As flexible workspaces become more commonplace, the traditional workplace is evolving.
The office is no longer an essential work hub for many hybrid and remote employees. Instead, the digital collaboration platform is taking over, providing teams with a space to connect and communicate seamlessly with distributed colleagues.
Collaboration platforms like Zoom have already earned the attention of millions of business leaders looking for a convenient way to synchronize staff with video, audio, chat, and file-sharing tools. However, for a solution like Zoom to thrive as a modern work hub, it must be aligned with each company’s communication stack, including their unique requirements for telephony.
Fortunately, Zoom has various options to help businesses bring telephony into their collaborative space. The challenge is in deciding which strategy is best for each brand.
What is Zoom Phone?
To make business calls within the Zoom environment, businesses need to connect to the Public Switched Telephone Network with Zoom Phone.
Zoom Phone is a cloud-based phone system that connects the core Zoom platform to the wider telephony network. This means Zoom users can call standard mobile and landline numbers using the native Zoom dialer. There are a few ways to do this, including the Zoom Phone Provider Exchange, Zoom’s BYOC program, and Zoom Phone plans.
Zoom Phone plans are the native calling option available from Zoom. These leverage Zoom’s technology to provide companies with local and international calling and minute bundles. Typically, services are charged on a per-month and per-user basis. The Zoom Phone native solution includes all the traditional PBX features most companies would expect, including centralized management via a comprehensive admin portal, a secure and reliable global network, and HD audio calls.
Zoom Phone allows companies to:
- Access an all-in-one solution for calling on any device or OS
- Make and receive calls over Wi-Fi, cellular data, and cellular voice
- Engage in voice, video, messaging, and meetings on one platform
- Unlock intelligent routing for call management and control
- Create Auto-attendant and IVR systems with easy-to-use wizards
- Maintain traditional desk phone investments with broad interoperability
- Record call histories and voicemails, as well as entire conversations
- Easily change phone numbers and dialling personas between calls
- Create shared lines and delegate calls to specific users
What is Zoom Phone Provider Exchange?
Zoom Phone Provider Exchange is a BYOC (Bring Your Own Carrier) offering from Zoom, simplifying the existing BYOC program. The solution allows companies to bring their own carriers and telephony providers into the Zoom ecosystem, just like they would with the Zoom BYOC program. However, there’s no need for the SBCs and extra hardware investments typically involved with a traditional SIP connection strategy.
Zoom Phone Provider Exchange allows companies to manage their entire communication ecosystem within the Zoom platform. Using an enhanced cloud peering service, carriers with their own SIP-based voice network can directly link to the Zoom infrastructure, using trusted cross-connects between data centres.
With Zoom Phone Provider Exchange, companies gain access to their chosen vendor’s seamless calling capabilities and reliability without the complexity of setting up a routing system. Brands can order telephony numbers and voice services through the carrier’s app within the Zoom app marketplace. Those numbers and services can then be provisioned directly into the Zoom tenant and assigned to users from a convenient user interface.
Essentially, Zoom Phone Provider Exchange offers many of the same benefits as the Zoom BYOC program but with the benefits of being cloud hosted end-to-end, so companies can access flexibility without investing in additional hardware. The service comes with a range of advantages over standard Phone plans, such as:
Greater geographic reach: While Zoom Phone has native connectivity in 45 countries, it can’t provide a comprehensive level of geographic coverage. Zoom Phone Provider Exchange ensures companies can connect with their preferred providers in all countries, building a global network for communication and collaboration.
Reduced infrastructure: Building on Zoom Phone’s functionality with the standard BYOC plans would require companies to invest in additional hardware and SBC solutions to operate their communications tools. With Zoom Phone Provider Exchange, the need for these other purchases is negated, helping brands save money.
Cost savings: Although Zoom Phone offers relatively affordable packages for businesses, they’re not guaranteed the best deals for every brand. The Phone Provider Exchange gives companies more flexibility to choose the providers of their choice in a range of environments, so they can always access the best value.
Zoom Phone Plans vs Zoom Phone Provider Exchange: Verdict
Zoom Phone plans can be an excellent choice for companies with basic telephony needs. They’re convenient, straightforward, and easy to implement without the assistance of another communications vendor or professional. However, these plans do have their limitations when it comes to geographical reach, advanced feature sets, and flexibility.
Zoom Phone Provider Exchange offers a more flexible way for brands to access the best possible phone services without compromising on price and performance. Unlike Zoom’s traditional BYOC program, there aren’t any new tools or hardware solutions to invest in. However, you still benefit from a highly secure and reliable environment for business communications.
As an added benefit, Zoom Phone Provider Exchange is still in its initial stages of being introduced to the market. This means new partners and features will likely appear in the years to come, giving organizations even more growth opportunities.
Ian Guest, Pure IP’s Marketing Director said “As companies settle into hybrid working long-term, they require platforms that consolidate the management of their systems, carriers and numbers. We’ve seen platforms like Zoom evolve tremendously to keep pace with changes in the workplace and Zoom’s Phone Provider Exchange program is another example of how the platform is streamlining their cloud phone offering. As an original provider on Zoom’s Phone Provider Exchange, we have a direct integration with Zoom that offers our customers the flexibility and convenience in bringing their telephony and UC systems together under one roof.”
Getting Started with Zoom Phone Provider Exchange
While Zoom Phone Provider Exchange can offer many distinctive benefits to companies compared to Zoom Phone Native and the Zoom BYOC program, it still requires businesses to choose the right provider. At present, only a handful of telephony vendors have met the requirements set by Zoom to be included in their App marketplace. With this in mind, companies need to do their research before they commit to working with a specific company.
Choosing a well-known brand with the ability to implement PSTN calling features worldwide will be crucial to any brand’s success. It’s also worth finding out as much as you can about the service the provider can offer. For instance, Pure IP provides voice services in 137 countries using a global SIP network and full PSTN replacement in 45 countries.
Customers also get 24/7 technical support, access to a range of add-on managed services, and transparent pricing, where they pay only for the services they use.
