Softphone
Also known as: software phone, browser softphone
A softphone is software that makes and receives phone calls over the internet from a computer or mobile device, replacing a physical desk phone.
A softphone is a software application that does the job of a desk phone — placing and receiving calls — from a computer, browser, or mobile device. Because it runs on hardware you already own and carries calls over VoIP, it removes the cost and fixed location of a physical handset.
For call tracking, a browser softphone lets a team answer and place tracked calls from anywhere, with the platform handling numbers, routing, and recording around it. The underlying audio rides the same SIP trunking and VoIP plumbing as the rest of the system.
Frequently asked questions
What does a softphone do?
It turns a computer, browser, or phone app into a full phone: you can dial out, answer inbound calls, transfer, and place callers on hold over an internet connection, with no physical handset required.
What is the difference between a phone and a softphone?
A desk phone is dedicated hardware tied to a line; a softphone is an app running on a device you already own, using VoIP to carry the call. The softphone is cheaper to deploy and travels with the user wherever they have internet.
Is Zoom a softphone?
Zoom Phone is; the standard Zoom meetings app is not. A softphone specifically places and receives calls over the public phone network using a real phone number, rather than only connecting participants inside a meeting.
Related terms
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