#tragofone

A listicle to pick the right softphone for businesses

Businesses are under pressure to transform their business operations into agile, efficient, and economical organizations as the business environment becomes more competitive. Businesses are increasingly embracing softphones for business as their preferred business phone solution as they see the advantages of having a unified communication platform with the capacity to integrate third-party applications.

Softphone apps can be beneficial to a diverse range of businesses, from small to medium-sized firms to global corporations. The flexibility and versatility of this system can be valuable to any organization that has to handle a lot of customer calls.

If you’ve made the decision to upgrade to a softphone system but are unsure which one to choose, consider the following attributes:

#1. Operation System Compatibility

Not every softphone software is compatible with every operating system. Verify the software’s compatibility with your device. Ensure that the softphone app is functional regardless of whether you use macOS, Windows, iOS, or Android.

#2. End-to-end Integrations

The WebRTC-based softphone application should be able to interact with a variety of hardware, such as Class 5 Softswitch, IP-PBX server, custom APIs, and the auto-provisioning system management via REST APIs, without any issues.

#3. Auto-provisioning System

The soft client or softphone should include an auto-provisioning system so that businesses can offer zero-touch provisioning to their employees and customers. The soft client users don’t need to commit their SIP credentials to memory thanks to this feature.

#4. WebRTC Gateway and Push Call Server

The WebRTC gateway for the softphone application should incorporate highly secure interactive audio, video, and chat. This will enable enterprises to implement real-time communication for their employees and customers, even if they operate on outdated SIP servers.

#5. Number Porting

You cannot afford to lose your mobile number since it’s a prized possession. Avoid providers who won’t port your existing phone number while you look for softphone applications.

#6. Customization

Do you have no problems updating the parameter or altering your voicemail message? The leading business softphone program should have a plethora of functions and be simple to use.

#7. Support

A solid support network is essential. Find out what kind of customer service your supplier of softphones provides. Is it always accessible? Does it have a price? Does the support staff assist you in efficiently troubleshooting? Are there instructional videos or training materials available?

#8. Security

Every cloud-based service you add to your organization’s tech portfolio must be secure. Analyze how well your data is protected. Data encryption should be available in the application, ideally in more than one approach. Secure RTP encrypts media in addition to providing security for access control, whereas Transport Layer Security (TLS) safeguards the data on your phone.

#9. Third-party Integration

This is the fundamental appeal of the softphone. Since it’s software, these systems frequently come pre-integrated with whatever applications the vendor thinks their customers will find helpful. Customers can design unique workflows and boost productivity by using these extensions.

#10. Collaboration Tools

Full-featured softphone services provide a list of diverse meeting, communication, and collaborative features that your workforce can use. These functions, including SMS texting, video conferencing, and online collaboration, are available to users through a variety of programs.

Deciphering Tragofone

Tragofone is swiftly establishing standard equipment for small- and medium-sized organizations. This is due to the fact that its capabilities expand far beyond just making calls. The Tragofone mobile dialer app has a multitude of functions built-in, like the ability to manage voicemail, make video and conference calls, send and receive files, and chat and SMS.

Tragofone’s user interface resembles conventional phones even though it isn’t a legitimate phone. Any mobile device that supports the installation of the software will function as a virtual phone. Tragofone can also connect and interface with a diverse range of third-party services and applications because it is software-based, including CRM integration.

What Tragofone encompasses off

Tragofone is a VoIP-based mobile dialer application that offers you both the ease of a smartphone and the robust features of business phone systems. With its user-friendly features, Tragofone sets the bar for businesses when it comes to customer engagement.

Let’s discuss a few of these distinctive qualities that Tragofone brings to the table:

#1. Employs WebRTC to make smooth and seamless audio and video calls

WebRTC has sparked a communications revolution by enhancing and democratizing communication. The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) supports WebRTC, which enables open standard browsers to share audio, video, and even files using a simplified Javascript-based API. It effortlessly interacts with IP PBX, Class 5 SoftSwitch, Call Center, and Custom APIs, enabling users to make audio and video conversations without installing any additional software or plugins. The only VoIP mobile dialer on the market with support for WebRTC is offered by Tragofone.

#2. Auto-provisioning

Users can activate their Tragofone service through a web interface using auto-provisioning without making any configuration adjustments. As a result, installation deployment and management are swift and effortless.

#3. Multi-lingual support

Along with adopting the other carrier-grade characteristics of the softphone, organizations like Tragofone offer multilingual support so that customers can communicate in a language of their choice.

