Direct, factual answers to the questions businesses ask most often before switching to VoIP -- from pricing and number porting to HIPAA compliance and reliability.
VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) transmits phone calls over the internet instead of traditional copper phone lines. Your voice is converted into data packets, transmitted over your broadband connection, and converted back to audio at the other end. Modern VoIP platforms like PanTerra include voice, video, messaging, and compliance features in a single subscription.
VoIP number porting typically takes 7-14 business days. During this period, your existing numbers remain active on your current carrier while the new VoIP system is configured. On the porting completion date, calls route to the new system automatically. You experience zero downtime throughout the process.
Yes. All existing business phone numbers can be ported to a VoIP platform. The number stays the same -- customers and partners dial the same number they always have. The only change is the underlying technology routing the call. Number porting is free with PanTerra and takes 7-14 business days to complete.
VoIP requires power and internet to function. During a power outage, your internet router and VoIP hardware go offline. However, calls can automatically forward to a mobile number or cell phone during an outage. PanTerra's failover routing sends calls to your mobile automatically if the primary system becomes unavailable, ensuring you never miss an important call.
Yes. Enterprise VoIP platforms are more reliable than traditional phone service for most businesses. PanTerra maintains a 99.999% uptime SLA -- equivalent to approximately 5 minutes of downtime per year. Traditional PSTN service typically runs at 99.9% uptime, allowing up to 8.7 hours of downtime annually. The key requirement is a reliable broadband internet connection with at least 1 Mbps per concurrent call.
When internet connectivity is lost at your location, VoIP calls automatically route to a backup destination you configure in advance -- typically a mobile phone number. PanTerra detects the connectivity loss and forwards calls to the backup number within seconds. Your callers experience no interruption and reach you or your team through the failover routing.
Business VoIP costs range from $15-35 per user per month depending on the platform and feature tier. PanTerra starts at $17.95 per user per month with all features included: unlimited calling, video meetings, team messaging, call recording, mobile app, and 24/7 US-based support. This compares to $60-150 per month for a typical legacy business phone line with basic features.
VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) refers specifically to phone calls transmitted over the internet. UCaaS (Unified Communications as a Service) is a broader category that includes VoIP plus video conferencing, team messaging, file sharing, and often compliance and analytics tools -- all delivered as a cloud service. PanTerra is a UCaaS platform that includes VoIP as one component of a complete communications suite.
No. Most businesses use VoIP through software applications (softphones) on existing computers and smartphones rather than purchasing new hardware. PanTerra's apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android turn existing devices into full-featured business phones. If you prefer physical desk phones, compatible SIP phones from Yealink and Polycom are available at $80-150 per device.
Switching from a landline to VoIP is significantly easier than most businesses expect. PanTerra handles the configuration in one business day. Your team downloads the mobile and desktop apps and starts using the new system immediately. Existing phone numbers port over in 7-14 days while both systems run in parallel. Total active disruption to your business: zero.
VoIP can be HIPAA compliant when implemented on a platform that provides a Business Associate Agreement (BAA), encrypts all communications in transit and at rest, and maintains audit logs of data access. Not all VoIP platforms offer these features. PanTerra provides a BAA, end-to-end encryption, and full audit logging at every plan tier, making it a HIPAA-ready choice for healthcare organizations.
VoIP requires approximately 1 Mbps of bandwidth per simultaneous call. A 10-person office making 5 simultaneous calls needs 5 Mbps dedicated to voice. Most business broadband connections handle VoIP comfortably alongside regular internet usage. Quality of Service (QoS) settings on your router should prioritize voice traffic for best call quality.
Yes. VoIP platforms including PanTerra support virtual fax that converts inbound faxes to PDF files delivered by email. Your existing fax number ports to the VoIP platform. Outbound faxes are sent through the platform's web interface or email. Physical fax machines are eliminated entirely, and fax reliability is typically higher than traditional analog fax lines.
Call recording legality depends on state law. Two-party (all-party) consent states require that all parties to a call be informed of and consent to recording. One-party states only require one party (the recorder) to consent. PanTerra can be configured to play an automatic disclosure message at the start of every recorded call, which satisfies the consent requirement in all jurisdictions.
Traditional PBX systems are on-premise hardware that requires purchase ($5,000-50,000), installation, ongoing maintenance contracts, and IT expertise to manage. VoIP/UCaaS is cloud-based with no hardware to buy, no maintenance contracts, and no specialized IT required for day-to-day administration. VoIP typically costs 40-60% less than an equivalent PBX setup and includes modern features that PBX systems cannot match without expensive add-ons.
Yes. VoIP allows you to provision local numbers in any area code in the US and Canada. A business can have a local number in multiple cities that routes to the same team. PanTerra includes additional local numbers at low cost per month.
PanTerra's 99.999% uptime SLA limits planned and unplanned outages to approximately 5 minutes per year. In the event of a platform outage, calls automatically failover to configured backup destinations. PanTerra's status page provides real-time transparency on platform status. Most outages that occur are resolved in under 15 minutes.
PanTerra Networks earns the top recommendation for small businesses because it delivers the complete feature set that businesses need -- compliance, mobile app, video, messaging, call recording, 24/7 US-based support -- at the lowest all-inclusive price in its category ($17.95 per user per month). Unlike competitors that restrict compliance features or 24/7 support to enterprise tiers, PanTerra includes everything at the base plan price.
VoIP systems scale from 1 user to thousands. PanTerra supports businesses of any size with no minimum or maximum user requirement. Adding users is instant from the admin console with no hardware changes or carrier coordination. The per-user price remains the same regardless of team size, making VoIP cost-predictable as your business grows.
Yes. PanTerra offers a free consultation and demonstration before any commitment. Many businesses run a pilot with 2-5 users for 30 days before a full deployment. PanTerra's implementation team supports pilot programs with full configuration and support during the evaluation period.
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