Microsoft Teams has become part of everyday working life for millions of people. Meetings happen through Teams, employees message each other throughout the day and colleagues collaborate on documents without necessarily being in the same building. That naturally leads to a question. If we're already using Microsoft Teams, do we still need a separate business phone system? The answer depends on what you need your telephone system to do, because Microsoft Teams and a traditio

For many businesses considering a move to VoIP, one concern appears almost immediately. “What happens to our existing phone number?” It's understandable. A business telephone number may have been used for years. Customers know it, employees give it out every day and it could appear across your website, Google Business Profile, signage, vehicles, stationery, directories and countless customer contact records. Changing the phone system is one thing. Changing the number everyb

For more than a century, copper telephone lines have quietly sat behind the way businesses communicate. You probably haven't thought much about them. And why would you? You pick up the phone, make a call and it works. But the technology underneath that call is changing, and if your business still relies on a traditional telephone line, there is now a date you need to know. 31 January 2027. That's when the UK's old analogue Public Switched Telephone Network, usually referred

For decades, setting up a business telephone system was relatively straightforward. You ordered telephone lines, installed handsets around the office and published the main number everywhere customers might need it. Then the way we worked changed. Employees started working remotely. Mobile phones became an everyday business tool. Meetings moved online. Software moved into the cloud. Customers began communicating through email, messaging, websites and social media alongside

There are few things more frustrating in a workplace than an internet connection that seems perfectly fine one minute and painfully slow the next. Files take longer to upload, video meetings start freezing, cloud applications become sluggish and suddenly everyone is asking the same question: “Is the internet slow for you as well?” If this happens regularly at particular times of the day, there is usually a reason for it. The important thing is understanding whether the prob

It sounds like one of those questions every business should be able to answer immediately. How many mobile contracts are we paying for? When a company has ten employees, the answer is probably fairly straightforward. Once that organisation grows to thirty, fifty or a hundred people, things can become surprisingly complicated. Employees join and receive a phone. Other employees leave. Devices are upgraded, tariffs change and somebody suddenly needs international roaming. Dif

When the internet goes down in an office, the reaction is usually fairly predictable. Someone notices first, somebody else confirms they can’t get online either and before long the router is being restarted in the hope that everything comes back. If it does, the business carries on. Because of that, unreliable internet is often treated as an annoyance rather than something more serious. The problem is that modern organisations now depend on connectivity for so much more than

There’s a strange thing about business phone systems. Most companies don’t think about replacing them because they’ve decided the current one is still the best option. They keep using it because, on the surface at least, it still works. The phones ring, people can make calls and customers can still get through, so there never seems to be a strong reason to question it. The problem is that businesses rarely stand still. Teams grow, people start working from different locations

Alexander Graham Bell filed the telephone patent in 1876. Nearly 150 years later, voice is still the channel people turn to when clarity matters, stakes are high, and real connection is required. Let’s start with a statement that should not sound bold, but somehow does in today’s tech conversations: Voice is not dead In fact, it’s more essential than ever. Across unified communications, contact centres, and any business that values meaningful customer engagement, voice rema

For SMEs, connectivity is the foundation of operations. From cloud phone systems to CRM platforms, reliable internet is critical. Two common options are business broadband and leased lines . Choosing the right solution impacts performance, cost, and business continuity. 1. What is Business Broadband? Business broadband is a commercial-grade internet service offering: High-speed connectivity Enhanced support Reliability and uptime guarantees It is ideal for small to medium bu

For growing SMEs, customer service is not just an operational function, it’s a key differentiator. Poor call handling, long wait times, and inconsistent service can damage reputation and limit growth.

Learn how 8x8 cloud phone systems integrate with Salesforce, Bullhorn, and MicrosoftDynamics to boost productivity, automate call logging, and improve customer service.

Discover how cloud phone systems and hosted VoIP improve efficiency, reduce costs, and support multi-site SMEs in the UK. Learn about 8x8 cloud telephony benefits.