#4. Can be integrated as a white-label mobile dialer app

White-label dialer softphone applications like Tragofone can be incorporated under a business’s brand to give it the appearance and feel of the brand. Your Tragofone becomes a representative of your business. On the welcome screen, display your brand’s name and logo. You can alter the user interface, fonts, and even the colors. Businesses can amplify the influence of their brand among consumers.

#5. ERP integration with other databases and directories

Some VoIP-based mobile dialer solutions, such as Tragofone, support integration with external programs like CRM. Call centers will benefit immensely from this feature.

#6. Security and privacy

Organizations take steps to safeguard the security and privacy of their communications. These security concerns pertain to softphones, as incoming and outgoing calls can be intercepted and wiretapped by “man in the middle” attacks. Since it minimizes these risks, reputable softphones like Tragofone provide encryption using the Transport Layer Security (TLS) and Secure RTP (SRTP) protocols.

#7. Video capabilities and online messaging

With its video call feature, Tragofone delivers HD video and the opportunity for multiple simultaneous speakers. Users can text people directly from their office line when using online messaging.

Reap the benefits of Tragofone

The best business softphones, which offer connectivity everywhere, at any time, are what enterprise communication will look like in the future. The flexibility, scalability, and security that software-centric communication solutions like Tragofone provide have led to their prominence. Furthermore, it enables businesses to enhance communication procedures and increase operational effectiveness.

The following are a few ways how Tragofone benefits multiple industries:

#1. Communication is smooth and seamless while using WebRTC Tragofone

Today’s fast-changing business environment and work cultures have made it imperative for organizations to adopt communication technologies that increase mobility and connectivity. A survey of enterprise IT employees conducted in 2017 found that 99% considered mobility a professional priority.

In keeping with employee expectations, organizations are prioritizing mobility in communication by opting for VoIP-powered mobile dialers and unified communication solutions. Modern enterprises are rapidly moving from traditional PBX phone systems to virtual softphones that can be easily accessed and used by an on-the-go workforce.

VoIP Softphones can be installed either in a mobile phone, laptop, desktop, or tablet to make voice and video calls over IP networks. As businesses increasingly move to this real-time, diverse communication platform, they are seeking to white label their telephony systems in order to retain complete ownership of the solution, without having to build it from scratch.

What is white label branding? White labeling allows VoIP service providers to customize the look and feel or the theme of an existing softphone as per the business needs of the client. Enterprises can brand a softphone solution with their own brand name and logo and use this version to create a greater brand impact in the market.

White label softphones help businesses harness the benefits of a personalized, branded communication system. Also, building an in-house hosted PBX platform from scratch can take years to develop and requires extensive domain knowledge and technical expertise. White label solutions, on the other hand, enable businesses to have complete autonomy and ownership of their softphone systems, without investing in development and support.

Also known as mobile SIP dialers, softphones are a software application that use internet protocol to provide varied communication features to its users. A white label softphone carries the brand name of the client, instead of the company that developed the dialer.

An organization can acquire a white labeled softphone in two ways:

By on boarding a third-party softphone app developer (like Tragofone) and customizing the solution as per their specific requirements.

By opting for a software multi-tenancy contract, where the core softphone application remains the same, but each user has access to different sets of features.

A white label softphone solution is a complete package that comes with the functionality and personal touches of an application that has been built from scratch. White labeling enables a business to practically own and use the technology without spending hundreds of hours on development and support.  It helps an enterprise carve its unique identity in the market by delivering exceptional user experiences. In today’s tech-driven and hybrid work culture, the benefits of white label softphones are too lucrative to be ignored by businesses.

It is always better for businesses if they can customize and brand their ITSPs SIP Softphones, as it helps in building their own brand identity and visibility in the market, saves time and money and enhances customer loyalty.

In this blog, we will look at how enterprises can gain by investing in white labeled softphones and how personalized communication solutions enable them to build better businesses.

A Macro look at how White labeled Softphones can benefit your Business

From basic aesthetic and logo changes to a fully overhauled user experience with customized features and specific settings, white label softphones can be developed as a solution that meets the unique needs of every enterprise. It provides businesses with the power of the best softphone applications, along with optional service additions for messaging, collaboration, and video conferencing, to meet their communications needs.

Let us look at the benefits that businesses can avail by opting for white labeled softphones:

#1. White label softphones provide functionality, flexibility and control

When opting for a white label solution you only pay for the features you want. Businesses get the required functionality and they can put their brand name to it and resell it further at a price they want. With white labeling, the customer information and controls over the softphone stay with the client and are not in the possession of the service provider. To top it, enterprises can carry out all their operations and services exclusively under their own brand name and don’t need to compromise on the autonomy of their business.

