Google Voice for Business: A Complete Guide | just call blog (2023)

With Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology, you can use a broadband Internet connection to call people instead of using a regular phone.

As the dominant force on the Internet, Google has naturally taken the lead in providing VoIP services. Google's proprietary service, Google Voice for Business, is among the leading VoIP service providers.

Is this service all it's broken for? Here's a complete breakdown of this service with all it has to offer. We are also exploring the possibility of an alternative, if any, to Google VoIP for Business.

Google Voice for Business: A Brief History

Google Voice for Business is the commercial version of Google Voice (Google's personal VoIP service). the spread ofvirtual numberschanged the way companies do business today. Instead of relying on a cell tower, use the Internet.

the most significantAdvantages of VoIPServices like Google Voice Office Phone System is that you don't have to worry about SIM cards even when you're abroad. This is a great benefit when giving work phone access to employees who may not be with you all the time.

Google Voice for Business also takes the hassle out of customers calling your cell phone number. It offers many more customizable features that you don't get from a major cell phone provider.

So let's see if a Google Voice business number is the right choice for your business. And if not, is there an alternative? Read on to know more about it.VoIP providerand an alternative, if any.

How it works?

Let's start by saying that Google Voice for Business is different from Google Voice, a VoIP platform for personal use. It lacks the additional features that Google VoIP offers for businesses.

With Google Voice for Business, you can use it with Teams, it's a worldwide app, and you can have multiple Google numbers. Plus, you get features that help you collaborate, monitor, andIncrease the productivity of your teamand other functions associated with running a business.

Like Google Voice, Google Voice for Small Business requires an Internet connection and associated devices. You should also have a strong Wi-Fi router or data plan to add portability to your device.VoIP phone system.

You will receive a new number from Google for Business. You can link it to yourexisting mobile numberor use it as a separate number from the selected device. The advantage is that you can make and receive calls wherever you are, even without your cell phone, as long as you have an internet connection.

Set up Google Voice for Business

Setting up Google Voice for Business for your Google Workspace requires a bit of heavy lifting. You need a Google Workspace account to open a Google Voice for Business account:

Observation:Google Workspace is a payment platform. The basic plan costs $6.00 per user, which is more than what you pay for your Google Voice for Business account.

• On your device, click the link to thegoogle voiceMain page
• Click the Get Started button.
• You will access the Google Voice pricing plans. Choose your pricing plan.
• After clicking "Select" on a pricing plan, you'll be prompted to sign in to Google Workspace.
• Now click on "Add or Update Signature".
• In the sidebar, you will see the Google Voice button. Click
• You can choose from three Google Voice business phone number plans: Google Voice Starter, Google Voice Standard, or Google Voice Premier. Select your preference and click Get Started. (Please refer to the features available for each plan, as not all features are offered with all plans except Google Voice Premier.)
• If you click "Get Started" again, you will see the "Pay" and "Place Order" buttons. Click on them.
• You will be asked to add your location (country or region) according to your Google administrator.
• When you click Next, you will be prompted to assign licenses to your team members.
• In the final phase, assign business phone numbers and Google Voice area codes to team members, with or without collaboration.

Comments:

1. Canadian numbers are only available with a Premier subscription.
2. Toll free numbers are not supported.
3. You can only keep your old phone number if you carry it with you. This feature is only available for numbers in the US and Canada.

Now the Google Voice for Business setup is complete. You can start using functions likeautomatic participant,the group that soundsetc However, not all features are available on all plans. So, as mentioned above, choose your plan carefully when you sign up to get the plan that best suits your needs.

How does your business benefit from Google Voice for Business?

Small businesses can benefit from a Google Voice business number in many ways. You will benefit most from this platform if your business involves a high volume of calls:

Local calls in different regions

You can use your Google Voice for Business account to make local calls to other regions, cities, or states where you don't have one.local phone number.

Integration between Google Apps

You can integrate your Google Voice phone system with other apps like Google Calendar and Google Meet (formerly Google Hangouts).

Enhanced data protection

One of the main reasons why you should not use your cell phone to make phone calls in the office is the lack of privacy. Google Voice for Business handles your business calls while your cell phone remains private.

phone number ownership

Employees can only have their Google Voice work phone number while they are employed. When leaving, they hand over the number, which can be assigned to another employee.

assignment of working hours

You can set your business hours so that your work number only rings during specified business hours.

customer service resources

With Google's business phone system, you get many customer service-focused features that you don't get with regular cell phone service. In general, you appear more professional to your clients.

call transcript

Google Voice for Business automaticallytranscribe voicemailcalls. you can pull upcall transcriptThis can be useful when you need to take meeting minutes or compose email messages based on the content of the call.

