What is cloud calling?
Cloud calling is a way to make and receive business phone calls over the internet, using a phone system that is hosted in the cloud instead of in your office. There is no desk phone, no phone box (PBX) in a cupboard and no engineer visit. Your team calls from a browser dialer or app, and your business numbers live online as virtual phone numbers.
You may also hear it called cloud telephony, a cloud phone system, a virtual phone system or a hosted PBX. They all describe the same idea: your business phone system is software you use from anywhere.
How cloud calling works
Cloud calling uses VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) to turn your voice into data and carry it over the internet:
- Making a call: you dial from your browser. The browser dialer sends your voice securely over WebRTC to the cloud, which connects it to the ordinary phone network so the person you call answers on any phone.
- Receiving a call: someone rings one of your business numbers. The cloud phone system decides what happens next, for example forwarding the call to a mobile or a teammate.
- After the call: the call is logged automatically with its duration, status and cost, and a call recording is saved if you chose to record.
Benefits of a cloud phone system
No hardware
Call from any browser with a headset. Nothing to buy, install or maintain.
Work from anywhere
Remote and hybrid teams use the same business numbers wherever they are.
Numbers in minutes
Add local or toll-free virtual phone numbers for each team, region or campaign.
Recording built in
Record calls for training and quality, and pause for sensitive details.
Call analytics
See call volume, answer rates and talk time without spreadsheets.
Scales with you
Add people and numbers as you grow, and pay for what you use.
Cloud calling vs a traditional phone system
| Cloud calling | Traditional phone system | |
|---|---|---|
| Setup | Minutes, online | Days or weeks, on site |
| Hardware | A browser and a headset | Desk phones and a PBX |
| Remote working | Works anywhere with internet | Tied to the office |
| Adding numbers | Instant, in any region you need | New lines and contracts |
| Call recording and analytics | Built in | Extra equipment or add-ons |
| Cost | Subscription plus usage | Up-front hardware plus line rental |
Who uses cloud calling
- Sales teams use an outbound calling dialer with local caller IDs and recorded calls for coaching.
- Support teams run a support phone line with call forwarding so no customer call is missed.
- Call centers replace on-site equipment with cloud call center software their agents use from anywhere.
- Agencies and multi-brand businesses keep separate numbers, call logs and recordings for every client.
Cloud calling with Kovtel
Kovtel gives your team a complete cloud phone system in the browser: a browser dialer, live call recording with pause and resume, call forwarding with your own ring time and caller ID, multiple numbers and a call analytics dashboard. Calls run on your own Twilio account, so you keep full control of your numbers and usage.
See plans and pricing or book a demo.