#2. Customized softphones help businesses create unique user experiences

With white labeling, businesses can build a phone that reflects their company’s image and provides their customers with unique user experiences. The customization options that white labeled softphones offer are endless:

–        Change the product name, logo, or branding.

–        They can change graphic and default settings

–        Add, remove, or lockdown certain features.

–        Specify and apply provisioning settings and custom configurations.

–        Add instant messaging features, screen sharing, or video conferencing services.

Deploying a unified communication (UC) solution has become imperative for modern enterprises. But is it possible for every business to build a customized communication system that fits their requirements and helps their workforce stay seamlessly connected? The answer is an obvious `No’, as it requires time, money, and technical expertise.

So how do organizations solve this conundrum and level the playing field? By using white labelled softphone applications to provide customized user experiences to their customers, while staying within budget.

In today’s crowded business space, white label softphones help enterprises set themselves apart from their competitors – by using a customized tool to engage with their customers, broaden their audience base, and drive sales. A white labeled unified communication solution offers all the functions and personal touches of a VoIP softphone application that’s been built from scratch, without overloading organizations with high development and support costs.

White label softphones also enable businesses to create and build their unique brand identities and satisfy customer needs by delivering exceptional user experiences. These custom branded solutions come with fully loaded calling, conferencing, provisioning, and messaging features.

The options of white labeling your VoIP softphone solutions are diverse. Organizations can choose from basic aesthetic and logo changes, to a fully enhanced communication experience that offers customized features and unique settings developed to meet their specific needs. Besides all the basic benefits of softphones, white labeled solutions also offer optional service additions for messaging, collaboration, and conferencing, with ultimate control over settings, languages, and branding.

Moreover, as businesses move towards a hybrid work culture – combining office with remote working – organizations are feeling a growing need for a communication solution that is customized for their specific work environments while boosting their brand identity. In such a scenario, white labeled UCaaS (Unified Communications-as-a-service) solutions are emerging as the way forward.

In this blog, we will understand how white labeling works and why it is important for businesses to build unique brand identities:

What is white labeling?

Why is softphone white labeling important?

How white labeling work in Softphones?

Why should businesses opt for white labeled Softphones?

Benefits of using white labeling in Softphones

How to choose a white labeled softphone service provider?

What is white labeling?

To understand white labeling in the context of VoIP softphones, we first need to understand what a “white label” means. In layman terms, when a provider removes its own branding and logo from the end product and uses the logo, brand name and language of the purchaser, it is termed as white labeling.

In the digital services industry, a client can purchase a product and present it to the customer under its own brand name. White label technology is a ready to use licensed software product developed by a company and rebranded and customized for its clients in a way that it appears to be owned by them. White labeling enables third-party companies to do branding in a way that they command complete control over the product’s appearance, policy, and support, along with easy access to the support infrastructure.

Why is Softphone white labeling important?

It’s a highly competitive business environment out there. Developing a product in-house, launching it involves time and resources. When it comes to building products like VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) mobile dialers, or softphones, the costs, technical resources, and time involved are prohibitive. It requires specialized infrastructure, a technical team, knowhow, and expertise. Which is why, most customers who seek customized VoIP softphones leave it to the experts to build it for them.

Real time communication systems have become a necessity – and not just a value add – in the modern, digital business world. Organizations are increasingly opting for white label softphone applications, as it’s an easy and sure-shot way to improve user experience and maintain feature parity while staying well within a budget. It helps organizations carve their unique identity within their industry by delivering the exceptional user experiences that their customers seek.

How white labeling works in Softphones

Let’s look at the A-to-Z of the process of deploying white labeling in softphones.

The OEM (Original equipment manufacturer) development company develops a plug-and-play software product and provides it as a service to businesses. For instance, a VoIP platform is built, white labeled and tailored to suit the unique requirements of a brand. The client then needs to “decorate” the product to match their corporate identity. White labeling enables them to add their company’s logo, name, icons, URLs, corporate emails, text, theme, and other elements of their website in order to align the VoIP softphone with your brand. Once this customization is complete, they’re ready to deploy the softphones, as per their terms and conditions.

Developing a softphone solution from scratch is a cumbersome and expensive affair, making it unaffordable and impractical for most companies. On the other hand, deploying a ready to use softphone software enables partners to launch their own brand based on a product provider’s existing VoIP softphone technology. The technical issues associated with white label platform development and future support and maintenance, are outsourced to the white label company. What the brand receives in return is a product that has been made and implemented in accordance with its technical specifications.

