Over the past  two decades, technology has changed immensely with the advent of smartphones, the internet of things and other new developments. The world is now more interconnected and globalized than ever before. Working environments and businesses have also evolved to reflect this change. Since 2010, the amount of people who work remotely at least once per week has grown by 400% .  This is only expected to increase with improving broadband speeds, 5G and the development of home working tools such as Zoom and Slack.

The VoIP sector has flourished and will likely continue to do so. With new advancements, come changes in the way things are done. One of these changes is the exchange of deskphones for softphones. The mobile VoIP sector is predicted to grow by 13 % from 2019 to 2025 . With more and more people working remotely, tools advancing and the advent of 5G, the old, traditional methods of staying connected to colleagues are fast becoming obsolete. They’re simply unable to keep up with today’s demands of constant communication, remote work and technology.

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What is a Deskphone ?

Deskphones are traditional phones that use VoIP to make calls over the internet. They’re restricted to one location and connect to the rest of the phone system through cables and wires.

What is a Softphone?

Softphones, on the other hand, are apps that can be downloaded on smartphones, PC’s and laptops with the same VoIP functionality as a desktop phone. They're quite similar to wireless VoIP phones in that way.

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Why are Softphones Used ?

Softphones have quickly become popular with those desiring an efficient, versatile solution without any loss of flexibility. Many softphones have an extensive set of features including, video calling, messaging, call transfer and call conferencing. Contact integration through Outlook, vcf or csv files allows for sharing of contacts throughout a company, making it much easier to call and collaborate.

Softphones provide excellent audio and video quality while also supplying a straightforward easy-to-use interface and seamless UC.  VoIP Tunnel solutions can be used alongside a softphone to avoid firework and network VoIP-blocking restrictions allowing VoIP calls to be made to and from places where they would usually be prevented such as the UAE or Oman.

What are the main advantages of using a softphone ?

1. Flexibility

Since softphones run on mobile devices or on desktops, users are no longer tethered to their desks but are instead free to work from any place they desire.. Having a softphone gives users the freedom to work wherever they want, making it ideal when travelling or simply enjoying a change of scene.

2. Versatility

Softphones are available across multiple platforms, including iOS, Android and Windows allowing for communications to be easily managed from a single device.

3. Efficiency

Softphones do not require cabling, or wiring and are therefore far more efficient to set up and run. Save time, cost and avoid having to install a cumbersome phone system. Deskphones take up a lot of physical space with their need for power and wiring and can often lead to a messy office. Softphones, on the other hand, do not take up any additional space and can travel where ever.

4. Low maintenance

Since configurations happen via a web portal, apps can stay up to date with minimal effort.

5. Cloud portal provisioning

Settings can be quickly configured from a web portal by an IT administrator, drastically reducing support queries. With external provisioning, all a user needs to do is enter a username and password or QR code. Deployment can occur in 24 hours from purchase, greatly increasing productivity.

Why are Deskphones Used?

With softphones available, deskphones are primarily used by those who enjoy  having a hardphone on their desk, and the comfort of having a solid phone solution. They’re a traditional way of communicating within a company.

Conclusion

While deskphones were once an essential tool in a company, they're no longer practical. With more than half of full-time in-office employees wanting to work remotely, deskphones are becoming insufficient. Softphones, however are designed to make the most of the latest advancements to fulfill the needs of a modern business. They're a powerful, efficient and practical solution, providing high quality communication.

SessionTalk is a fully functional business softphone that runs on iOS, Android and Desktop. It’s available as a stand-alone softphone or cloud provisioned solution.

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