Webex vs.Teams vs. Meet vs. Zoom: Which works best with phone systems?

There’s no two ways about it: remote working is here to stay. Whether your business ends up fully working from home or going hybrid, there’s merit in taking a step back and reviewing which collaboration tools make the most sense for your business moving forward.

Something that may have been overlooked in the focus on video conferencing software like Webex or Zoom is the humble phone.

If you haven’t already, you should consider integrating your business’ number with your online collaboration suite. After all, they’re still the most reliable way to close leads; keeping your phone accessible from anywhere only ensures your staff’s continued productivity.

However, with all the different suites at your disposal, determining which one fits your business best can get confusing— that’s why we put together a comparison of all the key features you’d need from the biggest conferencing platforms, and how they’d work with a business inbound number.

Microsoft Teams

With Microsoft’s proprietary communications app coming standard with Office 365, as well as getting bundled for free with Windows 11, Teams is gearing up to expand its user base even further.

Because it comes from the Office 365 family, the user interface is easy to get familiarised with. Plus, because it’s maintained by Microsoft, Teams automatically integrates with your Outlook calendar and inbox, and allows easy file sharing via OneDrive, SharePoint.

Enterprise Office 365 and Microsoft Teams accounts supports integration with your Hosted PBX system of choice. Once Teams Calling is activated, and your direct in-dial numbers are linked, the in-built softphone will be easily accessible on the sidebar. Highlight softphone features include:

• Cloud call recording storage via OneDrive and SharePoint
• Support for CarPlay
• Spam caller detection
• VoIP data saving mode.

Alltel offers a range of business phone systems that are compatible with Microsoft Teams. This makes reaching Australian customers easier via local inbound number, while staying connected to a globally-leading platform. To learn more about Alltel SmartConnect systems, you may visit the SmartConnect product page.

Zoom Phone

Perhaps the most recognisable desktop and phone conferencing app in the world, Zoom rose to prominence in the work-from-home rush of mid-2020. While it was troubled by security concerns early on, Zoom has since taken steps to improve both their security and feature set.

Zoom’s main selling point, and the reason for its rapid adoption, is simplicity. Zoom’s mobile phone and desktop apps allow users to join and create meetings, change their backgrounds, and schedule personal rooms with minimal effort.

External Hosted PBX phone systems do not usually offer Zoom as an add-on component. Instead, businesses are required to sign up for a separate Zoom Phone BPS system, which will then link separately to your existing carrier or PBX system or trunk. It comes with the following features:

• Cloud call recordings
• Advanced business softphone features
• Per-user call plan customisation
• Single sign-on and cross-device support

Google Meet

Another ubiquitous tech giant that saw even more prominence throughout 2020 is Google. It has continued to refine its suite of Google Workplace products like Docs, Drive, and Gmail. Its video conferencing and chat service, Google Meet and Chat, has recently been gaining steam as a lightweight, browser and app-based alternative to others on this list.

Its default integration with commonly used productivity tools like Gmail and Google Calendar also helps with ease of use for those already familiar with the ecosystem. The paid version also allows for users with third-party conferencing solutions to join in on a Google Meet link.

Google Voice, the tech giant’s VoIP-based PBX solution, is currently unavailable to customers outside the United States.

Cisco Webex

Cisco is a giant in business communications solutions, and as such specialises in servicing larger, enterprise-level customers. Because of this, reliability is one of the key selling points for Webex, which specialises in team meetings and virtual events.

By far, though, security is the greatest advantage of Webex, as it offers end-to-end encryption for both free and paid users. Its cross-device apps are designed to be intuitive for new users, with a full stack of features like noise cancellation, virtual background, recording, and transcription, much like Zoom.

Cisco Webex Calling natively supports integration with both VoIP-based and legacy PBX systems, along with other CRM and productivity tools like Slack, Office 365 or Zapier for extra flexibility. Here are some key features:

• Offers excellent security with end-to-end encryption
• Advanced business softphone features
• Cloud storage and file sharing support
• Optimised for live events and large meetings

Alltel’s business phone system plans offer an excellent range of features that are suited to businesses of any scale. With Cisco Webex, you can stay connected to your business anytime, anywhere, on any device. To learn more, visit the Alltel SmartConnect product page.

OTHER FEATURES

Paid plans

Looking for a business phone system that works with the cloud?

Alltel’s SmartConnect BPS and UC platforms offer a straightforward, reliable experience at lower rates. To learn more about our plans, visit alltel.com.au or call us at 1300 255 835 today.