Making a call with a softphone

Calling with a softphone

Are you looking for the 'ultimate' softphone solution for your company? Or did you land on this page more or less by accident, because you hear the term more and more, but don't know exactly what it means? We got you covered!

First the basics: a softphone can replace desktop phones (hard phones) in almost all situations. And it puts an end to devices sitting on the desk gathering dust. The term softphone is a contraction of 'software' and 'phone'. Softphone is software that you install on your computer, tablet or smartphone. And you can use it to make calls, just like you are used to on a desk.

After installation on (for example) a smartphone, you actually have a second phone running. Which is not accessible via your 06 number, but via the company number. Ideal if you and/or your employees are often on the road. Or if you don't want to make calls over your 06 number. Moreover, most softphone solutions offer all kinds of extras, such as chatting, video calling, handy address books (no more fiddling with old-fashioned interfaces of desk phones!) and updates. Plus: if all your employees use a softphone, it saves a lot of money. A reasonable hardphone can easily cost more than 75 euros. Softphones often cost 10-15 euros. Including updates. These are the main advantages:

Regular updates

How often is your desk phone updated? Probably the answer is 'rarely or never'. Softphone apps do get regular updates and with them new features or improvements.

Handy address book

Desk phones usually have a limited address book. And it's a lot of hassle to add, edit or delete contacts. In many companies, contacts are not even stored at all. Too inconvenient! With a softphone, this is much easier. Moreover, contacts can be shared directly with colleagues. And important data will not be lost.

Price advantage

As mentioned, a deskphone costs easily 75 euros or more, while a softphone costs between 10 and 15 euros, with updates included. Moreover, there is no hardware that needs to be replaced after a few years!

Easy to roll out within an organisation

Provide all employees with a desk phone, develop call plans, assign extensions. It is a lot of work to build and maintain a traditional telephone network. Installing a softphone is much easier. Download, enter username & password and you're done.

No extra device in the network

Every online device is a device that needs to be included in the network, needs an IP number, may need its own subnet (possibly with priority over normal network traffic) and can in principle be hacked. A softphone uses an existing device with internet access. No extra network device, therefore!

Upgrade path possible

Many softphone providers offer additional features such as chat and video conferencing. These are not options if you work with desk phones!

But what is the ultimate softphone?

That depends on your wishes. We are quite fond of the Counterpath softphone. Counterpath offers a proven effective solution (the company has been in the market for 10+ years) and a lot of functionality. You can download the softphone from the iOS or Android store and try it for free for 14 days. If you like it, you can purchase a licence. To be able to call, you need a SIP account, a username & password. You can easily request these from our customer service.

Google Voice, where you get a softphone for each employee within the office solution of Google, G-Suite.

Of course Belfabriek numbers work with all these (and many other!) softphone solutions. Your main number, including all advanced features, stays with you.