone demo?

See how the DSL Telecom Cloud PBX and softphones can benefit your business, with a free 15-min online or in-person demonstration session

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Achieve superior business communication with these new Yealink IP phones

Thu, 04 Feb 2021 14:03:36 +0200

To do a great job, any person or company must make sure that they choose the right tools. To encourage a communicative environment in your organisation, leaders must ensure that they have the right equipment or software to help their employees and to promote effective internal and external collaboration.

DSL Telecom offers feature-rich Yealink Desktop phones to its business customers. Yealink office phones are designed to satisfy the customers in need of higher quality IP phones with the improvement of hardware, audio quality, user experience, and collaboration efficiency. There is much to be expected from Yealink, one of the world’s leading SIP phone providers, but how much does T33G, T42U & the W59R Yealink phones, our top sellers live up to these expectations? In order to find out, we decided to write an in-depth review on these Yealink IP Phones.

Let's take a look at our top 3 sellers:

The Yealink T33G - Ideal For Business Professionals

The Look & Feel

Screen: The 2.4 vibrant colour display mirror-style screen with adjustable backlight is able to meet the requirements for daily business use.

Design: The advanced design of the T33G IP phone includes modern appearances and ergonomic details that enable easier and friendly operation experiences to users.

Ports: Built with dual-port Gigabit Ethernet 10/100/1000 PoE support.

Buttons: The keypad on the Yealink T33G has been updated to provide a more metallic feel, improving the user experience. Buttons are a combination of plastic polymer and is sprayed with a black coating.

Stand: The T33G phone includes includes a desk stand with 2 adjustable angles for installation flexibility when having the phone on a desktop surface.

Audio Quality: This feature-rich business IP phone boasts superior HD Audio for better communication. The Yealink T3 series provides distraction-free communications with industry leading Smart Noise Filtering Technology, which delivers excellent sound quality without extraneous noises and allows fluent conversations.

Enrich your business with Yealink's new T33G desktop IP phone. This phone combines stylish design, great features and affordable cost - ideal for the business communication device.

IP-PBX Features

Busy Lamp Field (BLF), Bridged Line Apperance (BLA)
Anonymous call, anonymous call rejection
Hot-desking
Voice mail
Flexible seating
Call pickup
Call park
Executive and Assistant
Centralised call recording
Visual voice mail
Call recording

The Yealink T43U - Ideal For Receptionists

The Look & Feel

Screen: This IP phone comes with a 3.7" 360x160 pixel backlight LCD, black and white screen.

Design: Elegant appearance with improvements for greater interoperability and collaboration.

Ports: The T43U comes with 2 USB ports expanding the number of accessories & connectivity options with 6 different USB accessories available.

Buttons: The buttons are a combination of plastic polymer and are sprayed with a silver coating to mimic the metallic feel, improving user experience.

Stand: T43U phone includes a desk stand with 2 adjustable angles for installation flexibility when having the phone on a desktop surface.

Scalability: This business phone provides scalability and flexibility for any growing business. It can be provisioned with multiple SIP accounts and has up to 3 expansion modules.

Compatibility: This Yealink office phone is compatible with many different accessories such as the BT41 Bluetooth dongle, WF50 Wi-Fi dongle and supports the Yealink USB headsets (UH36). To offer additional protection against failure, the T43U supports dual firmware images for easy recovery.

The Yealink T43U IP phone offers so much more than just a desktop IP phone and captures the cost-effective reception phone market.

IP-PBX Features

Busy Lamp Field (BLF), Bridged Line Apperance (BLA)
Anonymous call, anonymous call rejection
Hot-desking, voice mail
Flexible seating, Executive and Assistant
Call park
Call pickup
Centralised call recording, call recording
Visual voice mail

#3 Yealink W59R - Ideal For Industrial Working Environments

The Look & Feel

Screen: 128×160 pixel back light colour LCD display screen.

Design: The W59R cordless phone is designed for harsh working environments but is still stylish. It's tough rubberised surface protects the handset from slipping and scratching.

Buttons: Rubber coated buttons offer good durability when using it in a harsh working environment.

Stand: This phone has a firm belt grip that accommodates on-site workers to move around with the phone.

Durability: The Yealink W59R rugged IP DECT handset is the perfect solution for harsh working environments such as warehouses, factories or workshops. It is completely dust proof and water resistant, even if submerged for up to 30 minutes at a depth of 1 metre. The casing is shock resistant and can easily withstand a fall of up to 3 metres with no severe damage.

Flexibility: The inclusion of Bluetooth in this handset provides hands-free flexibility. The W59R has a great battery life and is the ideal extension for your office whether it is corporate or industrial. The Yealink W59R IP DECT handset can be used in a single cell DECT network with the Yealink W60B base station or in a multi-cell DECT network with the Yealink W80B base station making it flexible to your office environment.

IP-PBX Features

Up to 2 simultaneous calls per handset
Seamless Handover/Roaming in W80 Multi-cell System
Alarm functions: push-button / no-movement / mandown / running
3-way conference
Call forward: Always/Busy/No Answer
Call waiting, hold
Mute, silence & DND
Auto answer, call transfer, redial
Speed dial
Voice mail

The right Yealink phone for you and your business?

Deciding what phone works best for your business requires planning and some shopping around. Yealink is half to a third the price of phones with similar spesifications. For those on a budget looking for quality, Yealink is an ideal option for getting your company upgraded with new phones.

Even though we listed some options above, there's a lot more to selecting the right phone and budgeting your total cost when outfitting an entire company. Fortunately for you, we have a catalogue of Yealink phones that tells you everything you need to know about the phones that we can offer your business 👉 https://www.dsltelecom.co.za/Phones-and-Equipment