Business telephony has been transformed by VoIP technology. Lincoln businesses no longer need to invest in expensive ISDN lines and hardware phone systems — modern hosted VoIP delivers better call quality, more features, and lower costs, all over your existing internet connection.
What Is VoIP and Why Does It Matter?
VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) is technology that transmits telephone calls over the internet rather than traditional copper phone lines. Hosted VoIP takes this further by placing the telephone exchange (PBX) in the cloud rather than on your premises, eliminating the need for expensive on-site hardware.
For Lincoln businesses, the switch from ISDN or legacy phone systems to hosted VoIP typically delivers:
- Cost savings of 30% to 60% on monthly telecoms bills
- Flexibility to add or remove lines instantly as your team grows
- Remote working capability — staff can use their business number from anywhere
- Integration with Microsoft Teams and other business applications
- Advanced features including call recording, auto-attendant, hunt groups, and analytics
- No hardware maintenance costs or refresh cycles
Our VoIP Solutions for Lincoln Businesses
Hosted VoIP Phone Systems
We supply and support hosted VoIP systems from leading UK providers. Your phone system lives in the cloud, managed by specialists with enterprise-grade reliability and redundancy. You access it through IP desk phones, softphones on your computer, or mobile apps on your smartphone.
Every hosted VoIP system we deploy includes: direct dial numbers for every user, a professional auto-attendant (virtual receptionist), call queuing and hunt groups, voicemail to email, call recording (optional), and a management portal where you can make changes yourself.
Microsoft Teams Voice
If your business already uses Microsoft Teams, we can turn it into your complete phone system through Microsoft's Direct Routing or Calling Plans service. Teams Voice gives your team the ability to make and receive external calls directly from the Teams app they already use every day — eliminating the need for a separate desk phone entirely.
Teams Voice is particularly valuable for hybrid and remote teams, as it works identically whether your staff are in the office, at home, or travelling.
Number Porting
You do not need to change your existing phone numbers when switching to VoIP. We manage the porting process, transferring your current numbers to the new system with no interruption to incoming calls. For businesses where their phone number is well-established and important to customers, number porting is essential — and we handle it every day.
Business Mobile Solutions
We can also supply and manage business mobile contracts, SIM-only plans, and mobile device management (MDM) for your smartphone fleet. Consolidating your landline and mobile telecoms with a single provider simplifies billing and management, and often delivers cost savings through bundled pricing.
Making the Switch: What to Expect
Switching your phone system can feel daunting, but in practice it is one of the smoothest IT transitions available. Our process:
- Assessment: We review your current setup, call volumes, and requirements
- Design: We configure your new system to match your workflows and preferences
- Testing: We test thoroughly before cutover, including call quality, auto-attendant, and routing
- Cutover: We port your numbers and switch over at a time that minimises disruption
- Training: We train your team on the new system and provide user guides
- Support: Ongoing support included in your monthly service
Most Lincoln businesses are fully operational on their new VoIP system within one to two days.
Broadband and Connectivity
A reliable, fast internet connection is the foundation of both VoIP quality and cloud services. We advise on and can procure business broadband, leased lines, and 4G/5G failover solutions to ensure your connection is resilient enough to support your VoIP and cloud requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
What internet connection do I need for VoIP?
A standard business broadband connection is usually sufficient for small teams. VoIP calls use approximately 100kbps per simultaneous call. We assess your current connection as part of our pre-installation survey and recommend upgrades if needed.
Can I keep my existing phone numbers?
Yes. We port your existing numbers to the new system. This process typically takes five to ten business days and calls continue to be received on your old system until the porting is complete, meaning there is no gap in service.
What happens if the internet goes down?
We configure VoIP systems with failover to mobile numbers so incoming calls are never lost. For businesses where telephony is critical, we recommend a 4G failover broadband connection as backup.
Is VoIP call quality as good as traditional phone lines?
With a good internet connection, VoIP call quality is indistinguishable from — and often better than — traditional PSTN lines. We use HD voice codecs that deliver significantly clearer audio than legacy telephone technology.
Why Now Is the Right Time to Switch to VoIP
BT's ISDN and PSTN switch-off is scheduled for completion by January 2027. Every business still on legacy phone lines will need to migrate to VoIP or an alternative digital solution before that date. The switch-off is not optional — it is a national infrastructure change.
Rather than waiting until the last minute and facing a rushed migration, Lincoln businesses that switch to VoIP now get to do so on their own terms, with time to choose the right solution and bed it in properly. Early movers also benefit immediately from the cost savings and flexibility that VoIP delivers.
If you are not sure whether your current phone system is ISDN-based, we can check for you as part of a free telecoms assessment.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much can we save by switching to VoIP?
Most businesses switching from legacy ISDN systems to hosted VoIP save between 30% and 60% on their monthly telecoms costs. The exact saving depends on your current contract, call volumes, and the VoIP solution chosen. We always provide a detailed cost comparison before you commit.
Can we use VoIP if our internet connection is unreliable?
VoIP call quality depends on internet connection quality. If your current broadband is unreliable, we can recommend an upgrade — business-grade leased lines or bonded broadband solutions deliver the reliability VoIP requires. We assess your connectivity as part of our pre-installation survey and flag any issues before the project begins.
What happens to our existing numbers when we switch?
Your existing numbers are ported to the new VoIP system. Calls continue to reach your team without interruption. The porting process typically takes five to ten working days, and during that time your old system remains active so there is no gap in service.