Our Review of 8×8
What is 8×8?
There are a variety of services available from 8×8, including premium business phone service. All that is required to take advantage of this service is a high-speed internet connection and a phone system. This provider offers businesses the ability to make international calls at fairly reasonable rates, which vary depending on which countries you are calling. The Virtual Call Center that 8×8 also offers is another ideal solution for businesses that want to integrate their remote offices, headquarters, and outsourced locations.
Although you can choose to your use your current equipment, 8×8 offers a variety of communications devices that you can use to improve productivity and take advantage of all the features and services that this provider has to offer. There are a number of IP phones to choose from as well as cordless IP phone, IP conference phones, a video phone, analog phone/fax adapter, and a variety of accessories.
Service plans
You will find that 8×8 offers the ability to create a custom VoIP service plan that will match your business’s needs, whatever they happen to be. The Virtual Office plan is the most basic option that this provider offers and it comes with a number of features, including US-based support, unlimited calling, mobile apps for Android and iPhone, Auto Attendant, online call management, conference bridge, music on hold, softphone, and more.
The ability to make domestic phone calls is included in the cost of the service (which varies depending on a number of factors), and you can get a quote on the company’s website.
8×8 lists the current international calling rates on their website for all of the different countries that you can call. These rates vary quite a bit, depending on the country you want to call.
The Virtual Office Pro service plan offers a number of features that you won’t get with the basic Virtual Office plan, including web conferencing with video, internet facing, and call recording. This service plan is definitely the best value for your money, so it is worth considering if you are currently in need of VoIP services for your business.
How much do I save by signing up with 8×8?
8×8 offers high-quality domestic calling services for businesses at a very reasonable monthly rate, though it does vary depending on the number of lines you are going to get as well as other factors. The international calling rates through this service are also quite reasonable, though they are subject to change. Overall, you can probably expect to save $20-$30 on your monthly phone bill.
Service Features
Similar to Ringcentral Office and Nextiva, 8×8 offers many of different features that you can take advantage of with 8×8, including Auto Attendant, which is a powerful automated feature that completely eliminates the need for a receptionist. You will also get extension dialing, hosted PBX, music on hold, ring groups, number porting, and much more. The number porting feature allows you to keep your business’s current phone number so you don’t have to worry about getting a new one.
The mobility features that 8×8 offers are also definitely worth looking into if you are in need of VoIP services that you can depend on. You will be able to get your own 8×8 Virtual Office phone extension to use while you are on the go on your iPhone and/or iPad. This mobile app will allow you to manage your business communications from absolutely anywhere, so you aren’t limited to just the office. You can use your iPhone or Android smartphone to make and receive calls using the 8×8 Virtual Office extension. All calls that you make from your mobile device will display your business caller ID to the people on the other end of the call.
The Virtual Office Softphone will allow you the freedom to go wherever you want while staying connected at all times so as to maximize business productivity. You will get all of the advanced features that you are used to with your desk phone on your mobile device, provided you have access to Wi-Fi. You will find that this softphone will be able to do anything that your desk phone can do, so you won’t have to sacrifice any features whatsoever when you are on the go. Some of the different features that you will be able to use with your softphone include 3-way calling, caller ID, call waiting, multiple call appearance lines, and much more. If you frequently travel for work, this virtual softphone is a great feature that you will get plenty of use out of.
Although 8×8 offers a lot of great features, its administrative features is where it really stands out from the rest of the companies that offer VoIP services. This business VoIP successfully integrates with Salesforce, SugarCRM, Outlook, and a variety of other applications. You will find that these applications have the ability to significantly enhance the efficiency of your calls by allowing you to dial from your contact list, as well as take notes as you talk and draw information from clients that call before you even answer.
The call management system that is offered by this VoIP provider is very impressive to say the least, offering both convenience and ease of use. There is absolutely no doubt that this company works very hard to ensure that all of its customers experience a smooth transition from their old communications system. If you want certain detailed information like the number of incoming calls or your call traffic, you will be able to get reports for each individual extension that will tell you everything you want to know.
Customer Service
Since the level of help and support you receive from your VoIP provider is so crucial, you will need to take the time to find out what it is like for each one that you are interested in. You will find that 8×8 offers online support options that are extremely easy to access, as well as a comprehensive FAQs section that covers just about any issue you could possibly have. There is also a toll-free phone support service that you can call if you can’t seem to find the answers you need in the FAQ section and do not want to use the live chat option for whatever reason. Overall, the level of customer service that 8×8 offers is quite impressive, especially when compared to many of the other VoIP providers that you have to choose from.
