Over landlines and on-premise PBX systems, cloud phone systems have many benefits, such as sophisticated call-handling features, cost-effectiveness, and flexible plans.
In this article, we examine and research the top Cloud phone solutions available right now. To assist you in finding the ideal solution, we have summarised our research on pricing and plans, features and customer support, network reliability, and more.
Intermedia
Intermedia Unite is a UCaaS cloud platform that offers collaboration tools like file sharing and screen annotation along with VoIP phone calls, SMS texting, video conferencing, faxing, team chat messaging, and team messaging.
Businesses are able to keep their current hardware thanks to its Enhanced AnyPhone BYOP Program, and its five-pillar Worry-Free ExperienceTM creates a secure, dependable cloud environment across all communication channels.
Pricing and Plans
Two paid plans are available from Intermedia Unite:
$27.99 per user per month for Unite Pro
Unite Enterprise costs $32.99 per month per user.
The contact center capabilities, video calling restrictions, and integration capabilities are the main differences between the plans. There is a 30-day trial that is free.
What Sets It Apart
Additionally, Intermedia offers two full integration options with Microsoft Teams: one that enables users to add Unite to the Teams application, and the other that provides a version of Unite tailored to Teams.
Users of Teams who choose the Unite With Teams plans receive Single Sign-On, native Unite softphone, voicemail, receptionist, and PBX features, third-party CRM integrations, SMS, 2-way presence and contact syncing, and more–all within a recognizable Teams interface. Users still have access to chat messaging, meetings, and file sharing via Teams even though Unite’s team collaboration features have been disabled within the integration to avoid confusion.
Intermedia provides a number of call group varieties that greatly improve the efficiency of handling a high volume of incoming calls. While a Pickup Group allows specific agents to take each call, a Hunt Group simultaneously calls every member to increase the first contact resolution rates.
A Paging Group enables admins to place one-way calls to members to inform them of important updates, while a Receptionist Group instantly updates auto-attendant routing strategies at a specific time of day.
Network Reliability and Customer Support
Known for its top-notch security, support, and dependability—all contained within its five-pillar Worry-Free ExperienceTM—Intermedia Unite is a leader in these areas. SecuriSync File Security with E2EE, Cloud ConciergeTM onboarding, a 99.999% SLA uptime, and regulatory compliance are all included.
SecuriSync offers two-factor authentication, real-time file backup and restoration, permission- and role-based sharing and editing, ransomware, malware, and antivirus protection. GDPR, HIPAA, SEC, FINRA, PCI, SOC 3, and other compliance and security certifications and standards are among those held by Intermedia.
The customer service at Intermedia is equally effective, offering live chat and phone support around-the-clock, a Strategic Client Services Manager, customer orientation and onboarding, webinars, HostPilot Training, and more.
What Users Like
Co-editing and robust file sharing with real-time backup, mobile access, and unlimited file versions available round-the-clock Customers who use Cloud ConciergeTM receive incident alerts within five minutes via phone and chat.
scalable, cutting-edge Microsoft Teams integrations (Unite With Teams and Unite For Teams)
What Users Dislike
A maximum of 200 people can participate in video conferences.
Only the most expensive plan offers key integrations (Salesforce, MS Dynamics, NetSuite, and ServiceNow).
Toll-free numbers and faxing are two VoIP features that are standard with other providers but call for additional fees. Read also All about VoIP systems.
Ooma Office
With voice and video calling, virtual faxing, and SMS messaging, Ooma Office is a straightforward small business phone solution. It sells native phone hardware on its website and integrates with many desk phones made by third parties.
Plans and Pricing
Three paid plans are available from Ooma Office:
Ooma Office Essentials: the monthly cost of $19.95 per user
The Ooma Office Pro costs $24.95 per month per user.
Ooma Office Pro Plus costs $29.95 per month per user.
A 30-day free trial with a money-back guarantee is available from Ooma.
What Sets It Apart
The Caller Info Match tool from Ooma incorporates customer and lead data from Google, social media, and your CRM platform.
The Caller Info Match feature offers real-time CRM pop-ups and compiled public data from Facebook, LinkedIn, and Google when an inbound call is received or when agents place outbound calls.
Through a multi-level IVR or an automated recording, Ooma’s virtual receptionist directs calls and provides callers with the information they need. To route calls to specific agents or ring groups, Ooma uses touchtone technology and Natural Language Processing.
One of the most feature-rich mobile apps we’ve seen is Ooma’s for iOS and Android devices, which enables users to access visual voicemails, modify call flows, use in-app extension dialing, send SMS messages, and update user information.
Network Reliability and Customer Support
Ooma Office’s lack of transparency regarding its security measures on its website automatically disqualifies it in the eyes of some. After speaking with customer service and doing extensive research, it was discovered that Ooma does not support two-factor authentication, is not HIPAA compliant, and only provides end-to-end encryption for communication among Ooma users.
The biggest issue with Ooma’s security and dependability is that it does not provide any sort of uptime guarantee, a fact that is buried deep within its Terms and Conditions documents.
However, Ooma’s Enhanced Call Blocking feature enables administrators to automatically block calls from known spam callers on the Community Blacklist, block calls from up to 100 users at once, and block calls from anonymous or unknown numbers.
All Ooma users have 24/7 access to live chat customer support. Additionally, all Ooma users can call support. Sat.-Sun. 8:00 AM-5:00 PM, and Mon.-Fri. 5:00 AM-5:00 PM. Additionally available online is a user forum and a knowledge base for support.
What Users Like
With existing phone hardware, auto-configuration technology streamlines and expedites the already user-friendly installation and setup process.
Support is available via live chat around-the-clock and via phone seven days a week.
affordable international calling rates, especially considering that all Ooma Office plans include free unlimited calling to Mexico.
What Users Dislike
Does not offer two-factor authentication and is not HIPAA compliant
Due to a lack of native team chat messaging capabilities, third-party integrations are required.
Key features like call recording/routing/monitoring, video calling, etc., are absent from the most affordable plan.
Final Thoughts
Cloud phone systems have many benefits, such as sophisticated call-handling features, cost-effectiveness, and flexible plans. Intermedia Unite is an UCaaS cloud platform that offers VoIP phone calls, videoconferencing, faxing, team chat messaging, and team messaging. Intermedia Unite’s SecuriSync File Security with E2EE, Cloud ConciergeTM onboarding, a 99.999% SLA uptime, and regulatory compliance are all included. Ooma Office is a straightforward small business phone solution with voice and video calling, virtual faxing, and SMS messaging. The Caller Info Match tool from Ooma incorporates customer and lead data from Google, social media, and your CRM platform.
Ooma’s Enhanced Call Blocking feature enables administrators to automatically block calls from known spam callers. All Ooma users have 24/7 access to live chat customer support.