Softphones are available for a variety of smart phones and by Federal Regulations, providers must allow them to operate over Wi-Fi connections, data plans, and cellular data networks. A SIP based softphone for an Apple iPhone runs as an App and can be installed using the Apple iTunes store. Not all softphones will be able to connect to your company phone system, for instance Skype’s App for iPhone will not. Softphone App users from your company will need the voice system settings, ip address or net address, their user name and password for the system to register their softphone.
Why might a company want to use Softphones for iPhone?
Cellular data plans are not cheap for the iPhone, nor are company cell plans always as cost efficient as businesses would like. A softphone on an iPhone or other smartphone will allow your employees to use the plans associated with your business phone system, including SIP Trunks, Skype, or other telecom services. As a result, as long as the smartphone plan includes unlimited data, it will not register as using expensive cellular minutes. Furthermore, the softphones can be used over Wi-Fi, which for those employees without unlimited data plans or that own their own phones, will give them access to company telephony services a little or no cost.
Companies could also remove costly desk phones and physical extensions from the office. Though SIP compliant desk phones can be purchased inexpensively, this allows reduced deskspace and lower up-front infrastructure costs. It also allows employees to always have their company phone extension with them, meaning any member of your team is a minute-free extension to extension dial no matter where they are, a gigantic plus for salespeople and remote employees.