In the real world, white labeled softphones work well for businesses across industries. A business always wants to manage its financial resources, time, and technical platform in an effective manner and a white labeled VoIP mobile dialer solution helps them get there.

Let’s now look at how to configure, build, test, and publish iOS, Mac, Chrome, Android, and Windows softphone apps on their respective play stores, using the Cloud Softphone white-label program. It is a three step process comprising:

Verification/Authentication

Configuration

Release

Verification/Authentication

Verification refers to the method that platform operators – be it Google, Apple, or Microsoft – use to verify and/or authenticate user access to the development portal or console. The first step is to create an account on the desired platform and complete the process by verifying the account owner and allowing them access to the platform.

Configuration

This refers to the step by step instructions to configure and build the softphone application. Configuration is a prerequisite step that’s needed prior to publishing or releasing the softphone solution. There are instances when the configuration is done on the platform website, but in most cases a manifest or XML file is added to the application directory.

Release

These are the step by step instructions to publish an application in the store. It comprises components like splash screen, app icon, background image, screenshots, etc. Most service providers support cloud softphone white-label application development with minimal or even no coding. All it takes is a few clicks, and you have created a full-fledged white-label application of the cloud softphone SIP client.

When configuring a portal/console you need to choose a white-label feature-set. This feature set allows you to configure all the white-label features, such as the application icon, UI theme and design, and the overall look and feel of the softphone solution. The objective is to configure and publish the solution in a way that the final softphone application looks like it has been created by you. Irrespective of the platform that you’re working on, you can create white-label softphone applications that run on all the supported platforms, with a uniform look and feel.

Why should businesses opt for White labeled Softphones

Businesses opt for white labeled softphones for several reasons. What are these?

Some businesses want to keep their business focus strictly on brand building or developing innovative customer serving strategies. They do not want to risk building a softphone in-house as they may compromise on the quality of the product. Instead, they are more comfortable with the idea of acquiring a tried and tested softphone technology.

Organizations around the world are in the midst of a revolution – as business operations evolve in response to changing customer needs, market fluctuations, and a transformation that tilts towards remote work.

Forbes predicts that 50% of the corporate workforce in the US will be working remotely in the near future. Moreover, with the rise of co-working spaces, the concept of having an assigned desk in an office has fallen by the wayside. Softphones are emerging as an evolutionary technology for these on-the-go employees, as it enables them to carry their business phones in their pocket.

Professional communication has emerged as a priority for organizations, as they strive to seamlessly service their customers and keep their employees connected. This means their communication channels should be consistent, reliable, secure, agile, and uninterrupted.   Besides verbal communication, enterprises are also increasingly deploying video calling, instant messaging, presence, and cloud-based provisioning tools to enable robust collaboration among their workforce, clients, customers, and partners.

In order to meet these multiple communication requirements, enterprises are upgrading their legacy phone systems with collaborative solutions to develop secure, streamlined, and productive communication across the company. VoIP Softphones, or mobile dialers, are emerging as a next-generation solution that is helping businesses to collaborate efficiently.

A softphone is a device-agnostic app that can be downloaded on diverse devices and allows users to make and receive phone calls over the Internet. The interface of a softphone typically looks like a traditional telephone dial pad, besides displaying useful additional information like the caller’s identity, contact information, and history. Other than the calling function, softphones also allow users to access the other features in their VoIP service package – including video conferencing, team messaging tools, and analytics of recent call activity – in a single dashboard.

A softphone is not a standalone solution. Instead, it is directly connected to your VoIP business phone system, allowing you to access your business phone on your laptop, desktop computer, tablet, or mobile phone. This removes the requirement of investing in expensive hard phone equipment. Softphones enable users to make VoIP calls over diverse web browsers, including Google Chrome, Safari, and Firefox.

How Does a Softphone Work?

Softphones are integrated with three key features that are turning it into a must-have solution for enterprises:

– Customization to meet every enterprise’s unique needs.

– Best-in-class user experiences.

– Supports a multi-generational workforce.

Most softphones come equipped with SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) that supports VoIP calls and enables networks to send/receive data associated over the internet. SIP softphones make voice calling possible over internet-connected devices, using a softphone client that offers the user interface for VoIP and SIP phone calls.

VOIP is a translation tool that allows audio to be connected over the internet, providing a basic platform that makes softphones possible. A softphone communicates with another device when both endpoints support the same VoIP Protocol. Both endpoints must have at least one common codec.

