What is Onsip?
OnSip is a VoIP service provider supplying scalable cloud-based business communications that replace the old desk-based phone lines and PBX systems once used by organizations. The company offers a comprehensive menu of features that allows you to design the communications system to suit your specific business needs. While many standard VoIP features are offered for small to medium-sized businesses, OnSip goes one step further with features a larger organization might need. These include browser-based unified communications, international VoIP calls, and hardware agnostic software allowing you to choose your own equipment.
Three US-based entrepreneurs founded a company called Junction Networks in 2004, offering a simple version of OnSip, which rapidly grew into the products and services offered today. OnSip was acquired in 2020 by the large American telecommunications company Intrado and now forms part of the extensive suite of services Intrado offers to the public and private sectors, encompassing small businesses through to global enterprises.
While you may choose to use your own VoIP phone hardware, the OnSip system uses software to turn your computer or laptop into a business phone that provides all the features expected of a comprehensive PBX system. These features include a dial-in conference system for 15 people, video conference calls, a call queuing system, personal staff pages, music on hold, and auto attendants. Supervisor call monitoring of in-progress calls with sales and contact center agents is also possible. Standard VoIP features include toll-free inbound numbers, call recording, existing number porting, and voicemail to email services. OnSip claims they can replace your existing phone system in less than one hour, providing you with communication solutions and call-forwarding to support remote working or working from home.
Two important aspects of the OnSip service are its redundancy and security. Redundancy is assured by using multiple data centers, redundant servers and routers, and first-tier internet connections. Using distributed service and equipment duplication, OnSip claims that poor sound quality, service interruptions, and dropped calls are a thing of the past. For enhanced security, users of the mobile, browser, and desktop app have full end-to-end call encryption.
Onsip
What popular features do you get with Onsip?
- Auto attendants for menus
- Call monitoring for supervisors
- Call parking
- Call recording
- Dial by name functionality
- Dial-in audio conference with PIN
- Emergency 911 calling
- Enhanced queuing dashboard
- On-hold music
- Pre Recorded announcements for queuing
- Specific area-code phone number selection
- Video conference
- Voicemail to audio or email
- Website chat functionality
Customer Support is available at Onsip
OnSip offers several levels of customer service, and all client reviews speak very highly of the quality of the customer support they receive. You have several choices for accessing customer service. Depending on your inquiry, you can email them at one of four email addresses. There is also a toll-free phone number, a web-based audio or video call, and a contact form on their website. You can even drop in and see them if you’re in New York.
Beyond speaking with someone, OnSip offers the most comprehensive self-help system we’ve ever seen, with over 85 topics, each with multiple sub-topics. They even provide support for most third-party hardware and software configurations. If that weren’t enough, there is a comprehensive educational resource with many articles offering small-business tips and advice to help your organization make the most of its technology.
What kind of business is Onsip ideal for?
While a solopreneur could use OnSips services, they will find cheaper alternatives. The target market for OnSip would seem to be businesses making the transition from small to medium enterprises, contact centers, and marketing or sales organizations. OnSip’s functionality is geared toward larger integrated teams, multiple departments, remotely distributed offices, or organizations with high call rates, such as call centers or sales departments.
Pros and Cons
- An extensive administration portal
- Integrates with third-party softphones
- Supervisor call monitoring, call whisper, and barge-in features
- Dial-in audio conferences with PIN
- Desktop app to replace softphones
- Video conference calls
- Team pages with communication availability
- Incoming call queuing dashboard
- Can port existing numbers
- High redundancy for reliability
- End-to-end call encryption using the desktop app
- First-rate customer service
- Video conferencing capped at five people
- The conference bridge is not included in plans, requiring an extra charge
- No texting feature
- Extra feature selection can add considerable cost to the monthly fee
People like you also researched
Here are some products we think might be a good fit based on what people like you viewed.
Ooma Office
- Free number porting
- Virtual fax
- Feature-rich Ooma Office Web Portal
- Unlimited domestic calling
Nextiva
- Customized Dashboards
- CRM options available
- Unlimited calling in North America
- Feature-rich Communications Platform
GoToConnect
- Free-of-charge toll-free numbers in US
- Customized messages and greetings
- Integration with 75 collaboration apps
- Integrated VoIP communications platform offering phone, video, and chat
How much does Onsip cost?
*based on information provided by the vendor. Actual cost may vary.
OnSip offers a 30-day free test period to test their system and apps. You can then select between their Pay-As-You-Go plan costing $49.95 per month or their Unlimited plan at $18.95 per month per user for a minimum of five users. Each plan provides a core set of features, with a comprehensive menu of additional features that you can add at an additional monthly charge.
The Pay-As-You-Go plan includes one announcement, three auto attendants, five voicemail accounts, and three ring groups. You can record one user at a time, and you get one dial-by-name directory. You also receive starter-level music on hold and basic website chat. Calling minutes are not included, and at the time of writing, the standard call rate of 2.9 cents per minute applies.
The Unlimited plan provides unlimited numbers of all the features in the Pay-As-You-Go plan while adding call parking, VoIP phones, and unlimited calling minutes. Music on hold is what OnSip calls ‘Enhanced’ while the website chat remains at the basic level.
You may then choose from an additional list of over 20 features to customize your communication system to suit your business. Be clear on what features you will need when selecting your plan, and calculate the final total, as the additional features can add considerably to your monthly bill. An example is the conference suites, which cost $19.95 each or $50 for ten. Similarly, additional auto attendants are charged at $19.95 each.
Final thoughts...
OnSip offers an extensive list of services, with features you’ll struggle to find from most standard VoIP providers. If your business has multiple departments, is geographically dispersed, or is a small to medium-sized organization, you’ll find that OnSip will more than meet your expectations for features, reliability, security, and customer service. If you’re a call center or sales and marketing firm, OnSip offers features specifically geared to your business and is well worth your attention.
