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11th June 2020 blog, Business Insights

5 Ways to Earn Trust in the Financial Services Industry

9th June 2020 blog, Call Center

6 Practical Tips for Managing Virtual Call Center Agents

An image of Singapore virtual phone numbers.

4th June 2020 blog, Business Phone Numbers

Singapore Phone Numbers: The IMDA Numbering Plan Explained

4th June 2020 blog, Business Phone Numbers

Top 9 Virtual Phone Number Providers [2026]

3rd June 2020 blog, Cloud Telephony

15 Best Business VoIP Providers [2026]

2nd June 2020 blog, Business Phone Numbers

Australia Toll Free Numbers: Comparing the 3 Top Providers

29th May 2020 blog, Business Phone Numbers

Understanding 0800 and 0808 Freephone Numbers in the UK

An image of the best call recording services.

29th May 2020 blog, Call Management

12 Best Call Recording Services [2026]

5 Ways to Earn Trust in the Financial Services Industry

Nadine Sampson 11th June 2020 blog, Business Insights

Why is it important for a finance company to earn its customers’ trust? So that they see the value in your company and return. Additionally, returning customers hold the ability to bring new customers to your company. So, what can you do to earn trust for your finance company?

Finance Companies: Top Ways to Earn Trust

There are a few different ways of earning customer trust and respect. These range from improving the way your business and its employees interact with clients to using technology and marketing to your benefit. Here we look at 5 practical ways to earn trust in the financial services industry.

1. Value and Focus on Customer Interaction

This should come as a given. The best way to retain customers and earn their trust is by giving them a reason to trust your company and its services. Care for your clients. Focus on ways to improve client relations and increase positive experiences. Don’t let technology replace human interaction. At the end of the day, customers trust humans more than automated services. Make sure that clients and prospects reaching out through email and phone receive the same (or similar) treatment as they would in a face-to-face meeting.

2. Improve Transparency and Credibility

The best way to earn trust with current customers is by being forthright and transparent with them. Gaining new customers is more expensive than retaining existing ones. And therefore, your finance company should focus on customer satisfaction and retention. In other words, what can you do to provide honest, ethical, and good customer support?

Avoid hidden agendas and surprises in payments and billings. Run through your terms and conditions with them in detail. Explain early termination fees and other fees they should be aware of. Help them understand ways they can avoid damages and unnecessary payments.

By doing so, you will be creating a reputation for your company as one that provides honest work and actually cares for their customers’ concerns and benefits. By informing your customers and clients, the more they understand and value your work, and the more they trust your services. This further helps build credibility and trust.

As your financial services firm builds credibility with customers, it’s important to be in compliance with local and international regulations. Recent laws like MiFID II require all VoIP calls to be recorded. Penalization is among the worst things that could happen to a new financial services business.

3. Take Advantage of Digital Advancements

Any finance company that is not using digital and technological advancements is behind in the game. These advancements can help make processes easier and bring your services to your customers’ fingertips. For example, Positivly combines the principles of positive psychology with digital advancements in modern wealth management to create a stronger connection and build trust.

There are many other ways that financial services companies can incorporate digital advancements to build trust. Here are a few:

Optimize your website for smartphones
Allow for better digital payment methods: mobile payments or payments, renewals, and account verification through an automated IVR system
Create an easy-to-navigate app with helpful and informative resources
Use a PSP to accurately and securely accept payments
Use the latest cybersecurity to protect your clients and their information from fraud

4. Manage Reputation and Demonstrate Expertise Through Marketing Resources

Market creatively and for the benefit of your target audience. Your marketing strategies can determine how the public views your finance company and its reputation and credibility. Therefore, this is a good way to demonstrate your expertise and good customer service practices.

Produce informative and educational content on your website and optimize it for search engine results. Use social media to highlight important financial advice and information and connect with younger audiences. Generate newsletters with current news and promotions rewarding existing customers. Include reviews and testimonials.

Showing how your company conducts its business and that your employees are experienced and know what they are doing can help earn trust. Use marketing strategies to manage your reputation and improve the way customers view your services

5. Make Your Business Accessible

Lastly, being a financial services company, your company must remain accessible. A well-functioning and reliable business phone service can help you stay connected. Open multichannel communication such as phone, email, live chat, social media, and SMS (instant messaging).

You may even consider getting a toll free number so that prospects and customers can call your office for free. Additionally, if you get virtual business numbers with call forwarding, then you can have calls forwarded to different offices or lines.

Global Call Forwarding can help you set up a reliable business phone system with premium communication features that help in improving customer relations. To learn more, call us at 1 (888) 908 6171.

6 Practical Tips for Managing Virtual Call Center Agents

Chase Rogers 9th June 2020 blog, Call Center

What are some ways that you, a virtual call center manager, can encourage your employees and agents to perform well? Agents who do their job well will bring more business to your remote contact center and therefore, it is important to keep them motivated and trained. Here are 6 tips to motivate your agents while executing your duties in the most effective manner.

