The advantage of these applications is that they work the same way that traditional VoIP services do, but now with the added convenience of mobility (and that comes without wasting your minutes).
With the help of some of the best mobile VoIP providers in the country, we’ve outlined everything you need to know to make smart choices for your business needs.
What is Mobile VoIP for Business?
Mobile Voice over Internet Protocol (mVoIP) refers to the use of packet-switching technology to digitize audio signals, compress them, and send them to an end user as a voice call through a mobile phone network—3G, 4G, and 5G—or WiFi. mVoIP works through an app available in Android, iOS, and other smartphone stores or recommended for download by the VoIP service provider.
Just as households might use mVoIP to benefit from affordable, WiFi enabled calling services, so too might businesses. Indeed, mVoIP provides companies with an additional solution for business communication on the go, enabling you to connect to both local and international calls. Businesses can also utilize other mVoIP features, such as video and conference calls to enhance collaboration at work.
You’ll need to register your VoIP service account details on your mobile device to begin using it. While there are many convenient mVoIP features, mobile devices cannot replace your VoIP desk phone completely. There may be some missing features (depending on your service provider), such as reliable internet connectivity in various locations.
Comparing the Top Mobile VoIP Providers
If you’d like a quick comparison of top VoIP providers, here’s a glance at what the 10 top mobile VoIPs have to offer:
1. Vonage
- Price: Starts at $14.99/month
- Available features: Texting, video chat, video messaging, phone calls
- Compatible with: Android and iOS devices
- Support: 24/7 live chat, phone support, email contact, and FAQ community
Vonage is one of the most prominent names in the VoIP industry today, and the Vonage mobile app provides the same quality service to mobile users. The VoIP app lets you connect to anyone else with the Vonage app for free, making it an economical and efficient alternative to pricey cellular phone charges. What we really like about the Vonage app is that it even lets you make overseas calls free of charge. International calls to numbers not using the Vonage app are charged a low rate per minute according to your plan.
To be clear, you can call anyone, anywhere, and anytime for free with HD quality as long as the other person has downloaded the Vonage app too. Group chats up to 50 people are supported. You can even leave video messages for more clarity and ease.
The Vonage app works with WiFi, 3G, and 4G, so you’re almost always covered.
2. RingCentral
- Price: Starts at $39.99/month
- Available features: Texting, video chat, video messaging, phone calls
- Compatible with: Android and iOS devices
- Support: Live chat, email, phone support
RingCentral is another huge name in the VoIP industry, and for good reason. It delivers a good calling product with lots of features that businesses and individuals can take advantage of. The RingCentral iOS VoIP and Android apps bring this convenience to a new level, offering you affordable communication options in the palm of your hands. What's unique about this company is its commitment to security. RingCentral focuses a lot of its efforts on creating secure voice, so you don't have to worry about audio streams being recorded or intercepted, and provides role-based access for added security.
The iOS VoIP app is compatible with iPhones, iPads, and even Apple Watches, allowing you to take your business on the go while still maintaining a seamless identity wherever you are.
Both apps have great features like:
- Unlimited calling within the network
- Texting
- Faxing
- Access to company directory
- Multiple email logins available for faster communications
- Push notifications
- Audio conferencing
- Video meetings
- BYOD for lower per device costs
You can use the app over WiFi, 3G, and 4G, making it a significantly cheaper alternative to your cellular plans.
3. 8x8
- Price: Starts at $15/user/month
- Available features: Texting, video chat, video messaging, phone calls
- Compatible with: Android and iOS devices
- Support: 24/7 live chat, email, phone, community
8x8 has a cloud-based communications solution, Virtual Office, makes communicating across distances easier than ever. As soon as you download the 8x8 app, you’ll see the benefits. You can make local, long distance, and even international calls for free from within the network, avoid data and roaming charges when traveling outside the US by turning off data usage and only using 8x8 and WiFi.
Some of the more impressive features that 8x8 mobile includes are:
- Instant transfer from desk phone to smart device during a call or video conference without losing the call
- Connect to multiple staff members simultaneously for easier collaboration
- Create bridges, conference calls, and audio and video meetings with a single button
8x8 lets you utilize all of the tools you are used to with its business plan on mobile as well. This includes call parking, transferring, and voicemail organizational tools. 8x8 lets you share files and videos with others, something that is really important in business interactions.
4. Comcast Business
- Price: Starts at $29.95/line/month
- Available features: Texting, video chat, video messaging, phone calls
- Compatible with: Android and iOS devices
- Support: Phone, live chat, FAQ, community forum
Comcast is a major communications corporation, and the Xfinity is its VoIP communications solution enjoyed by businesses all over. With the Xfinity Connect mobile app, users can access their Comcast accounts and services directly on their mobile devices, adding convenience and extending the reach of their business possibilities.
In addition to the standard options like checking email, sending SMS, and receiving free calls, some of the features users appreciate from this company are:
- Readable voicemail transcripts
- Call logs
- Free calls and texting, even internationally to 40+ countries
- Caller ID
- Video calling
The Xfinity app even allows you to incorporate your home phone number into the mix. Using the Voice2Go feature, callers may place calls from their cell phones and have them register as coming directly from their house phones.
5. GoToConnect
- Price: Starts at $24/user/month
- Available features: Texting, video chat, video messaging, phone calls
- Compatible with: Android and iOS devices
- Support: Phone, email, FAQ, community
GoToConnect (Jive) makes doing business from wherever you are easier by allowing you to connect to your business phone directly via your smartphone. You can receive phone calls on your cell phone that come through your business phone number, making anonymity and privacy more reliable. Users can check voicemails, read through call logs, and more.
VoIP is the new way of communicating, and both businesses and individuals can maximize their experiences by using the best VoIP app for them. Consider the features, quality, and pricing plans that work with your needs to find your top choice.
Something we thought was neat about this particular VoIP app was the rules that it allows you to create. For example, the location-specific rules let you decide to automatically switch your status to unavailable when you get in the driveway of your home. It’s that kind of small, but noticeable convenience that makes GoToConnect stand out.
6. Grasshopper
- Price: Starts at $29/month
- Available features: Phone calls, voicemail, texting
- Compatible with: Android and iOS
- Support: Phone, FAQs, AI chatbot
Appropriate for the animal it was named after, Grasshopper can be heard from just about anywhere. This was no accident--Grasshopper is a small VoIP whose voice quality, capabilities, and performance far outweigh its actual size.
Grasshopper puts a special focus on inbound calling, though its mobile app also offers outbound call services with a digital dialer programmed into it. At once accessible and robust, Grasshopper makes a lot of noise even amongst its larger competitors.
7. Verizon
- Price: $35/line
- Available features: Calling, messaging, auto-attendants, call routing
- Compatible with: Android and iOS
- Support: Phone, email, live chat
The nationally recognized telecommunications company offers VoIP services backed by the same infrastructure and heft of the larger company.
Verizon offers many traditional VoIP features and a few unique to the service, including fiber optic internet, wireless backups, and business-friendly tools like mobile fleet management.
8. Aircall
- Price: $30-$70/user/month
- Available features: Call recording, call routing, and SMS messaging
- Compatible with: Android and iOS
- Support: Phone, email, live chat
Targeted primarily towards enterprise businesses, Aircall has an impressive infrastructure and business integrations ranging from Zendesk and Salesforce to Pipedrive.
Aircall has mobile apps for both Android and iOS users that allow them to manage communication needs, including annotating and tagging, no matter where they are.
9. Intermedia
- Price: Starts at $27.99/user
- Available features: Unlimited calling, SMS messaging, voicemail transcription
- Compatible with: Android and iOS
- Support: 24/7 support by phone, email, live chat
Intermedia offers contract-free VoIP plans designed primarily for small and medium-sized businesses. It’s known as a reliable, user-friendly system with good uptime and single-dashboard accessibility that makes it easy to access by phone, computer, or mobile. The system automatically forwards calls to mobile, making it a solid choice for those always on the go.
10. Ooma Office
- Price: $19.95/month
- Available features: Call management tools, on-hold music, call recording
- Compatible with: Android and iOS
- Support: 24/7 support via phone or live chat, self-help resources
A recipient of PC Magazine’s Business Choice award as #1 VoIP provider for Small Business, Ooma Office carries with it a lot of expectations, and lives up to them.
Small and independent business owners love the no-contract service and praise its reliability, call quality, and seamless mobile apps. Ooma may not be robust enough for larger businesses, but provides award-winning service with exceptional mobile capabilities for those looking for a leaner, more affordable VoIP.
How Do VoIP Apps Improve Business Communications?
VoIP apps boost business communications by offering cost-effective accessibility, usability, and portability. Unlike a VoIP desk phone, mVoIP offers alternative internet connections like WiFi, keeping communication lines open throughout the day, which is vital for business success.
Mobile phone VoIP apps enable faster interactions, as audio packets are digitized and sent much quicker than on a desk phone. You can always tell when a customer or another contact is online or busy, ensuring that you can plan a business call at the appropriate time.
With mVoIP, a company can get new employees up and running by providing them with a VoIP-connected device to access contacts and connect to meetings from any location. Mobile phones also save on bandwidth costs by operating within the data plan you paid for, meaning you won’t have to pay extra for costly plans. You can also take advantage of the BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) option to cut costs. BYOD means employees can use their personal devices to download and install the VoIP app for business use.
In addition, mVoIP offers access to communication features, such as voicemail to email transcription, which converts your voicemails into text, enabling you to send emails faster. Your registered VoIP business number will remain constant no matter your mobile device, meaning that contacts can reach you on the same business line. Furthermore, you’ll save time on registering phone numbers afresh since the VoIP apps maintain your contact information across platforms.
Important Mobile VoIP Features You Must Know
Mobile VoIP has many helpful features for your business:
User-friendly
mVoIP is portable, cost-friendly, and compatible with many mobile devices. Some of its services, such as international calls, can be offered free depending on the VoIP provider. It can integrate with other software, such as Customer Relationship Management (CRM) tools, making it easier to solve different business challenges seamlessly.