Service Setup Process
If you are interested in the VoIP services that 8×8 has to offer, you can request a quote directly from their website. Simply fill out the Request a Quote form with your name, email address, company name, phone number, the number of employees that work for you, and your purchasing timeframe. There is also a sales phone number that you can call to get the information you need about these services and how much you can expect to pay for them. The total amount that you pay for your VoIP services will depend on a number of factors, including the service plan you choose as well as the number of employees that are going to be using the service.
You can sign in with your username and password on 8×8’s website. Each individual user is able to set up and configure their own profile, including a name and e-mail address, which must be setup by the system administrator. There are a number of advanced setup features, including Call Rules, which dictate how calls get routed in certain scenarios. When it comes to hardware setting, 8×8 customers have the option of using their existing equipment or purchasing new equipment from this company’s website.
What We like
Similar to the phone service offer by Vonage Business there are quite a few excellent things that 8×8 offers businesses, including the fact that there are so many different features that come with them. This particular provider seems to understand exactly what businesses need, because all of the features they offer can be extremely useful to all different types of companies that want solid communications solutions. The unlimited calling plans that allow customers to call up to 35 different countries is definitely another good thing about this provider that is worth mentioning.
The mobile solutions that 8×8 offers, such as the softphone and mobile app, allow businesses to maintain their productivity no matter where they are. These VoIP services are reliable and consistent, which is definitely important for businesses of all kinds. This provider offers comprehensive communication solutions for businesses that refuse to settle for anything less than the very best. This is also a highly flexible and secure VoIP service, so you will be able to count on it to meet the specific needs of your business.
A majority of businesses that take advantage of 8×8’s VoIP services will be able to save around 50% on their phone bills, which is perhaps one of the best things. There are little up-front costs associated with this provider, as there is no on-site PBX hardware or software required. All you have to do is simply connect the IP phone that you purchase to your existing internet connection and you can start making, receiving, and managing calls. There are some very advanced Fortune 500 features that this company offers as well and at no extra cost. The fact that there is no IT staff required is yet another cost-saving benefit to keep in mind if you are still on the fence about 8×8’s VoIP services.
What We don’t like
One of the worst things about 8×8’s VoIP service is that it lacks some advanced queuing options, and it is a bit on the expensive side. With a cost of $49.99 per user, not every small business will have the kind of budget to pay for these calling services, but they are well worth the money for those that can.
Call Quality
The VoIP services that 8×8 offers come with a number of benefits, including outstanding sound quality. We have always heard nothing but glowing reports about the call quality for their services.
FAQ’s about 8×8
What equipment is required to use 8×8’s service?
The only equipment that is required to use this service is a phone or series of phones, as is the case with most businesses. There are a number of telecommunications devices for sale on 8×8’s website, though businesses can choose to use their existing systems with this service.
What do I need to know about making international calls?
8×8 allows all of its users to make calls to a number of different countries all over the world, and the international rates they charge are listed on their website by country. This company’s Unlimited Extension plan includes unlimited calling to the U.S., Canada, Puerto Rico, Guam, U.S. Virgin Islands, France, Ireland, Italy, Spain, and the UK. The Global Extension plan includes unlimited calling to 35 international locations around the world. If you have an office in another country, you can have them take advantage of this service so that calls between offices will be completely free.
How do I access my 8×8 account?
Gaining access to your 8×8 account is just as easy as going to their website and clicking the “Login” button, which is located at the top of the screen. You will then be prompted to enter the username and password you signed up with.
Will I have to worry about paying any hidden fees?
One of the best things about this particular provider is that it doesn’t charge any fees that you don’t know about from the start. The entire billing process that 8×8 uses is very simple and straightforward with no unpleasant surprises.
Finals Thoughts on 8×8
When it comes right down to it, 8×8 is definitely one of the better VoIP providers out there. This company offers top quality services and a variety of features for businesses that need customized communications options to improve productivity and efficiency. The cloud-based unified communications for SMBs is very close to perfect and there are a variety of features that businesses will find extremely useful, such as the web conferencing as well as the unlimited local and long-distance calling. The web interface that this company offers is very user-friendly as well, so you won’t have to worry about taking a long time to figure it out. If you need a communications solution for your business that will conform to your every need, this company is certainly one option that you should carefully consider.
