What Is a VoIP Caller? VoIP Calling Explained
A VoIP caller is someone who makes a phone call over the internet instead of a traditional phone line. VoIP stands for Voice over Internet Protocol. Your voice turns into data, travels over the internet and comes out as sound at the other end. For the person you're talking to, it sounds just like any other call.
So why do so many people search for "what is a VoIP caller"? Usually because a call popped up on their screen labelled "VoIP caller". Or because their business is moving away from the old landline and they want to know what they're getting into. Let's clear it up.
What is a VoIP call?
A VoIP call is a phone call that uses your internet connection. You can make one from a desk phone, a laptop or an app on your smartphone. You still dial normal numbers, and customers still call your normal business number. The difference is behind the scenes: no copper wire and no phone box humming away in the cupboard.
That matters, because the UK is switching off its old analogue phone network. Sooner or later, almost every business call will be a VoIP call.
Why does my phone say "VoIP caller"?
Some phones and caller ID apps show "VoIP caller" when the number belongs to an internet phone service. That doesn't mean the call is spam. Plenty of GP surgeries, shops and service desks call you this way every day. The label tells you how the call was made, not who made it.
It works the other way too. When your team calls customers through a business VoIP system, you show your own business number. Your customer sees who's calling, instead of wondering whether to pick up.
How VoIP calling works in practice
Picture a small accountancy firm on a Monday morning. The phones don't stop ringing. One colleague works from home, another is at a client's office and the receptionist has just gone to lunch.
With an old phone line, half of those calls end up in voicemail. With VoIP calling, the call finds the right person, wherever they are. Here's what that looks like with Xelion:
- A customer calls. You immediately see who it is and who in your team is available to answer.
- You decide who receives a call and when, with call groups, queues and opening hours.
- You change call forwarding yourself in the settings. No need to phone a technician.
- Your colleagues use the same business number on their desk phone, in the Xelion Windows App or on the go with the Xelion iOS App and Xelion Android App.
- Reports show how many calls came in, how many you answered and when it gets busy.
So you're not just a VoIP caller. You have a clear overview of your telephony and control over your availability.
More than calling
Most businesses start using Xelion for calling, and that's fine. But once your phone system runs in the cloud, you can do more with it. Answer WhatsApp messages and webchat, chat with colleagues or call from Microsoft Teams with the Xelion Microsoft Teams App. It all comes together in one overview, so you're not switching between five different tools.
Everything sits in one licence. No separate modules to add later when you want an extra feature.
What do you need to get started?
Good news: not much.
- A stable internet connection
- A device: a desk phone, computer or smartphone
- Your current numbers, which you can usually keep
Xelion works with accredited partners across the UK. They set everything up with you and stay your first point of contact afterwards. So you get help from people who know your business, not an anonymous helpdesk.