Audio and HD-Video Calls
You can make and receive audio, and HD-quality video calls on your mobile device from anywhere with an internet connection. You can also record phone calls or listen to voicemails on the app. The linked devices feature enables you to connect multiple devices, ensuring they ring simultaneously if a call comes in. This prevents your team from getting missed calls.
The call-flip feature can transfer an ongoing call from your VoIP desk phone or computer software to your mobile device without dropping the call. Thus, you can continue communicating with your contact on the move.
Messaging
Mobile VoIP enables you to send or receive instant messages, which is valuable for collaboration or getting information faster. You can use the voicemail-to-text feature to read the message or send it as an email without needing to recreate it.
Status Availability
VoIP apps display statuses, which means you can tell when one of your contacts is online before scheduling a call with them. Furthermore, if your team is stationed across various geographic locations, you can confirm a team member’s availability by checking the app.
Group Chats and Online Meetings
For teams to collaborate well, mVoIP enables members who aren't at the office to join chats and meetings to discuss projects. Many VoIP providers focus on secure communications, meaning you can share files safely from anywhere.
Popular Features of Mobile VoIP
Mobile VoIP has come a long way since simple voice calls over the internet. Here’s a look at the many features that can benefit you and your business:
Link separate offices
If you have more than one office, this is a great way of creating a seamless working environment between them. It also helps alleviate time differences for global workers, as staff can take calls or meetings from home or on the move. Check with your provider to see if it offers PBX capabilities, helping you create a private branch exchange for your staff, not only for all of your physical offices, but also on mobile.
Appear ‘always on’
Working hours can become a thing of the past when your mobile phone is also your office phone. Any time a customer has a query or a concern, they have a direct line straight to the correct staff member. VoIP providers allow users to create extensions and groups of extensions so that calls can be routed effectively. If your business wants some downtime, you can also create personalized voicemails or greetings which explain opening hours or redirect accordingly.
Conferencing
Conferencing capabilities are improving all the time, and can include video chat, instant messaging, and a conference floor monitor system. This last tool allows admin to manage invitations to meetings, questions coming in, and options like muting certain members.
Screen sharing
This means that IT support or other colleagues can see your problem or example at a glance from their own screen. Mobile VoIP also allows for video and file sharing, all over the internet, and without a third party middleman.
CRM
Customer relationship management tools which can be integrated into the top business VoIP solutions include Salesforce, Act, Zoho, Microsoft Dynamics, and Oracle. These allow you to keep track of your customer data, your incoming and outgoing calls, capture call notes, and explore real-time accountability.
Integrations
Whether it’s customer service, office staff or teleworkers, your business deserves to get the most out of its employees. Your business VoIP can support this, with integrations with popular productivity software such as G-suite or Office 365. Amongst others, Salesforce Desk and Zendesk can support customer service, while software such as Clio or ConnectWise are great for business management.
Security
Security is paramount when it comes to business VoIP, both for mobile and desktop. The latest trends in security include powerful ID authentication tools, end-to-end encryption, and Transport Layer Security (TLS) or Secure Real-Time Transport Protocol (SRTP) encryption.
Professional look
For small businesses especially, having your business number routed directly to you wherever you are is priceless. Some companies allow you to create unique local numbers around the globe, so that your customers always feel that you are a professional local presence for them. Whether your user is calling from Japan or Australia, they will be able to use a unique local area coded number to call your mobile directly.
Mobile VoIP Quality and Performance
The biggest concern that customers have when it comes to mobile VoIP is reliability. This is key when it comes to the image of your business and your interactions with both customers and staff alike.
While free mobile VoIP services, or those intended for personal use, may include issues such as latency errors or weak signal, mobile business VoIPs is a whole different ball game. The most important reason is Quality of Service or QoS. All VoIP companies are required to meet QoS protocols which include an evaluation of jitter, latency and delay, ensuring a certain amount of resources are allocated to voice calls.
Don’t forget to factor in bandwidth, though. If you’re using WiFi, your call is only as good as the bandwidth it is using. Working from a crowded coffee shop full of people using the network might slow you down.
It’s also worth remembering that unlike wired-in VoIP on desktop and in the office, your data charges may vary from provider to provider. While the calls themselves may not be charged, the use of the internet might well be. Users will need to be aware of how much mobile data they have to play with and how much will be used, especially with data-heavy tasks such as video calls. Of course, using home WiFi or any other connection can bring those costs down.
Other common concerns you may want to talk to your mobile VoIP provider about include:
- Your VoIP works seamlessly between desktop and mobile, updating in real time, for example when it comes to reporting or client management.
- The ability of the mobile VoIP app to work in the background, allowing you to continue other work or check email while you take part in a call.
- Degradation issues. Can you limit the bandwidth for certain parts of the interaction, for example giving more resources to voice over video quality, or helping to send a file more quickly?
How Do I Know Which Mobile VoIP to Choose?
Choosing the right mobile VoIP can feel like an arduous task, especially with so many elements to consider. Our experts have compiled the definitive chart of the best mobile VoIP solutions, both standalone and to complement Business VoIP for the office. Make sure to review the top providers on factors such as price, reliability, features and customer service, to help you make the right call, literally.