In stark contrast to the difficulties emerging for mobile VoIP for consumers (the encroachment of the telecom giants on what should be a ‘nearly free service’, and the imposition of calling plans that almost negate the advantages of VoIP), business mobile VoIP is a breath of fresh air for large companies with dozens of on the go employees.

The difference between the average consumer considering adding VoIP to their mobile phone and the average business owner considering it as a feature added to an already existing VoIP / PBX network is that while the consumer’s actions are primarily driven by a desire to save money, the business owner is more driven by the need to increase productivity and employee satisfaction.

Reduced costs may indeed play a part (particularly if the company makes a lot of international calls), and may even prove a major benefit down the line as an indirect benefit of higher efficiency in the workplace, but the baseline consideration for business mobile VoIP is convenience.

Skype is probably the most used VoIP application both for soft phones and mobile phones. While Skype is a service, another option, Bria for iPhone, is a software phone that can be registered with and run off of your own hosted phone service or PBX network.

This allows you to make calls from your mobile and recipients will see your main business phone number as the origin of the call. You can receive calls from your work extension on your mobile, anywhere you have service. You can transfer calls back to department personnel in the office, and conference in to an important meeting while sprawled on a deckchair by a hotel pool.

Using mobile VoIP for business means that calls from anyone on your network are always free (although calls to/from the PSTN will incur whatever standard charges have been determined by your provider). Overall, mobile VoIP offers you and your staff freedom and the ability to stay connected, increasing productivity and enjoyment of their job!

Saiju is a VoIP and business software expert specializing in business phone systems and hosted SIP services.