How to Manage Remote Call Center Agents

Managing work-from-home call center agents can be tricky if you do not know where to start. A remote call center works through virtual agents and offices. And this lack of physical office location can prove difficult when it comes to monitoring agents and their interactions. However, there are tools and options available to make this process much easier for managers. Here we will look at the different methods you can try to motivate your agents, monitor their work, and train them to do better.

1. Set and Reiterate Goals

It is important to always be on the same page about the goals and standards of the company. As an agent, what is the agent’s ultimate goal and what steps do they need to take to reach these goals? Provide clear and easy-to-follow instructions and make yourself approachable for any questions or concerns that may arise. Refresh these goals in team meetings or group chats to keep it fresh.

2. Train and Retrain Your Employees

No matter how experienced an agent may be, it is always a good idea to have them go through a brief period of training. This may include refreshing the way certain things are done or running through new software together or doing some practice calls. You may even choose to listen in on a few calls to study how the agent handles themselves. On a similar note, conduct online workshops or group seminars to run through essential training as a refresher for existing agents.

3. Provide Helpful Training Materials

Besides workshops and training, give them access to sales webinars, software tutorials, textbooks, and classes that may help them improve their sales techniques or outbound calling strategies. Having access to these materials will help them stay in touch with the system and processes being used. It will also help them learn about new trends in sales and customer service.

H3: 4. Explain the Importance of Building Strong Customer Relationships

Since this is a virtual call center, efforts must be focused on building strong customer relationships. Therefore, it is important that your agents understand why and how they need to pursue this goal. Educate them on the value of having long-term and returning customers and how loyalty can impact customer retention rates. This information should motivate them positively and encourage them to provide stellar service. This will help improve CSAT scores.

5. Provide Agents with the Right Call Center Tools

Helping your call center agents also includes choosing the right call center software for your call center. Whether it is getting an outbound calling service with an easy-to-use dialer or an IVR system that distributes calls evenly so that no agents become overwhelmed. Having the right resources can make sure your agents are not overloaded with calls and are able to provide solid support.

6. Focus on Improving Quality Assurance

Consider using VoIP call recording to evaluate how agents interact with customers and callers. Here you can identify areas of improvement and highlight appropriate agent behavior. This can also be used for training purposes with the goal to improve virtual call center quality assurance.

Improve Your Virtual Call Center with Global Call Forwarding

Global Call Forwarding offers virtual call center tools such as IVR, outbound calling, call recording, and more. Learn more about our services by talking to an expert today!

Singapore Phone Numbers: The IMDA Numbering Plan Explained

Chase Rogers 4th June 2020 blog, Business Phone Numbers

The Republic of Singapore has one of the fastest-growing economies in Southeast Asia. Its booming economy provides great potential for foreign investment. In this article, we will detail the different types of Singapore phone numbers that exist so you can find one suitable for your communication needs.

Telephone Numbers in Singapore

Telephone numbers in Singapore are regulated by the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA). The IMDA created a National Numbering Plan. The National Numbering Plan describes how Singapore phone numbers are administered and managed. It also sets out the eligibility and assignment criteria along with application procedures for various number types.

The goal of their National Numbering Plan is to provide a level playing field for competition and ensure that the number allocation process in Singapore is fair and transparent.

Singapore Numbering Plan and Format

Due to its small geographical size, all phone numbers in Singapore belong to the same area code and are eight digits long. The formatting convention for a Singapore phone number is +65 NXXX XXXX.

According to the National Numbering Plan, phone numbers are classified based on their leading digit. Singapore numbers with leading digits 3 and 6 are reserved for IP telephony and PSTN service, respectively. Shortcodes are typically three or four digits long.

Other special service numbers, such as ITFS and premium-rate numbers, also exist in Singapore.

What Country Code is Singapore?

The country calling code for Singapore is +65. This means that when calling a Singapore phone number from outside the country, the caller should dial +65 followed by the destination number. While inside the country, callers can omit the +65 and simply dial the eight-digit number.

History of the Telephone in Singapore

Singapore is reported to be among the first countries in the East to have a highly developed telecommunication infrastructure. The telephone was first introduced in Singapore in 1879. Since then, there have been tremendous nationwide developments. This helps enable such a small country to have such an advanced infrastructure and thriving economy. Some of the leading exchanges or service providers include Singtel, StarHub, M1, and Global Call Forwarding.

How to Get a Singapore Phone Number

It’s easy to get a Singapore phone number in just a few minutes. First off, we recommend choosing a trusted provider of business phone numbers within the country. Of the utmost importance is high voice quality. In addition to voice quality, we advise that you do not sign a long-term contract. Our service, for example, is month-to-month without any long-term commitment. There is always documentation required to get started, which is standard KYC procedure for any Singapore phone number provider.

Anyone can get a Singapore phone number, even if you’re located outside Singapore. People who want to answer calls in another country would, however, need to choose a provider with international forwarding capabilities. Once you choose a provider, you can get started in just a few easy steps. The best providers usually have Singapore numbers available for fast online activation.

Singapore Virtual Phone Number Pricing

Through our evaluation of the top phone number providers, we recommend that you choose a provider offering month-to-month service. Once again, you must be able to stop the service if the need arises. This is the monthly pricing that we found for phone numbers in Singapore:

Virtual Singapore phone numbers start at $12.95 per month.
Toll-free numbers start at $18.95 per month.

