Declaring a Winner in the VoIP vs. Landline Battle

There are a number of (non-violent!) battles on the business landscape. For example, it is not uncommon for iOS fans to go head-to-head against their Android-loving foes. And in some forums and discussion threads, the heated dialogue between proponents and opponents of remote working/telework can make a thorny geopolitical debate on CNN seem like child’s play.

However, there are some clashes that, frankly, are simply unnecessary – because to invoke Sun Tzu in the Art of War, the winner was determined before the skirmish began. That is certainly the case when it comes to the VoIP vs. landline battle. 

Below, we highlight the 5 key areas where VoIP technology does not just outshine and surpass landline technology, but quite frankly blows it out of the water:

VoIP vs. Landline: Cost

Winner: VoIP

When it comes to cost savings, the difference between VoIP and landline is staggering. Instead of purchasing expensive hardware and renting pricey trunk lines, businesses simply buy affordable licenses and certified VoIP phones based on the number of users. There is no hardware to purchase, no lines to rent, and no maintenance or upgrade fees of any kind. Furthermore, the investment is fully scalable, so businesses can add/reduce users based on their changing needs – including those that they cannot predict and foresee. While each business is different, it is not uncommon for the VoIP vs. landline cost savings to reach 50 percent per year.

VoIP vs. Landline: Advanced Features

Winner: VoIP

Adding advanced features to a landline system is costly, may require a technician visit (or several), and in some cases may not even be available due to the limitations of the provider’s technology. However, VoIP comes standard with a full range of enterprise-grade advanced features, including (but not limited to) voicemail-to-email, voicemail-to-text, auto attendant, one-number service, direct-in-dial, video conferencing, and more.

VoIP vs. Landline: Total Mobility

Winner: VoIP

With a landline system, the most that businesses typically can do is forward calls to remote workers. However, a VoIP system is designed for total mobility. Employees can access the system through a free app on their smartphone, and be as productive, efficient and “in the loop” as if they were in the office.   

VoIP vs. Landline: Business Continuity

Winner: VoIP

During a local power outage, landline systems typically go offline for seconds, minutes, hours – or in some cases during a natural disaster or other emergency situation, for days at a time. Aside from bringing communication and productivity to a grinding halt, it can damage a business’s reputation and have some customers re-thinking their loyalty. However, VoIP system leverages a geographically dispersed cloud-based infrastructure, along with automatic failover response. As such, even during a local power outage the system will remain online, and employees can stay connected with each other and customers.

VoIP vs. Landline: Sound Quality

Winner: VoIP

Many landline systems use buried copper wire technology that has not fundamentally changed since the 19th century. This can (and often does) lead to inferior sound quality and excess static; especially if the other party is using an equally-inferior landline system. However, VoIP delivers consistently crisp, ultra-high quality audio regardless of how busy the network is, and what other employees may be doing (e.g. surfing the web, streaming videos, uploading/downloading files, etc.).

The Bottom Line

When it comes to cost, advanced features, total mobility, business continuity and sound quality, the verdict is in and it is unanimous: VoIP for the win! To learn more, contact the Votacall team today. Your consultation with us is free.  

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