VirtualPBX: Cutting-Edge VoIP for Business Success

At a Glance

Headquartered in San Francisco and founded in July 1997 by Stephen Lange, VirtualPBX has been a provider of hosted PBX services for over 25 years. Initially focused on dietary recommendations based on dial-pad selections, the company quickly shifted to offering telephony technology over internet connections, bypassing expensive physical PBX hardware.

Now a fully remote company, VirtualPBX specializes in business VoIP systems for small and medium enterprises, providing various services, including auto attendant, international calling, video conferencing, business SMS, and call forwarding. VirtualPBX emphasizes service, commitment, excellence, and integrity and is dedicated to premium communication solutions. Their innovative approach and quality customer care have earned them national recognition and awards, such as the 2024 Internet Telephony Product of the Year Award and the 2023 TMC Teleworking Solutions Excellence Award. Renowned for their flexible and scalable communication solutions, VirtualPBX consistently adapts to the evolving needs of businesses.

Features

Auto attendant: This feature acts like a virtual receptionist, greeting callers and directing them to the correct department or extension. It guarantees that calls are routed efficiently, without human interaction.

Automated directory: This interactive voice response (IVR) system lets callers search for and connect with individual workers or departments using their name or extension. It enhances the caller experience by allowing rapid and direct access to the targeted contact.

Auto-provisioning: Simplifying the setup and configuration of IP phones, this feature automatically configures phones with the necessary settings and updates, saving time and technical expertise during deployment.

Call blasting: This feature allows a single incoming call to ring different desk phones simultaneously. This guarantees that calls are addressed quickly by any team member, ensuring that your sales and support staff operate efficiently.

Call masking: This function allows employees to make calls from their personal phones while the corporate phone number appears as the caller ID. It protects privacy and ensures a professional image.

Call forwarding: VirtualPBX's system allows you to redirect incoming calls to a different phone number, such as a mobile or home phone. This feature guarantees that critical calls are not missed, even while staff are away from their offices.

Call logs: This feature provides full information on incoming, departing, and missed calls. This capability is critical for monitoring call activity, assessing communication trends, and keeping accurate records for reporting purposes.

Customizable greetings: Businesses can create personalized greetings for various departments, extensions, and times of day. This provides a professional touch and guarantees that callers hear tailored messages.

Email to fax: This function allows users to send and receive faxes using email. It eliminates the need for traditional fax machines and instead offers a handy, digital means of processing fax messages.

Music/info on hold: This feature entertains callers while on hold by playing music or providing information. It keeps callers interested and informed during wait periods, improving the overall caller experience.

Outbound caller ID: This feature enables organizations to show a specific phone number while making outbound calls. Displaying an identifiable company number instead of personal or random numbers provides customers with peace of mind, reassuring them that they are dealing with a legitimate company.

Virtual extensions: Phone extensions that do not require a real phone connection offer flexibility in call routing. They can direct calls to various destinations, including mobile phones, home phones, and voicemail, granting remote and mobile workers greater freedom.

Voicemail: Callers can leave messages when no one is available to answer the phone. The company also ensures accessibility by providing voicemail transcription and translating audio messages into text.

Plans & Pricing

Starter Plan

The Starter Plan, priced at $9 per user per month, is often favored by small business owners who require basic capabilities to run their businesses. The plan offers unlimited local minutes, 5.9¢ per toll-free minute, and vital services such as auto attendant, ring groups, digital faxing, call logs, and audio conferencing. Calls can be routed to both smartphones and landlines. Chat and email assistance is available around the clock.

Pro Plan

The Pro Plan, which costs $21 per user monthly, builds on the Starter Plan by adding more advanced features. In addition to the Starter Plan features, this plan provides 4.9¢ per toll-free minute, voicemail transcription, video meetings and conferencing, call recording, inbound SMS, and 1,000 outgoing SMS per month.

The Ultra Plan

The Ultra Plan costs $39 per user each month and has the most complete features. It contains everything from the Pro Plan, plus 1,000 toll-free minutes, numerous auto attendants, ACD Queues, sophisticated call reporting and analytics, 2,500 outbound SMS per month, dynamic caller ID, and API access. This plan provides maximum functionality for developing enterprises with complicated requirements.

Pros

Mobile app available

Similar to their desktop app, VirtualPBX softphone software turns your cell phone into a business phone. It enables workers to make and receive business calls, text messages, and access voicemail, guaranteeing continuous contact even while they are not in the workplace. The app integrates with your company's phone system, allowing you to access all its features and capabilities while moving. This flexibility is especially beneficial to remote teams and personnel who travel regularly.

Scalable

VirtualPBX is intended to grow alongside your business. Whether you are a tiny startup or a large corporation, the company has plans to meet your changing demands. As your business grows, you can quickly add extra lines, features, and services without having to remodel your phone system completely. This scalability guarantees that your communication infrastructure remains strong and effective regardless of your organization's size.

Affordable

VirtualPBX provides affordable solutions that deliver high-quality services without breaking the bank. Businesses can choose from a variety of programs to match their budget and needs. The low cost includes crucial functions like call routing, unlimited calling, voicemail, and auto-attendants, which are usually available in more expensive systems. This cost-effectiveness makes modern communication technologies available to enterprises of all sizes.

