How does a cloud-based phone system work?

To place a call, first dial the phone number on your cloud phone. The phone connects to a VoIP service provider and verifies that it has permission to place that call. The VoIP phone provider handles the routing and connects your phone to the person you are calling. And it does it all within a fraction of a second!

How is a cloud phone system different from call center software?

VoIP call center phone systems are designed to handle higher call volumes than a typical cloud phone system. Virtual call centers use VoIP and are run entirely over the internet. With a business communications platform like Nextiva, you may also opt in for built-in tools like contact center, etc.

What’s the difference between hosted PBX and cloud VoIP?

A hosted PBX (Private Branch Exchange) is a telephone switching system that’s accessible over a network in the cloud. Because it’s cloud-based, a trusted VoIP provider like Nextiva can manage your infrastructure. This lets you replace individual phone extensions with a VoIP desk phone . A cloud VoIP phone system also routes calls through the internet, but does not require telephone lines to operate.

How do I choose a cloud phone system?

To choose your cloud phone system, consider your unique business needs, employee count, and budget. Every cloud business phone provider offers plans and features at different price points. Nextiva, for example, has a Professional plan at $21.95 and an Enterprise plan at $27.95. Both plans come with advanced features you can choose from.

Can I use a cloud phone system with my cell phone?

Yes. There are many ways a cell phone can integrate with a cloud-based phone service. Your cell phone can make and receive calls with an authorized VoIP softphone app . Configure intelligent call forwarding and pulling so you never have to worry about being away from your IP phone. Get voicemail transcriptions conveniently delivered to your inbox or your text message.

How do I transfer my phone numbers to Nextiva?

It's easy to transfer phone numbers to Nextiva through a process known as porting. Porting lets you move your phone number to a new VoIP provider. You can transfer any number you use, including: Landline numbers Wireless/cell phone numbers Virtual numbers (Google Voice, TextNow, etc.) VoIP phone numbers Toll-free numbers Nextiva handles everything related to moving your phone numbers over. All you need to do is submit a letter of authorization online. Our porting team will advise you of the port-in date. From there, you can begin receiving calls through Nextiva's cloud phone system instantly. Transferring business phone numbers will take approximately 2–4 weeks, depending on the previous carrier. In the meantime, you can use temporary numbers.

How much is a cloud based phone system?

Nextiva’s cloud PBX phone system costs $21.95 per month per user. But it doesn't stop there, connect with one of our agents to get a personalized quote for your business.

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Digital

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For startups

Omnichannel digital customer sales & service to connect and engage with customers on the channels they prefer and track social engagement and customer reviews.

Digital features:

Turn prospect and visitors into customers and provide customer service on your website by engaging with them in real-time through live chat. Start with automated prompts to gather essential information, then seamlessly transition to a live-agent interaction for a personalized experience or use AI Chatbot to interact with prospects or customers.

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Support and sell using social messaging platforms including Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and more. All messages route to a single inbox so you won’t miss a thing.

Messaging apps
Monitor, respond, listen, and publish on the most meaningful social platforms including: Facebook, Instagram, X (Formerly Twitter), TikTok, Linkedin, YouTube, and your Google Business profile.

Social media channels
Protect your brand and control your reputation by automatically keeping tabs on key review sites. Set alerts so high-importance comments are handled immediately.

Review Management
Sell more and support efficiently by routing all conversations to a single inbox. Channels include email, webchat, messengers, SMS, social media and review sites.

Digital Service Helpdesk

Core

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For small teams

Connect and engage with customers on digital, voice, video, and SMS. Never miss an interaction with AI-powered voicemail transcription. Empower all workers with desktop, mobile, and browser-based apps for customer conversations, collaboration, and contact management.

Core features:

Keep tabs on what competitors are doing across social media, forums, and blogs.

Competitive monitoring
Support and sell using social messaging capabilities including Facebook Messenger, Instagram DM, WhatsApp, and more. All messages route to a single inbox so you won’t miss a thing.

Messaging apps
Monitor, respond, listen, and publish on the most meaningful social platforms including: Facebook, Instagram, X (Formerly Twitter), TikTok, Linkedin, YouTube, and your Google Business profile.

Social media channels
Protect your brand and control your reputation by automatically keeping tabs on key review sites. Set alerts so high-importance comments are handled immediately.

Review Management
Sell more and support efficiently by routing all conversations to a single inbox. Channels include email, webchat, messengers, SMS, social media and review sites.

Digital Service Helpdesk
Connect with customers and your team using award-winning, reliable voice conversations within the U.S. and CA*. Get a new number or bring over your existing number for free.

Inbound & Outbound Voice
Send and receive SMS text messages from your business phone number using the desktop and mobile app.

Business SMS
Collaborate face-to-face with video meetings. Engage in sidebar chats and record for future reference.

Video meetings
Get on the same page by sharing your screen during a video call or exchanging key files.

Screenshare & file share
Ensure all calls are professionally answered and properly routed using a virtual receptionist recording that directs callers to, for instance, “press one for Sales and two for Service.”

Call routing

Engage

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For growing teams

Create amazing customer experiences across all channels with AI-powered intelligent routing, AI chatbots, analytics, insights, and integrations with CRM systems.

Everything in Core, plus:

Enable customers to reach your entire team via a shared SMS inbox, allowing multiple team members to access messages, respond promptly, and deliver faster resolutions.

Customer-to-team SMS Messaging
Give your business a professional edge by offering a universal, non-local, toll-free number.

Toll-free number & minutes
Move your business forward with insight gained from data found within your voice analytics.

Advanced reporting
Ensure a premium voice calling experience by integrating Nextiva’s reliable and clear voice solution into your Microsoft Teams workflow.

MS Teams integration
Offer 24/7 support and efficiently manage responses to FAQs with web chatbot automation. Start with automated prompts to gather essential information, then seamlessly transition to a live-agent interaction.

Web chat: Live & bot

Power Suite

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For sales & service teams

Everything a small business needs to run a successful sales & service organization and to operate like a Fortune 500 company — including inbound voice, advanced routing with an AI-powered interactive voice bot, agent skills-based routing, data dips, and supervisor assist.

Everything in Engage, plus:

Manage high-volume inbound calls and use touch tone prompts to route calls to best-fit agents.

Inbound sales and service call center
Route callers to best-fit agents based on demographics, language, affinity, hard skills, etc.

Priority and skills-based routing
Increase efficiency and collaboration by connecting agents and supervisors in a single interface.

Unified team interface
Focus on what metrics matter most with a customizable real-time dashboard for supervisors.

Supervisor dashboard*
Save your customers time and preserve experience during peak hours by allowing callers to request a call back when they reach the front of the queue.

ACD callback*