Ever used an app like WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger to chat with friends, family, or clients? Congratulations — you’ve experienced Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology. But VoIP isn’t just for personal chats. It’s also changing how businesses communicate.
If you’re ready to integrate a VoIP phone system into your business processes but still have lingering questions about VoIP cell phones, you’re in the right place. In this article, we’ll dive into how Android and iPhone VoIP mobile phones work and highlight their benefits. You’ll see why so many businesses are making the switch — and have all the tools you need to get started.
How does VoIP work on cell phones
You can complete VoIP calls or texts through a service provider’s VoIP app for your iPhone or Android device. Here’s how it works:
- When you place calls with your mobile device over VoIP, your voice data is converted into digital signals.
- Using voice over IP technology, these signals are transmitted to the receiver via your cell phone’s WiFi or data plan using 4G, 5G, or LTE.
- The call reaches the customer, who receives it as a regular phone call, just as they would with a traditional phone system.
You can also set up a WiFi hotspot from your phone to avoid connection problems if you’re out of reach of a stable internet connection.
6 benefits of using mobile VoIP providers
So, what are the benefits of switching to VoIP? We could go on for hours about the benefits of virtual phone systems. For the sake of time, we’ll dive into the biggest benefits of using a mobile VoIP provider.
1. Keep your personal number private
Because you can have multiple phone numbers in a single device, a VoIP cell phone makes it easy to keep your personal number private. You won’t have to give your cell phone number to clients or colleagues — or worry about receiving a business call outside your working hours.
This helps you maintain a healthy work-life balance, and it helps you keep your head straight when it comes to business communications. Your VoIP phone app securely stores all work-related calls and messages as a second number on your device. That way, you know exactly where to access them.
2. Collaborate with your team
Most VoIP phone services allow multiple team members to use the same shared business phone number simultaneously. This means you can check in on any conversation tied to that number, and you’ll never encounter a busy signal — even if multiple colleagues are making or receiving calls at the same time.
It’s also easy to assign new phone numbers to your teammates or add them to an existing number — all it takes is a few clicks on your smartphone or computer.
Services like OpenPhone take collaboration to the next level by allowing you to tag teammates, react to messages, and comment internally on external conversations. These features ensure your clients get the 5-star customer service they expect while keeping your team aligned.
3. Get more value while saving money
Switching to VoIP can significantly cut down your communication costs. For instance, international call rates are much more affordable on a service like OpenPhone compared to a traditional phone provider’s plans, such as Verizon.
You’ll also save on hardware expenses since VoIP doesn’t require bulky, expensive equipment — your existing smartphone or computer works just fine. And beyond saving money, VoIP ensures you get the features your business truly needs to thrive.
4. Get the features your business needs
Built-in smartphone VoIP solutions like FaceTime work well for video calls with family and friends, but they aren’t designed for business communications. For your business phone system to work smoothly and efficiently, it needs to make your job easier.
OpenPhone’s business phone features, like phone call transferring, interactive voice response (IVR), call recording, and call transcriptions and summaries, allow you to do just that. AI-powered features like call tagging can automatically label calls with categories such as “Billing issue” or “Frustrated customer” to help you stay organized.
We even offer business integrations with HubSpot, Slack, and Zapier so you can streamline your workflows.
5. Carry one phone for all your needs
Tired of carrying two phones? Whether you’re an entrepreneur juggling personal and work calls or a small business owner looking for a simpler way to stay connected, VoIP services let you manage multiple numbers on one device.
You can see on your screen if calls are personal or work-related, set different caller IDs for each number, and customize your voicemail depending on when customers call. With the right VoIP provider, you can also call and text from your computer.
Dan Hutchings, a Dog Training Elite franchise owner with multiple locations, uses OpenPhone to oversee his team’s conversations.
“I have trainers out in the field that I need to have access to the information, but I don’t want to be constantly inundated with text messages and phone calls,” says Dan. “The trainers like it because they can have their own cell phone and then turn off the app at night when they don’t need it.”
6. Improve security
Keeping your business communication secure is more important than ever. VoIP services like OpenPhone prioritize protecting your data with security practices like text message encryption, audit logs, and a secure infrastructure.
With these measures in place, you can communicate confidently, knowing your business is protected from threats.