Singapore Toll-Free Numbers

Singapore toll-free numbers are for businesses operating in Singapore. The formatting convention is 800 XXX XXXX. They have existed for years and continue to be in high demand due to their ability to attract potential customers. Customers do not have to worry about high calling rates when calling a business with a toll-free number.

Additionally, individuals associate toll-free or 800 numbers with established businesses, improving your company’s visibility and credibility. This encourages them to connect with you regarding product inquiries or customer support.

Benefits of Singapore Phone Numbers

So, what are the benefits of Singapore numbers? Here are some advantages when you get a Singapore number:

Expand your business to Singapore
Create and maintain a local presence that will benefit your business
Explore new markets and customer bases
Increase sales and lead generation in Singapore and
Provide local or toll-free customer support
Increase your business’s professional appearance and improve regional credibility
Route calls to anywhere in the world via a stable internet connection
Keep your remote offices well-connected

Learn More About Singapore Phone Numbers Today

To get a phone number in Singapore or learn more about how they can boost your business’ communications, call us at 1 (888) 908 6171!

Top 9 Virtual Phone Number Providers [2026]

Luke Genoyer 4th June 2020 blog, Business Phone Numbers

Choosing a virtual phone number provider can be a daunting task. There are so many service providers that exist in today’s market. This guide helps you navigate the best virtual phone number providers in 2026.

What is the Best Virtual Phone Number Service

Virtual phone numbers (also called hosted phone numbers) are telephone numbers that route calls over the internet; that is “virtually.” VoIP services make a lot of sense for small and medium sized businesses. In fact, studies show that more than 30% of all businesses worldwide are using some type of virtual number service.

It can help businesses reduce telephony costs while scaling their communication systems. There are so many options available today that can expand the capabilities of any business phone system.

What Are the Types of Virtual Phone Numbers?

There are several different types of virtual phone numbers available from providers in 2026. We consider the most common types:

Local phone numbers: assigned to specific states or cities within a country
Toll free numbers: assigned to specific countries with a designated prefix; charges the receiver instead of the caller
International toll free numbers (ITFN): toll free numbers for international countries; best for businesses with global offices

Hosted phone number services are typically made possible through international call forwarding. This enables providers to offer number originations in a certain country while they forward calls to other countries worldwide.

Key Factors Considered in Our Evaluation

The most important things to consider when choosing a virtual phone number provider are service, quality, and reliability. First off, we recommend choosing a provider that has been in business for more than ten years. It is also important to choose a provider with an outstanding reputation for call-quality and customer support.

We evaluated the best virtual phone number providers based on more than twenty different factors. Here are some of the many factors that we considered in our evaluation:

Pricing: this includes the total pricing for virtual phone number service. We consider whether their plans are priced monthly or annually and whether services are billed annually versus monthly. Some virtual number providers also charge per user. Also, setup costs were taken into consideration.
Convenience: it is important to choose a provider that offers convenient ways to get numbers and manage your services.
Ease of Use: we always recommend choosing companies that have an easy to use control panel to manage service features.
Service Features: IVR is essential in today’s business environment.
Customer Support: service and support should be a company’s top priority.
Reputation: we checked the Better Business Bureau for complaints against companies in our list.

Who are the Best Virtual Phone Number Providers?

We have put together a list of 9 virtual phone number providers for your convenience based on features offered, variety of plans, set-up/cancellation options, etc.

*Note: Prices and information about the providers mentioned here are current and subject to changes.

1. Global Call Forwarding

Features:

Variety of hosted phone numbers: toll free (160+ countries), local, ITFN, UIFN, vanity
Mobile accessible numbers
SMS-enables numbers
Unlimited extensions for different departments
SIP trunking and VoIP phone systems
Call forwarding options
Outbound calling (customizable caller ID function)
Call recording (inbound and outbound)
Customizable IVR systems

Cost: Global Call Forwarding offers 5 different virtual number plans based on business needs: $12.95/mo, $23.95/mo, $78.95/mo, $158.95/mo, $248.95/mo

Set-up fees: No

Long-term contract: No; cancel anytime

Free trial: 7-day free trial for business accounts

2. Jive Communications

Popular Features:

Call management tools
Call blocking
Custom schedules
Find Me/Follow Me feature
Integrations
Unlimited SMS and messaging

Cost: Contact a Jive representative

Set-up fees: No

Long-term contracts: No; cancel anytime

Free trial: First month free

3. Talkroute

Popular Features:

Toll free, local, vanity numbers
Outbound calls
Interactive voice response (IVR)
Call Logs and Reports
Single and multi-digit extensions

Cost: Talkroute offers 4 different virtual number plans: $19/mo, $39/mo, $59/mo, and $99/mo.

Set-up fees: No

Long-term contracts: No; cancel anytime

Free trial: Yes, 7-day trial

4. Vonage

Popular Features:

Call screening
Do Not Disturb function
Call monitoring
Voicemail (transcript form)
Integrations: Salesforce and Zoho

Cost: Vonage offers three virtual phone number plans: $19.99/mo/line, $29.99/mo/line, and $39.99/mo/line.

