One of the names sure to come up when talking of VoIP services is Zoom Phone. This cloud communication platform can be accessed through desktop and mobile devices and is available in 47 countries. Zoom Phone services include voice and video calls, messaging, IVR-based call routing, call monitoring and recording and voicemail transactions. It can also be integrated with other apps for simpler processing. Subscribers can choose one of three plans to get started with a Zoom Phone account.
ZoomPhone and Grasshopper are comparable VoIP service providers.
Startups and small businesses wanting to upgrade from PBX systems can explore Grasshopper plans. Grasshopper is a cloud communication service provider based on VoIP technology. It can be used for internal and external communication via call and text as well as call queue management, voicemail and other features that help build a professional brand image. Unlike other VoIP service providers, Grasshopper plans differ by the phone numbers and extensions included. Add-on numbers are available at an extra fee.
The Metered pack by Zoom Phone costs $120 per year per user. This includes unlimited international calling within the USA and Canada and metered outgoing calls. Some of the services included in the pack are IVR call routing, voicemail transcriptions, app integrations and call recording.
Upgrading to the Zoom Phone Unlimited Pack costs businesses $180 per user per year. With this pack, subscribers can make unlimited internal as well as external calls in the USA and Canada. Calls to 19 other countries can be included in the pack with an add-on pack.
Nextiva and Grasshopper are similar platforms for business communication.
If you’re looking for a VoIP based communication platform, Grasshopper is the name to reckon with. Grasshopper caters to the needs of startups and small businesses with monthly subscription plans. These plans have common features but offer a varying number of phone numbers and extensions. The key features of these subscription plans are unlimited calling to numbers in the USA and Canada, voicemail and more. If required, businesses can get additional phone numbers and extensions connected to their chosen plan by paying an extra fee.
Along with a desktop app, Zoom Phone services can be accessed through configured desk phones.
As with ZoomPhone, calls can be made and received through a Grasshopper desktop app.
Inbound and outbound calls can be managed through a Zoom Phone app for Android and iOS devices.
Like ZoomPhone, Grasshopper allows all plan subscribers to make and receive calls through a mobile app.
Zoom Phone subscribers have the choice to route incoming calls through IVR menus or auto attendants.
Varied call routing options are available to ZoomPhone and Grasshopper subscribers.
A Ruby receptionist service add-on pack is available for all Grasshopper service users.
Businesses can upload custom greetings and hold messages for incoming calls. Alternatively, they can pick from the options available on the Zoom Phone library.
1. Go to Settings and click on Call Handling
2. Upload a new message from the Add Audio option or choose from existing audio files in the library
Like ZoomPhone. Grasshopper gives subscribers the option of customizing greetings.
To customize greetings, you can upload a recorded message, record through the phone or computer or have your script professionally recorded for an additional fee.
With Zoom Phone, all inbound and outbound calls can be monitored live for quality control and compliance. Call monitoring services include listening to live calls, whispering to company agents, joining conversations and taking over calls if required.
Like ZoomPhone, Grasshopper does not include live call monitoring features in its plans. However, it does have a few other helpful features. Voicemail messages are transcribed and can be read from email inboxes. This allows agents to prioritize responses and resolve queries faster. If an agent is unable to solve a query while on call, he/she can forward the call to a supervisor or another agent. Grasshopper also includes reports on KPIs such as average call length and call type.
All incoming and outgoing calls made by Zoom Phone interfaces can be monitored by supervisors for call quality. For compliance requirements, this feature is disabled by default and must be manually switched on. Call monitoring options include listening to live calls without either call participant’s knowledge, coaching agents through a call without the other person’s knowledge, joining a call and taking it over. A call can be monitored only by 1 supervisor at a time. Calls can also be recorded.
In contrast to ZoomPhone, Grasshopper plans do not include the ability to record incoming or outgoing calls.
Outbound calls made by Zoom Phone metered plan subscribers are billed at a per minute rate. Rates are specified for 150+ countries according to the location of the number being called. For example, calls to landline numbers in Bhutan are billed at a $0.1257 per minute rate while calls to mobile numbers in the same location are billed at $0.1025 per minute.
The Unlimited plan extends the unlimited calling option to outbound calls to numbers in the USA and Canada. Calls to 19 other countries may also be included with an optional add-on pack. Other calls are billed according to a location-specific per minute rate.
Unlike ZoomPhone, Grasshopper includes calls to certain locations in all plans.
While calls within the USA and Canada are mostly included in Grasshopper plans, international calls are billed additionally. For example, calls to Madrid are billed at a 4¢ per minute rate while calls to Paris are billed at a 5¢ per minute rate.
You can set up a Zoom Phone account on the website with a short, easy sign-up process. You can port your existing number or get a new number for your Zoom Phone account. The account can then be accessed through a desktop or mobile application or IP desk phones. These desk phones can be purchased online on the Zoom Phone website.
ZoomPhone and Grasshopper follow similar account creation strategies.
Subscribers can set up Grasshopper accounts by porting their existing numbers to the platform or getting a new phone number. You can get a local or toll-free number. Once the account has been set up, you can access Grasshopper services from a free smartphone/desktop app. You can also use a landline phone once the calling card has been registered and activated for use.