What are the limitations of Google Voice for Business?

AGoogle Voice business phonenumber offers an extremely affordable yet professional VoIP platform. Unfortunately, there are some limitations that you need to be aware of. If you are not satisfied with these drawbacks, you may want a more suitable alternative, such asjust call:

A Google Workspace account is required

To have a Google Vote business account, you must first have a Google Workspace account. Since both accounts are paid, you end up spending money on both.

Phone number restrictions

You can have one Google number per Google Voice user.

country restrictions

The number of countries in which Google Workspace is limited. This means that you can have a Google Voice for Business account in fewer than 20 (around 14) countries. If you are in a country that is not listed by Google, you must use aalternative VoIP servicelike JustCall.

No toll free numbers provided

A toll free number is beneficial to your customers because they do not have to pay long distance charges. but you do not understandtoll free numberswith a Google Voice business phone number.

portability restrictions

If you want to change provider, it will be difficult for youtransfer your number. If you have a US number, the address you provided must match the primary location when you first set up your account.

Does not integrate externally

You can only integrate Google Voice for Business with Google apps and not with external CRM systems like Slack, Zapier, HubSpot, Zoom, etc.

Difficulty participating in team collaboration.

There is no simple internal communication system. You can create ring groups, but it costs extra. The only other way to communicate with your team members is to switch between Google apps. They cannot participate in a conversation like other VoIP platforms like JustCall.

Autoresponders and snippets are not provided.

During the day you may have repetitive messages that you need to send. You can easily send them with an auto-reply feature, which sadly doesn't exist in Google Voice for Small Business. You have to edit each message manually which is tedious and time consuming.

There is no provision for text marketing campaigns.

Google Voice for Business is a one-to-one VoIP communication platform. This means that everyonemass text messagesWhat you have to do for marketing campaigns is excluded.

catching up is hard

In Google Voice for Business, there are different ways to communicate in different places. So if every call, voicemail, and text needs to be checked, team members need to handle each inbox separately.

Looking for an alternative to Google Voice for Business

With the many limitations of Google VoIP for Business listed here, it's no surprise that many users abroad are looking for better alternatives. JustCall was an option that many users liked and switched to for more flexibility and more features, but at a reasonable price.

Here are some features that JustCall has to offer:

JustCall is a fast and easy VoIP service to set up in minutes. It is a standalone platform that does not require you to subscribe to related products. The automatic recording function is very convenient, allowing you to listen to calls later to catch up on missed calls.

Another useful feature is thechrome extensionwith JustCall, which allows you to dial numbers from any website. But one of the most valuable features of this platform is that it isintegrates with most CRM platforms (over 100)., which makes it very versatile.

JustCall records andrecords all incoming and outgoing callsin the system and your CRM/Helpdesk system. you can createcall distributionRules with voicemail and welcome message in the language of your choice.

They can also work together on JustCall andcollaborate with other teamsmembers, distributing incoming calls. The ability to use multiple phone numbers from a single JustCall account certainly improves the user experience. Also, you can select phone numbers in 70 countries. Various other features include blacklisted numbers and the ability to mask outgoing calls with a custom phone number.

These are the most importantFeatures that JustCall has to offerabout others There are many other benefits you can experience by switching to JustCall to find out which ones are right for you.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the main benefit of using Google Voice for Business?

With Google Voice for Business, you can set up automated attendants. You can also forward calls to other numbers right from your computer or integrate your calls with Google Calendar, Google Meet, and other Google apps.

What is the main limitation of using Google Voice for Business?

The main limitation of using a Google Business number is that it can only be integrated with other Google Workplace apps. This is usually a big disadvantage if your business already uses third-party CRM integrations like HubSpot, Slack, and Zoom.

Is Google Voice or Business an expensive VoIP platform?

Google Voice Office-Phoneworks well for small to medium businesses. You get tons of voice features starting at $10.00 per month making it cost effective.

¿Existen alternativas a Google Voice for Business?

Many alternatives can meet the business communication needs of an organization. Due to the limitations of Google Voice for Business, many developers are working on more advanced solutions like JustCall.

With JustCall, you get VoIP service to a business account for the same price as a Google PBX. However, you get much more features to meet the different needs of different businesses.

Are Google Voice and Google Chat the same?

Google Voice and Google Chat are different products from the same company. Google Chat is an application-based or web-based tool that allows you to chat and share documents with other people. However, Google Voice is a VoIP and SMS telephony service.