Set-up fees: No

Long-term contracts: No; cancel anytime

Free trial: 14-day free trial

5. CallHippo

Popular Features:

Local, toll free, and vanity numbers
Call conferencing
Call queuing and barging
Smart call forwarding
Simultaneous ringing
Call recording
Analytics and reports

Cost: CallHippo offers 4 virtual business number plans: $18/user/mo, $24/user/mo, $40/user/mo, and customized solutions with features of all the previous plans.

Set-up fees: No

Long-term contracts: No; cancel anytime

Free trial: No

6. RingCentral

Popular Features:

Unlimited calling
Call recording
Voicemail-to-text
Analytics and reports
Flip calls between devices
Call screening

Cost: RingCentral has 4 virtual phone number plans: $29.99/user/mo, $34.99/user/mo, $44.99/user/mo, and $59/99/user/mo.

Set-up fees: No

Long-term contracts: No, cancel anytime

Free trial: Yes

7. OnSIP

Popular Features:

Unlimited voice and video calling
Call recording
Website chat
Inbound bridge
Voicemail boxes
Polycom phones included

Cost: OnSIP has 2 virtual business number plans: $18.95/user/mo and $49.95/mo for each account + 2.9¢ per minute.

Set-up fees: No

Long-term contracts: N/a

Free trial: Yes, 30-day

8. Phone.com

Popular Features:

International, toll free, and local numbers
Call routing
Unlimited extensions
Texting services
Call management tools (call transfer and forwarding options)
CRM integration
Voice tagging
Ring-ready phones

Cost: Phone.com offers 3 pay-per-minute virtual number plans: $12.99/mo, $19.99/mo, and $39.99/mo. They also offer 3 unlimited plans: $29.99/mo, $37.99/mo, and $49.99/mo.

Set-up fees: N/a

Long-term contracts: N/a

Free trial: No, 30-day money back guarantee

9. Nextiva

Popular Features:

Unlimited calling
Unlimited video conferencing
Call recording
SMS
Mobile VoIP app

Cost: Nextiva offers two virtual phone number plans: $20/user/mo and $27/user/mo

Set-up fees: No

Long-term contracts: No

Free trial: Yes

Get Virtual Phone Numbers From a Trusted Provider

We can help you get virtual numbers most suitable for your business needs. For an efficient and reliable virtual phone system, consider virtual phone number provider Global Call Forwarding. To learn more, speak to an expert at 1 (888) 908 6171 today!

15 Best Business VoIP Providers [2026]

Chase Rogers 3rd June 2020 blog, Cloud Telephony

Need to find a new business voice over IP provider for your office phone system? Look no further! We have put together a list of the top 15 VoIP providers for your convenience.

Who is the Best VoIP Providers for Business?

A voice over IP phone system uses the internet to transmit voice and video messages between two parties. This makes VoIP an ideal and cost-effective solution for businesses with considerable call volumes as virtual calls are cheaper than traditional calls.

Sorting through VoIP providers can be overwhelming. To make the process easier, we have listed 15 voice over IP providers and provided information regarding:

The features they offer
Any set-up or cancellation fees
Long-term commitment requirements
Free trial information
Costs and plans available

With this information, your business can find the ideal cloud phone system for office communication. To learn more about the various factors involved in finding the most suitable provider, read our article about choosing the right VoIP provider.

*Note: Prices and information about VoIP providers noted in this post are current and subject to changes.

1. Global Call Forwarding

Features:

Variety of virtual phone numbers
International toll free numbers for more than 160 countries
Unlimited extensions for different departments
Fax, SMS, and Voicemail to Email
Various call routing options
Business VoIP
Virtual call center features:
- Call recording
- Outbound calling with customizable caller ID
- Customizable IVR systems, etc
Online account management
24/7 customer support

Set-up fees: No

Long-term contract: No; cancel anytime; no cancellation fees

Free trial: 7-day free trial for business accounts

Cost: Global Call Forwarding offers 5 different virtual number plans that come equipped with VoIP features. These plans start as low as $7.96/mo.

2. Nextiva

Features:

Unlimited calls, texts, faxes nationwide
Unlimited video conferencing
Free HD phones
Mobile VoIP app
Call recording
Toll free minutes
SMS

Set-up fees: No

Long-term contracts: No

Free trial: Yes; 30-day full refund guarantee

Cost:

Professional — $20/user/mo
Enterprise — $27/user/mo

3. Vonage

Features:

Call analytics and reporting
24/7 US customer support
Expert installation
Integrations: Salesforce, Zendesk, Zoho

Set-up fees: No

Long-term contracts: No; cancel anytime; no cancellation fees

Free trial: 14-day free trial

Cost:

Mobile — $19.99/mo/line
Premium — $29.99/mo/line
Advanced — $39.99/mo/line

4. RingCentral

Features:

Unlimited calls, fax, SMS, conferencing
Document sharing
Voicemail-to-text
Call recording
Integrations: Office 365, G Suite, Slack, etc
Analytics and reports

Set-up fees: No

Long-term contracts: No, cancel anytime

Free trial: Yes

Cost:

Essentials — $29.99/user/mo
Standard — $34.99/user/mo
Premium — $44.99 /user/mo
Ultimate — $59.99/user/mo

RingCentral offers discounts if plans are paid annually instead of monthly.

5. 8×8

Features:

Unlimited calling and faxing (up to 47 countries)
Video conferencing
Mobile app
SMS
Team messaging

Set-up fees: No

Long-term contracts: No; cancel anytime

Free trial: Yes, 30-day

Cost: Plans starting at $12/mo. To get a customized quote, contact 8×8’s sales team.

6. Ooma

Features:

Mobile app
Easy DIY set-up
Virtual receptionist
Extension dialing
On-hold music
Conferencing
Keep your current phone number or purchase a new one

Set-up fees: No

Long-term contracts: No; cancel anytime

Free trial: 30-day free trial

Cost: Plans starting at $19.95/user/mo

7. Dialpad

Features:

Voice, video, text sharing on any device
AI tech to transcribe calls
Add and edit employees and users
Encourages remote working
Business SMS
Integrations: G Suite, Salesforce, Zendesk, etc
Analytics
Call routing

Set-up fees: No

Long-term contracts: No; cancel anytime

Free trial: 14-day trial

Cost:

Standard — $20/user/mo
Pro — $30/user/mo
Enterprise — contact customer service for a quote

Dialpad offers discounts if paid annually instead of monthly.

8. Zoom

Features:

Single app for voice calls, video, meetings
HD audio
Voicemail
Call recording
Video and web conferencing
Integrations: Salesforce, Microsoft 365, G Suite

Set-up fees: No

Long-term contracts: No

Free trial: 14-day trial

Cost:

Basic — Free
Pro — $14.99/mo/host (up to 9 hosts per account)
Business — $19.99/mo/host (10+ hosts per account)
Enterprise — $19.99/mo/host (100+ hosts per account)

9. Jive

Features:

Convert computer, mobile into calling device
Free video conferencing
Screen sharing
Unlimited SMS and messaging
Auto-attendants
Call queues
Integrations
Voicemail and fax

Set-up fees: No

Long-term contracts: No; cancel anytime

Free trial: First month free

Cost: Contact sales for an exact quote.

10. OnSIP

Features:

Polycom phones included
Unlimited voice and video calling
Call parkingCall recording
Sayso website chat
Ring groups
Announcements

Set-up fees: No

Long-term contracts: N/a

Free trial: Yes

Cost:

Unlimited —$18.95/user/mo (includes phones and headsets for 5+ users)
Basic — 49.95/mo per account + 2.9¢ per minute

11. PanTerra

Features:

System suitable for multi-location and remote users
Team collaboration features
Free SIP phones
Mobility on any device
Contract discounts

Set-up fees: No

Long-term contracts: no; cancel anytime

Free trial: 30-day trial

Cost:

New Customer offer — $14.96/user/mo
Get an exact quote by contacting customer support

12. 1-VoIP

Features:

Call forwarding
Call recording
Extension transfer
Auto-attendant
Call queues
Phone included with the Professional plan

Set-up fees: No

Long-term contracts: No; cancel anytime

Free trial: No

Cost:

Contact sales for an exact quote.
Metered — $14.97/mo/extension
Corporate — $19.97/mo/extension
Professional — $29.97/mo/extension

13. Mitel

Features:

Unlimited calling and conferencing
Integrations: Outlook, G Suite
Video collaboration
Web conferencing (desktop sharing)
Mobile apps

Set-up fees: No

Long-term contracts: N/a

Free trial: N/a

Cost:

Essentials — $20.99/user/mo
Premier — $26.59/user/mo
Elite — $38.49/user/mo

14. ClarityTel

Features:

Virtual PBX
Unlimited calling
40+ calling features
Call recording
Call transfer and waiting
Logs and activity reports
Mobile connect and apps

Set-up fees: No

Long-term contracts: No

Free trial: 30-day money back

Cost: Plans starting at $14.99/mo/line. Contact customer support for an exact quote.

15. Intermedia

Features:

Free business phone for every user
Conferencing calling
SIP trunking
Contact center reporting and analytics
IVR and call routing

Set-up fees: No

Long-term contracts: No; cancel anytime

Free trial: N/a

Cost: Contact customer support for a price quote.

Get VoIP For Your Small Business

Global Call Forwarding offers outbound calling and various call center features for businesses across the globe. These features encourage communication across borders through reliable and high-quality calling. To learn more about VoIP providers and how we can help you build a strong cloud phone system, call us at 1 (888) 908 6171 today!

How Much Does a Call Recording Service Cost?

Meryl D'Sa-Wilson 3rd June 2020 blog, Call Management

Investing in a call recording service can be overwhelming if you don’t know where to start or what to look for. Here we discuss what such a service entails and we compare different providers so you can get a better understanding of how much call recording services cost.

What is a Call Recording System?

