For many travelers, it’s still more daunting and expensive to stay connected overseas. Many assume it’s necessary to purchase a local SIM card at the airport, to constantly change numbers, or to pay extremely high roaming costs, just to be able to use the phone overseas. However, things are quite different in reality.

Advances in mobile technology have made it easier, more economical, and convenient to stay connected with the world around you than ever before. To maintain distinct communication channels across different regions without carrying extra hardware, international travelers can easily get a virtual phone number USA at GetTempNumber, enabling seamless access to incoming text messages and establishing a dedicated US presence directly on their primary mobile device.

Why Carrying Multiple Physical Phones Is Outdated

Certain benefits are only thought to come with working with a separate phone, which is the reason for some companies handing over their worker’s mobiles:

  • Separate work and personal. Because all communications are from separate devices, employees are aware of the times they are receiving phone calls and text messages from their work colleagues and can return them during hours.
  • Keep everything organized. Avoid missing business calls, texts, and voicemails from being lost among personal ones with a service that keeps you and your team organized.
  • The right business features. You can be sure your team is putting their best foot forward with the correct phones equipped with features your team needs for a great customer experience.

Such benefits may exist on a stand-alone smartphone, but they may carry a similar or worse set of negatives. First, how dual phones can help satisfy the requirements.

Disadvantages

Having 2 phones is one major pain in the ass for your people. Well, there are a few reasons why it may not be the right time to invest in the work of mobile phones.

High Upfront Expenses

The average smartphone purchased per employee is $833. Further, there are other costs which can rapidly pile up: data rates, shipping phones to remote workers, when a phone is misplaced, tampered with, or breaks down, and replacement costs.

Extra Costs to Upgrade

However, if you are investing in Apple or Android for your employees, you cannot expect to be utilizing them for a long time. The average life of an iPhone is below 3 years. Despite having no problems with their phones, they may not get software and security upgrades as the years go by.

Poor Work-Life Balance

An incoming work call will not be received on your personal mobile device. It doesn’t necessarily mean they have a better work-life balance, though. Almost two-fifths of workers feel forced to respond to work communications outside their work schedule.

So if your team doesn’t switch to do not disturb at the end of the day – or if they need morning reminders to switch it off – it may seem like they don’t really go on vacation. Even most cellphones do not allow users to set up “after hours” numbers to send auto-replies to. As a result, you’ll be unable to explain to the customer their lack of reactivity and when they will contact you in the future.

More Disruptive to your Team Members

Having a business number should make life easier for your team. While having another cell phone for staff can be handy, there are certain challenges to giving out a second device:

  • Carry two phones instead. One phone is difficult enough to carry, but with everything else attached to it, including cases (dual, latches, etc.) and holsters, which are even harder to lug, how easy is it to get around using two phones?
  • There’s more to oversee. You need to archive on both phones to ensure that they’re updated, charged, and protected.
  • Increased danger of loss or damage. The more devices that are used, the more risk of a drop, loss, or damage is possible.

Renting a van is an added effort that can only bring lost follow-ups, delayed return time, and an inconsistent customer experience. It’s not difficult to find ways of getting a second phone number for your colleagues.

How Can Virtual Numbers Solve the Problem?

With 1 phone, you can have 2 numbers. With a virtual system (VoIP), you can provide your team with business numbers they can use on any device – like their personal cell phone – as long as they have an internet connection. You do not need to take any action – all the members need to download an App. They can then use one device (a computer, tablet, or iPad) to perform work or personal communications.

Your virtual phone plan and system can be utilized wherever in the world as long as you have access to Wi-Fi or a cellular data connection. While on the go, out in the field, even with a remote connection between offices, team members can keep track of their phone and text messages.

It may seem easy-peasy to have two phone numbers, but you shouldn’t use this method to meet your team’s needs. Easier, and it provides a lot more benefit to your customers, is a virtual phone.