Flexible plans

VirtualPBX provides flexible billing options, allowing businesses to choose between monthly or yearly plans. This flexibility helps businesses manage their finances more effectively, with cost savings for those who opt for annual billing. VirtualPBX's flexible plans can accommodate your financial strategy and operational needs, whether you need a short-term solution or a long-term commitment.

Caters to a wide variety of industries

VirtualPBX serves a diverse range of industries, from retail and healthcare to technology and education. The system's adaptability means it can meet the specific communication needs of different sectors, offering the perfect solution for your communication needs. For instance, call centers can benefit from advanced call routing and reporting, while small businesses can use features like voicemail transcription and business texting.

Free trial and demo

VirtualPBX offers a free trial and personalized demos to help potential customers experience their communication solutions firsthand. The free trial allows businesses to test features like auto attendant, video conferencing, and call forwarding in a real-world setting, assessing usability and integration. Personalized demos provide a detailed overview, tailored solutions, and direct feedback from knowledgeable representatives.

24/7 support

VirtualPBX offers 24/7 tech support to ensure that help is always available when needed. This continuous support includes troubleshooting, setup assistance, and answering any questions about the system. Their team is committed to ensuring that your phone service runs smoothly, minimizing any potential downtime, and keeping your business operations uninterrupted.

Additional services

VirtualPBX provides additional tools and services to enhance your communication experience. These include:

• ROI calculator: Assists organizations in determining the possible return on investment from adopting VirtualPBX
• SIP Trunking: Connects enterprises' current PBX systems to the internet, allowing VoIP services and lowering expenses
• VoIP Speed Test: This test ensures that your internet connection is adequate for high-quality VoIP calls, assisting in identifying and resolving any possible difficulties before they affect your service

Cons

Limited integration

VirtualPBX's integration capabilities are more limited than those of some competitors. While it does support basic integrations with essential platforms like Google Workspace and Microsoft 365, it lacks the extensive range of integrations offered by other providers. This can be a significant drawback for businesses that rely on specialized software or need more comprehensive integration options to streamline their workflows.

Basic features not included in the starter plan

VirtualPBX's Starter plan lacks several basic features that are often essential for small businesses. Important functions such as call recording, video conferencing, and multiple auto-attendants are not available in this entry-level plan. Businesses in need of those features must upgrade to higher-tier plans, which can significantly increase costs. This limitation makes the Starter Plan less attractive for businesses that require comprehensive communication solutions right from the start.

Customer Reviews

VirtualPBX has received mixed reviews across various customer review platforms. On Trustpilot, the company got an average rating of 2.8 out of 5 stars. Based on limited customer reviews, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) gives VirtualPBX a rating of 1 out of 5 stars and an A+, and G2 rates them 4.1 out of 5 stars.

Positive reviews

Many customers appreciate VirtualPBX's ease of use and extensive feature set. Positive reviews frequently mention the platform's reliable performance and helpful customer service. For instance, one customer on G2 noted how VirtualPBX streamlined their business communications, providing seamless integration and user-friendly tools that enhanced their overall efficiency. Another user highlighted the prompt and professional support they received when setting up their system, which greatly aided their transition to the new platform. Overall, users frequently mention that VirtualPBX is a good company to work with.

Negative reviews

On the flip side, negative reviews often focus on issues related to billing and customer support. Some users have reported unexpected charges and difficulties in resolving billing disputes. For example, a review on the BBB described a situation where a long-standing customer was forced to switch to a new pricing plan, resulting in a significant cost increase with little notice. Other customers have cited that VirtualPBX failed to meet their expectations in terms of support, uptime, and reliability. For example, a frustrated customer was dissatisfied with the technical support, where response times were slower than expected, and issues were not resolved efficiently.

How Can I Contact VirtualPBX?

VirtualPBX offers multiple ways for customers to get in touch. You can reach their support team 24/7 by calling toll-free at (888) 825-0800 or internationally at 1 (408) 414-7646. Sales inquiries are handled Monday through Friday from 6 AM to 5 PM Pacific Time, and Spanish-speaking representatives are available at (800) 953-2759. Billing support is available Monday through Friday from 7 AM to 4 PM Pacific Time. You can also reach them through their social media platforms, such as Facebook, X, LinkedIn, and YouTube.

Takeaway

In conclusion, VirtualPBX, established in July 1997 by Stephen Lange and headquartered in San Francisco, has evolved significantly over their 25-year history. Initially focused on dietary recommendations via dial-pad selections, the company quickly pivoted to offering advanced telephony solutions over the Internet, eliminating the need for costly physical PBX hardware. Today, VirtualPBX operates as a fully remote company specializing in business VoIP systems for small and medium businesses. Their comprehensive service offerings include auto attendant, video conferencing, and call forwarding, among others, showcasing their commitment to providing premium communication solutions. The company's range of plans, from the affordable Starter Plan to the feature-rich Ultra Plan, ensures they can serve businesses of all sizes.

VirtualPBX is a compelling option for businesses seeking the best communication solutions. To explore more providers, check out our list of the best business phone system providers. For additional insights, visit our blog and use our comparison tool to find the perfect fit for your business needs.

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