First, what is call recording and why should you consider this service? A call recording system gives your business the ability to record, download, and review phone conversations. Businesses in almost every industry can make use of this service to:

Keep tabs on employee-customer interaction
Comply with industry regulations
Protect the business from liabilities
Provide training material to new employees
Increase quality assurance, and more
To learn more, check out our guide about the uses of call recording software for business.

Call Recording Device or Cloud-Based Service: Which is Better?

When deciding how to record business calls, you have two standard options:

A stand-alone recording device or
A cloud-based service integrated within your phone system

How do you decide between them to know which is the better option? Call recording devices are a good option if you want to record calls on one phone connected to your telephone line. To record multiple phones at a time, you will need multiple recording devices.

Recording devices start at $50. However, a good quality device with multi-functionality will prove more expensive. Plus, there is the installation and set-up process that may get complicated based on the type of device and phone system used.

If you are looking to record calls on multiple devices (phones, computers, mobiles, etc.), then a cloud-based model may prove more useful. You do not have to deal with hardware and maintenance as the call recording service is managed by a virtual phone service provider. Plus, it is integrated within your cloud telephony system. This way employees can record, download, and access recordings through the control panel instead of different devices. Everything is stored and available in one place.

How Much Does Call Recording Cost?

Here we look at 3 top call recording services and compare their prices, storage capabilities, and more.

*Note: Costs mentioned in this article are current at the time of publishing and may be subject to changes.

1. Global Call Forwarding

Global Call Forwarding is a virtual phone service provider offering local, toll free, and international numbers to businesses in more than 160 countries. Aside from that, we offer virtual communication services such as call recording, IVR, outbound calling, VoIP solutions, SIP trunking, and more to enhance and improve business communications.

We offer 5 different plans for businesses of different sizes and with different needs. Our plans are based on the amount of calling minutes required per month and additional services. The lowest plan begins at $7.95/mo for 100 minutes. Our most popular plan is billed at $78.95/mo for 2,100 minutes.

You can add our call recording service to your virtual number plan for an additional $3/mo + 2¢/min. This service comes with a default 30-day storage period for recorded calls and records 100% of all calls. However, once the service activates, you can adjust the settings to suit your needs. You can change the percent of calls recorded as well as increase the storage period for up to 6 years.

We also offer transcription and translation add-ons with our call recording service.

2. TollFreeForwarding.com

TollFreeForwarding has 4 different types of virtual phone number plans: Starter, Medium, Large, and High Volume. There are 2 types of plans under each section based on the number of calling minutes needed by the business. These plans start from $9/mo to $63/mo.

Their call recording service like most service providers has an additional cost of $7/mo + 3¢/min. They have 2 types of call recording plans: short-term (30-day storage) and long-term. The short-term plan lets you listen to and download calls online for 30 days. The long-term plan lets you store calls for more than 30 days at 3¢/min/mo.

3. Avoxi

Avoxi provides call center software and virtual communication tools to businesses across the world. They offer 6 different types of virtual number plans for businesses of varying sizes and needs. Their lowest plan is billed at $4.49/mo for 0 minutes while their most popular plan is billed at $25.99/mo for 2195 minutes. The highest plan goes up to $70.00/mo for 8976 minutes.

Avoxi offers call recording with their virtual number plans for an additional $6.99/number/min. This includes a free 30-day storage period. You can also get storage options for 60-, 90-, and 365-day periods. To get unlimited call recording storage, you will need to pay an additional $0.02/min/mo.

Ready to Get Call Recording?

Now that you have a better idea of how much call recording costs, especially with a cloud-based call recording service, it is time to decide which to go ahead with. To learn more about the Global Call Forwarding business call recording software, call us at 1 (888) 908 6171 or chat with us online.

Australia Toll Free Numbers: Comparing the 3 Top Providers

Meryl D'Sa-Wilson 2nd June 2020 blog, Business Phone Numbers

Need Australia toll free numbers for your business? Here we compare three of the top Australia business phone service providers so that you can make an informed decision.

Top Providers: Australia Toll Free Numbers

Picking a provider for Australia toll-free phone numbers can be tricky. One must consider several factors before making a decision, such as:

The different services and features the provider offers
The pricing models and plans
The provider’s credibility and service’s reliability
How to get the service
The ease of use, additional fees, etc.

Here is a comparison of the top three providers: Telstra, Optus, and Global Call Forwarding.

*Note: The information and prices mentioned in this article are current and are subject to changes and tax inclusions.

1. Telstra

Established in 1975, Telstra is an Australian telecommunications company offering voice, mobile, internet, and television services. They provide plans for individual, business, and enterprise use.

What they offer:

Toll free numbers
HD, video, Wi-Fi calling
SMS plans
Office phone systems
Business internet
Unified communications
International calling
Toll free service in 30 countries

Pricing:

Register on their website and request a callback for a personal consultation to determine business needs and pricing plans.

How to get started:

To sign up or get a quote about their toll free number service, contact customer service through their website.

2. Optus

Optus — also known as Singtel Optus Pty Limited — was started in 1981 with a vision for creating a well-connected Australia. This includes providing communication regionally as well as internationally. They have telecommunication services for individual use and business use. The company is headquartered in Sydney, Australia.