Being a software, softphones can be installed on desktops, laptops, and mobile phones, or accessed via cloud computing. This makes them fully portable and usable wherever there is an internet connection. Softphones also come with deep integrations with CRM software, thus providing enhanced customer service experiences from a computer.

To use a softphone, you need four basic assets:

– A high-bandwidth internet connection.

– An internet-enabled device, which could be a desktop computer, laptop, tablet, or mobile phone.

– A VoIP headset.

– A VoIP service provider/ IP-PBX.

The process of deploying a softphone is simple. You need to install the softphone application on your device, and you are set to use it, if you have a high quality, reliable, and secure internet network. Softphones enable users to from a computer to a phone line, from a mobile phone to a computer, or between any internet-enabled devices that have the softphone app. A softphone runs on most devices and platforms – Mac OS, Microsoft Windows, Linux, Android, and iOS – as well as from a web browser.

Why do you need a VoIP service provider/ IP-PBX for softphones? It offers the underlying service that carries the calling functionality. Every softphone is registered and assigned a unique number under a specific provider. While the basic softphone functionality remains the same, the extended features vary from provider to provider. So, it’s up to an organization to choose the right VoIP service provider according to their business requirements.

Similarly, softphones can also be used with IP-PBX to access calling and other functionalities. It is configured into the softphone, and the functionalities are inherited and work along with other advanced features of the softphone.

Top 18 Features of a Softphone

Softphones come packed with unique features. From an easy-to-use interface to built-in caller settings, users can customize a softphone’s features to fit their business needs. Most VoIP mobile dialers also include standard telephony features like mute, hold, transfer, and flash, along with other unique collaborative communication features.

No matter which softphone you use, it should come with these essential features:

Contact directory: Every softphone comes with an inbuilt contact directory. A good way to test out a new softphone is to find out how simple it is to import existing contacts and create new ones.

Extension dialing: Business softphones are required to be as functional and easy-to-use as desk phones. One of the features they offer is the ability to connect coworkers via extension dialing. This is an especially useful feature for joining conferences.

Call transfer: What makes a good business-grade softphone stand out is its ability to easily transfer calls, be it to another extension, an outside line, or to the same line on a different device.

Call hold: Besides managing calls, softphones also display how long a call has been on hold so that the end-user knows who to address first.

Caller ID: This is an essential feature, as it lets users know who is calling on their business number. Softphones provide detailed caller ID information – ranging from a number, name, place of call origin, and more.

Three-way conferencing: This is not the same as a conference bridge. With three-way conferencing softphones enable a third person to join a regular call. However, not all softphones have this feature, and all browsers don’t support it either.

All conversations need an introduction and a reliable framework to initiate them. Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) does this job in the digital world. It’s a seamless way to begin and end online conversations.

SIP is a signaling protocol for IP-based telephony applications. It provides the control layer for communications like the establishment and release of a voice call. This communication technology does more than just connect agents to their clients. It allows users to manage and modulate every call that enters their system. What’s more, SIP is content-agnostic. Although SIP was initially designed for voice communication, today it is also used for establishing sessions for instant messaging, video conferencing, SMS, file transfers, and more.

SIP is essentially used for internet telephony and disseminating multimedia between two or more endpoints. For instance, a u

ser can start a telephone call with another user using SIP, or initiate a conference call with multiple participants.

The SIP protocol was designed to be simple, with a limited set of commands. Since it is text-based, anyone can read a SIP message that is passed between two endpoints in a session. The protocol is also flexible and comes with great depth. It was designed to set up real-time multimedia sessions between different participant groups. For instance, apart from facilitating regular telephone calls, SIP can be used to set up video and audio multicast meetings, or instant messaging conferences.

Since SIP is an open standard, it has sparked enormous interest in the telephony market. Marketers of SIP-based phones are witnessing huge growth in this sector.

In this blog, we will get a macro as well micro view of what SIP is, how it works, how it compliments VoIP, and why businesses should invest in this technology:

What does SIP do?

SIP Vs VoIP and how SIP adds value to VoIP.

Features of SIP.

How SIP enables a VoIP session call flow.

How SIP works during a voice call.

Benefits for businesses.

In the days of the good old PSTN (landline, in simple terms) you had a nice phone with a round dial and you spun the dial to connect with someone. The round dial gave way to push button type dialers that did the same thing and that was that. These are hardphones.

What is a softphone?

Softphones, by definition, mean software based dialers. Everyone is familiar with the dialer interface on mobile phones. Softphones are similar. The mobile dialer is software based.

To understand how softphone is different than the hardphones or deskphones, we’ve made a comparison chart on Softphone Vs. Hardphone: