Is your business on the hunt for an all-encompassing modern mobile telephone service?
When businesses are looking for a new telephone service as a second line, many of them turn to Google Voice due to brand name recognition. However, Google Voice isn't the best fit for every business.
If you feel like Google Voice isn't the right service for you, read on to learn why you should consider Google Voice alternatives.
Table of Contents
1. What Is Google Voice and How It Works?
2. Google Voice Alternative for Small Business
3. Google Voice Alternative for Startups
4. Examples of Google Voice Alternatives
5. Best Google Voice Alternative: iPlum
6. How to Transfer and Port Your Number from Google Voice?
What Is Google Voice and How It Works?
Google Voice is a telephone service that offers voice messaging, text messaging, voicemail services, and call transfer. Because Google Voice is a VoIP-like service, it only works over the internet. As long as you have a good internet connection, you can send texts, make calls, and access the service.
When you first sign up, you can either use your own number to port to the service or get a new one.
If you choose to get a new number, you'll need to share your area code and you'll randomly be given a number. If you want to choose your own digits, you can input them to see if they're available.
Once you have a phone number, you can record a voicemail message. Then, you can start making calls and using the service.
The Pros of Google Voice
So, why do people choose to use Google Voice? Here are some of the benefits of Google Voice:
- It's free to place calls and text messages as long as you use it to communicate with other US numbers
- It works on iPhones, Androids, and desktop computers
- Ability to customize text messages
- Receive transcribed voicemails
With Google Voice, you're also not locked into a cellphone company. You can switch numbers at any time and have Google Voice forwarded to the new number.
The Drawbacks of Google Voice
While Google Voice, is convenient for some, it's not the best option for most businesses. Here are some other drawbacks of Google Voice:
Privacy
One thing a lot of people don't realize about Google Voice is that it's actually not designed for business use.
Rather, it's a consumer product meant to collect metadata for advertisements.
Lack of privacy is perhaps the biggest drawback of Google Voice. By allowing Google Voice access to all of your phone activity, you're exposing a lot of personal information to Google.
Everything from the people you call to what you discuss is stored in Google's servers. Of course, Google isn't going to publish your life story with the data they've collected on you. However, putting your data in someone else's hands means it could be used for purposes other than your personal perusal.
Caller ID Issues
While Google Voice does have a caller ID feature, it's not known for being super reliable.
If you dial a number from your mobile phone touchpad, then your personal ID will show up. Your Google Voice number will only show up if you're making the call from the Google Voice app.
Google also has trouble syncing contacts with other voice systems. This means that incoming calls from your personal contacts may fail to show up with a name, which can cause a great deal of confusion.
Reliability
Google uses VoIP services which may not be always reliable for a good call connection. While they don't happen often, Google-related service outages have occurred over the years. If Google Voice goes down, then your number may temporarily stop working.
No Customer Support
For businesses that need Google Voice around the clock, this isn't ideal.
Google Voice Alternative for Small Business
Small businesses need modern phone and texting solution to connect with their clients. Each client call is super important. Often small business prefer a self service approach with flexibility to configure their system rather than hiring expensive technical staff or contractors to organize their contact center.
Google Voice Alternative for Startups
Startups need a next generation system which can grow with their nascent business. The focus is to buy only something which is essential and add on when the team grows. The good mobile phone system with texting allows a seamless new client interface.
Examples of Google Voice Alternatives
Google Voice has some advantages due to affordability but it is missing a lot of key features that you should look for in a telephone service because your phone system features in many ways represents your brand to your clients.
Here's what you should look for:
Protection of Data
When you are looking for a reliable second line phone service, you need one which is not recording your or your client data to send targeted advertisements.
HIPAA Compliance
If you work in the medical field, then you absolutely need to choose a phone service that's HIPAA compliant. Not only will this help protect your patients, but it'll also help protect your business from lawsuits.
Auto Text Reply
When you are running a business you want to make sure you can provide the best customer service to your clients and be responsive without having them wait for you.
Auto Attendant (IVR) With Virtual Extensions
If you want to give your business a professional look, then you need to look for a phone service that comes with an auto attendant. This auto attendant can list the different extension numbers for your business to ensure that customers are speaking to the right person.
You need a phone system which can grow with you. Press 1 for sales, 2 for support... You should be able to create virtual extensions and bring your team around your client support structure.
Call Recording
Another key feature you should look for in a phone service is call recording. Recording business calls will help you keep track of everything, and it may help you out down the road should there ever be a legal dispute over what someone said.
You'll want to look for a service that has a free consent message that plays before the call is recorded.
Voicemail Transcription
Listening to voicemail can be tedious, which is why voicemail transcription is such an important feature. With this feature, your voicemails appear as easy-to-read texts with audio files that are sent directly to your inbox.
Best Google Voice Alternative: iPlum
Now that you know why you should look for Google Voice alternatives, it's time to start searching for a different service. There are services out there that are specifically designed for businesses that have all of the features you need. At iPlum the features and pricing is designed for business success:
Protection of Data
You can focus on your core business rather than looking for privacy settings in Google. iPlum will never ever share your information with any 3rd party or for own advertisements.
Dual Voice Network Mode
Best call quality at all times. No longer have to rely on internet for your calls. You can use your existing carrier voice network to make and receive iPlum calls with crystal clear voice quality either inside the office or outside.
HIPAA and Legal Compliance
In healthcare industry, client privacy is holy grail. You can be charged large fines if you are not protecting your patient data. iPlum takes care of that for you.
Auto Attendant (IVR) With Virtual Extensions
Build your virtual phone tree with complete welcome greetings and virtual extensions. We even provide a high quality text-to-speech so that you don't have to bother about recording & uploading recordings if any thing changes in your phone tree.
Auto Text Reply
Reply with an automated text for your clients to tell them you care.
Call Recording
Provide legal consent to your clients before the call is recorded.
Works Both Domestic and International
Going on vacation overseas or you permanently located outside US.
No Need to Change Carriers
Changing phone carriers can be a huge hassle, which is why you want to look for a service that can sync with your existing carrier. At iPlum you never have to carry two phone anymore.
Lowest Prices
Business service pricing at iPlum is as low as $4.99 with features envious of some large expensive phone systems.
How to Transfer and Port Your Number from Google Voice?
- Unlock your number at Google Voice:
- Google Voice Number https://www.google.com/voice/unlock.
- Google G Suite Number https://support.google.com/a/answer/9530249?hl=en.
- Google Fi Number https://support.google.com/fi/answer/6079398?hl=en .
- Switch you number or Port-in by using porting instructions here.
- During porting process the number will continue to work at Google Voice. At port completion you will get a notification and the number will be active at iPlum. It is a seamless process
- Port-out: For any reason in future if you decide to port-out your number to a different carrier, you can easily do that by following the port-out process in the iPlum portal
Want to learn more about what we have to offer? Feel free to reach out to us today and see how we can help.
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