What they offer:

Toll Free numbers
Mobile plans
Satellite and 4G
Optus Loop (VoIP phone solution with call recording, CRM, dual identity)
Office broadband
Multiple phone lines
Global SIP
Phone systems, and more

Pricing:

Monthly Access Fee:	Basic	Value
Minimum Total Cost over 12 months:		$330; excluding call charges
Charges for calls received on a fixed line:	Local calls (per minute) National calls (per minute) mobile calls from within Australia (per minute)	8.8c 13.2c 16.5c
Charges for calls received on a mobile number:	All calls from within Australia	16.5c

How to get started:

To sign up, request a call back by filling the contact form with your contact and business information on their website.

3. Global Call Forwarding

Global Call Forwarding was launched in 2007 under its parent company United World Telecom, established in 1996. The goal of this company was to become an exclusive outlet for toll free numbers. And so, Global Call Forwarding offers international toll free numbers to businesses in more than 160 countries across the globe. Australia toll free numbers are one of the services offered.

What they offer:

Toll free numbers
Call forwarding options
Inbound and outbound call recording
Unlimited extensions
SIP trunking for businesses
Inbound SMS plans
Customizable outgoing caller ID
Interactive voice response (IVR systems)
Can be used internationally

Pricing:

Global Call Forwarding has 5 different plans. These are based on the size and requirements your business has. Plus, there are no set-up fees and no long-term contracts. Additionally, you can opt for a free trial of 7 days to test their service. Here are the prices for their Australia toll free business numbers with mobile accessibility:

	Basic	Value	Power	Premium	Enterprise
Price	$13.95/month	$58.95/month	$198.95/month	$398.95/month	$698.95/month
Monthly Minutes	75	600	2,201	5,250	11,008

How to get started:

The sign-up process for Australia toll free numbers from Global Call Forwarding is simple. You can sign up online through our homepage. Purchase and activate your new toll free number in less than a day. You can add additional premium services such as Rollover Minutes, Call Recording, and Outbound Calling to your plan.

Choosing the Ideal Provider

This decision is based solely on your business’ needs and budget. Would you like a provider offering additional communication services or just the toll free service? What other features would you like to include in your business communication system? And so on.

To purchase an Australia toll free number from Global Call Forwarding, sign up on our homepage. To learn more about Australia virtual numbers, call us at 1 (888) 908 6171.

Understanding 0800 and 0808 Freephone Numbers in the UK

Meryl D'Sa-Wilson 29th May 2020 blog, Business Phone Numbers

Whether you run a business in the UK or are looking to expand there, you will come in contact with 0800 and 0808 UK freephone numbers. In this article, we will discuss what these numbers are, how they work, and how they can benefit a business’s communication system.

UK Freephone Numbers

UK freephone numbers — also called UK toll free numbers and free call numbers — are telephone numbers with toll free service. These numbers begin with the prefix 800, 0800, 1-800, or 0808 followed by 7 digits. In 2015, 0800 and 0808 freephone numbers became universally free to call from landlines and mobile lines. Enterprises located in the United Kingdom or those conducting business in the country can make use of UK freephone numbers to enhance their business communications.

How do these toll free numbers work? Calls made to these numbers are charged to the receiver (the business) instead of the caller. Therefore, callers calling a business for customer support or product inquiries can call 0800 and 0808 freephone numbers for free.

Some common uses of 0800 and 0808 numbers are:
Sales and customer support lines for businesses
Government helplines
Charity hotlines

Benefits of UK Toll Free Numbers

So, why should your company get UK freephone numbers? With providers like Global Call Forwarding offering international toll free service, you can get a 0800 or 0808 freephone number even if your business is not located in the UK. Doing so helps you expand your business to this part of the world by establishing a nationwide presence.

When you get UK freephone numbers from a virtual phone service provider like Global Call Forwarding, you can:

Get mobile-accessible UK toll free numbers
Set up virtual communications with prospects and business partners in the UK
Customize and manage communications with your own VoIP phone system
Forward incoming calls to any number or line located anywhere in the world
Reduce international calling rates and save costs
Set up 24/7 customer service with IVR and call routing options
Add numbers for employees, departments, remote offices, etc
Encourage customers to call your business by providing a free and reliable way to connect
Increase sales and customer satisfaction by making your business accessible

How to Get UK Freephone Numbers for Your Business?

Getting a UK toll free business number is easy if you know what to look for. You can get such toll free service from any toll free number provider. However, there are some factors to consider. For example:

Do you want additional virtual communication features such as call recording, IVR, outbound calling, etc?
The provider’s credibility and their service’s reliability.
Cost of service and ease of use.
Range of coverage.
Call quality and call routing options, and so on.

It is important to choose a UK toll free number provider based on your business’s communication needs. Global Call Forwarding offers 5 different plans for our international toll free numbers. You can pick a plan that suits your needs best. These virtual number plans come equipped with basic communication features such as:

Call forwarding (including Time of Day Routing and Select Country Routing)
IVR/PBX
Unlimited extensions
SIP trunking
Call transfer
Custom greetings and local ringback tones, etc.

