So What is Hosted Voice?

Even if you've heard of Hosted Voice, you might be wondering what it is exactly and why so many businesses are opting for the service.

In a nutshell: Hosted Voice is a cloud-based business phone system with a range of benefits and customized features — offering businesses everything from cost savings and security to tools that help improve productivity and customer service.

Here's a closer look at how Hosted Voice works and why businesses choose it.

The Technology

Hosted Voice works through VoIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) technology, which digitizes voice signals and then sends the digital voice information over an IP network. It’s attractive to businesses because it works in a variety of environments.

VoIP converts phone calls into a series of data packets and transmits calls to the telephone network. But to work it needs a means of routing calls between users and/or to the outside world — the cloud-based Hosted Voice is that means.

The “Hosted” Part

A Hosted Voice service is run off-site by a provider data center — and the equipment for the system is housed off-site as well.

Unlike an analog system, Hosted Voice calls are not directly connected to an internal server. Instead, calls are connected to VoIP servers securely hosted in the cloud.

Affordability

Hosted Voice is seen as an affordable and budget-friendly phone system for several reasons.

Businesses tend to prefer a monthly fee that covers the system, which includes all service, maintenance, and tech updates.

There are also cost savings because a business isn’t needing to buy up-front expensive equipment for a phone system or need IT staff to maintain on-site servers.

Further, Hosted Voice comes with a simple fee structure that’s based on paying only for what you’re using.

Ease of Mobility

 Hosted Voice takes mobility to a new level. Hosted Voice users have access to the tools and features of a secure, fully integrated communications system, regardless of device or physical location.

Everyone is connected, making work and collaboration easy and reliable on phones and computers ensuring seamless productivity inside or outside of the office.

The bobility benefits employees but also has a positive impact on how customers and vendors view you. You’re working in the field and remotely with equal level expertise and service — and that ultimately affects your business.

For example, real estate brokerages are among the types of businesses that appreciate the “office mobility” afforded by Hosted Voice.

The highly competitive on-the-go industry leaves no room for phone tag — missed calls can cost a potential listing or sale. With Hosted Voice, clients, and prospective clients get easier access to the brokerage and agents.

Customization. Businesses can customize Hosted Voice features, which are easily controlled and managed via a portal.

With features tailored for each employee, each user gets exactly what they use and need to seamlessly perform their jobs. Also, it’s easy to add extra lines if you want to expand.

Is it a Good Fit For Your Business?

In addition to real estate agencies, a Hosted Voice phone system is a good fit for many types of small and mid-sized businesses, including dental and other medical offices, law firms, insurance agents and offices, retailers, contract service companies, and auto stores.

Other businesses that enjoy the benefits of Hosted Voice are those doing B2B sales, as well as companies that have workers in the field, such as contractors, and businesses with employees who do a lot of phone work.

Popular Features

One of the most popular Hosted Voice features is Auto Attendant or Virtual Receptionist, which answers incoming calls with a personalized greeting and helps connect the caller to individuals and departments. If a user is not available, the virtual receptionist directs callers to the appropriate voicemail.

Another popular Hosted Voice feature is On Hold Message/Music, which allows your business to customize the music and/or spoken messages related to your business, such as promotions, or special hours that play for callers on hold.

Businesses that operate with only a few employees or teams working together from various locations like the Hunt Group feature. Similar to a queue feature, Hunt Group directs calls to all available representatives but, it also allows you to select which team member will handle incoming calls based on their position in the Hunt Group.

Extension Dialing is another popular feature of Hosted Voice. It gives even small businesses the ability for employees within a company to call each other directly with 2 or 6-digit extension numbers. It also allows external callers to bypass the directory to contact people if they know the extension number.