VoIP phones vs. traditional phones
Compared to traditional landline phones, VoIP cell phones aren’t tied to a physical location. Since VoIP phones use the internet to make and receive calls, your team can make calls from anywhere. Here’s an overview of the differences:
| VoIP phones | Traditional landlines | |
|---|---|---|
| Devices | Works on smartphones, laptops, etc. | Limited to physical desk phones |
| Connection | Requires internet or cellular data | Requires a physical phone line connection |
| Cost of international calls | Low (internet-based) | High (traditional rates) |
| Scalability | Easily add new users or numbers | Requires new hardware installations |
| Mobility | Accessible anywhere with internet | Tied to a physical location |
| Advanced features | Includes call recording, tagging, and integrations | Basic call functionality (forwarding, shared lines, etc.) |
VoIP phones are especially beneficial in these situations:
- Remote teams: With a VoIP app, employees can make and receive business calls from anywhere using their smartphones or laptops, staying connected without needing a desk phone.
- International travel: VoIP eliminates the high costs of international roaming by allowing you to make long-distance calls over WiFi at a fraction of the price.
- Growing businesses: VoIP services are easy to scale as your team grows, with no need for additional hardware installations.
Compared to traditional PBX systems, VoIP is cheaper, easier to scale, and conducive to remote work — perfect for today’s business environment.
How to get started with mobile VoIP providers
There’s no shortage of VoIP providers on the market today, so the first step is choosing a service.
Some VoIP services are built into your smartphone, like FaceTime for iPhone users. Android-compatible alternatives like Google Duo or WhatsApp also exist. You may be familiar with or have used other popular VoIP apps like Skype. However, basic smartphone VoIP platforms often lack the features, functionality, and flexibility you need for a business phone system.
Once you decide on a second phone number app, you simply download the VoIP provider’s mobile application to your cell phone or tablet. Then you’ll have access to the expanded features and benefits of a VoIP business phone service.
Your new business “softphone,” as your VoIP cell phone is known, gives you two numbers on one phone: one number for all your personal conversations and a second, separate number for work.
What do you need for VoIP to work on your cell phone
A VoIP cell phone service might seem too good to be true, and you might expect to need a lot of equipment or software to get started. The beauty of internet-based phone systems is that they require none of that. You can begin calling from your cell phone once you have access to the following three things:
- Reliable internet
- An up-to-date operating system on your device
- A provider that allows you to default to data if you lose a WiFi connection
While some business VoIP users find they need to upgrade their broadband or alter their phone settings to avoid dropped calls, most find they’re able to operate with their existing setup. OpenPhone uses relatively little data when you need to tap into your cellular network. This makes OpenPhone a far more cost-effective solution than traditional landline business phone systems.
Why your business needs VoIP cell phone options
Even before the rise of remote work, bring-your-own-device (BYOD) policies were on the rise. Recent analyses predict that in the next five years, the BYOD market is expected to achieve a compound annual growth rate of 15%. The largest BYOD population is in North America, where using one’s personal phone at work has become a norm.
BYOD allows employees to work on their own schedule and from locations other than the office, like home or a coffee shop.
For employers, they can more easily onboard teammates because they don’t have to purchase and configure new equipment for new hires. New employees can easily add a business line to a cell phone.
Say goodbye to desk phones and outdated telephony services and hello to the modern world of VoIP cell phones.
Switch to a VoIP cell phone with OpenPhone
As you can see, the versatility offered by a VoIP service provider allows your business to work more efficiently and scale more easily. If you’re curious about trying out some of the best VoIP technology on the market, check out OpenPhone and enjoy:
- Auto-reply texts
- Local and toll-free numbers in the US and Canada
- Calling and messaging (SMS & MMS)
- Auto-attendant and call routing
- Free number porting
- Ability to share responsibility for a phone number, including shared calling and an SMS inbox
- Call recording and AI-transcripts and summaries
- Slack, email, Zapier, and 7,000+ integrations
- Mobile apps for iOS and Android
- Web-based app for all browsers
Whether you’re calling from your VoIP cell phone or another supported internet-enabled device, you can expect crystal clear call quality, a wide array of business features, and a sleek, modern calling app. To learn more about all that OpenPhone has to offer, sign up for your free OpenPhone trial today.
FAQs
Yes, you can use your current cell phone for VoIP by installing a compatible app or service like OpenPhone.
VoIP on a cell phone offers flexibility to make calls over WiFi or cellular data, often at a lower cost than traditional carriers, and lets you manage multiple numbers on one device.
A VoIP phone uses the internet to make calls, while a regular cell phone relies on cellular networks for communication.
VoIP can be as reliable as traditional cell service as long as you have a stable internet or cellular data connection.
You can forward VoIP calls to your cell phone by adjusting the call forwarding settings in your VoIP service’s app settings.