You can add premium features for an additional price. These include:

Call recording software (inbound and outbound)
Outbound calling with customizable outgoing caller ID
Rollover minutes
Inbound SMS plan (if applicable)

UK Virtual Numbers

Ready to get UK freephone numbers with Global Call Forwarding? Sign up on our homepage today or call us to learn more about UK virtual business numbers.

12 Best Call Recording Services [2026]

Meryl D'Sa-Wilson 29th May 2020 blog, Call Management

Choosing a call recording service for your business can be tricky. There are many options available with varying prices and additional features. Here we make a note of the 12 best call recording services available in 2026.

*Note: Prices noted in this article are current and are subject to changes.

Call Recording with Virtual Number Plans and Office Phone Solutions

Here we highlight VoIP and business phone system providers that offer call recording software as a feature along with their services. So, if you are looking for a business phone system or call center solution or to buy virtual phone numbers, have a look at the below providers. You can easily add call recording as a feature when you purchase a plan from these companies.

1. Global Call Forwarding

Global Call Forwarding offers call recording as a premium service that can be added to any virtual phone number plan purchased. With this service, you can record up to 100% of all incoming and outgoing calls. When you purchase this service, you can store calls for a default 30-day period. However, once activated, you are able to increase the storage period up to 6 years as well as adjust the percent of calls recorded. The price for this service is $3/mo + 2¢/min. We also offer transcription and translation add-ons.

2. TollFreeForwarding.com

TollFreeForwarding.com’s call recording service is billed at $7/mo + 3¢/min. This, like Global Call Forwarding, can be added to a virtual phone number plan being purchased. They offer two types of storage for their recording service: short-term (30-day storage) and long-term (more than 30 days). To store calls for more than 30 days, you pay an additional 3¢/min/mo.

3. CallRail

CallRail is a service that focuses more on call tracking and lead generation. As a result, their services and features center around these areas. They offer packages with multiple numbers as well as analytics to assist you in marketing and conversation efforts. Their call recording service comes along with each of their plans and is not charged additionally. The plans they offer are priced at $45/mo + usage, $95/mo + usage, and $145/mo + usage.

4. Avoxi

Avoxi offers a call recording feature in addition to its virtual number plans, as well. You can get this service with a free 30-day storage period for $6.99/number/min. Additionally, they have 60-, 90-, and 365-day storage periods as well. And if you pay an extra $0.02/min/mo, you can access unlimited storage.

5. TalkDesk

TalkDesk, like the other providers mentioned here, offers call recording software with voice and screen recordings to provide the entire context surrounding a call. Calls can be stored for as long as needed on their cloud or yours. Their visualized waveform playback lets you make comments and review important topics for discussion with the ultimate goal to improve agent performance. However, to get an exact quote for your business, you will need to connect with a TalkDesk representative.

6. Aircall.io

Aircall.io’s virtual number plans come equipped with call recording. The price of the overall service, therefore, depends on the plan you choose. They offer 3 main plans: Essential, Professional, and Custom. These plans are priced per user per month and have a minimum user requirement. Additional virtual numbers cost extra.

7. RingCentral

RingCentral offers cloud-based phone system solutions for businesses. This includes virtual numbers and cloud communication services. You can get call recording on-demand with their Standard plan starting at $24.99/user/mo. However, you can get automatic call recording with their Premium ($34.99/user/mo) and Ultimate ($49.99/user/mo) plans.

8. 8×8

8×8 is a company offering business communication solutions that include voice, messaging, and virtual call center solutions. They offer call and screen recording as part of their business phone system plans which range from $28-$175/user/mo. For information about how much their call recording service costs, however, you will need to contact a sales representative.

9. Vonage

Vonage’s Advanced virtual number plan priced at $39.99/mo/line comes with call recording (on-demand) and records up to 15 hours per month. They also offer call recording on-demand separately for $4.99/mo/extension. Additionally, their Salesforce Express plan also comes with call recording software among other features. To get a quote for your business needs, however, you will need to contact sales.

Stand-Alone Recording Companies

Here we will briefly look at companies that offer call recording as a stand-alone service. If you want only call recording and no other virtual communication features or business numbers, then these options may seem more suitable.

10. CallCabinet

CallCabinet offers a call recording software that utilizes the cloud to record conversations. They provide stats, graphical representation, conversation patterns, etc. Their monthly payment option is “pay as you grow.” You can try their service for free for 30 days to test it and see if it fits your needs.

11. Voicestamps

Voicestamps’ call recording service records all calls automatically for $25/mo. There’s a set-up fee of $25. Additionally, they charge $0.06-$0.10/min for recordings. Their outbound call recording prices are similar with a $25 set-up fee, costing $25/mo, and $0.10/min.

12. Orecx

Orecx provides cloud recording software to help you record business calls. This comes with an attractive auto-tagging feature that lets you identify and target important keyphrases within the conversation. To get Orecx pricing, you will need to contact a representative for a customized plan.

Still Unsure About Which Service is Best?

If you still cannot decide which call recording service to go ahead with, then let us help. Call us to learn more about the different features and plans we offer. Or, sign up and try our service for free for 7 days and see for yourself.