How many IP phones can you connect to a VOIP extension?

Rich Technology Group provides free consultation and assistance regarding business communication and VOIP services. 

How many IP phones can you connect to a VOIP extension?

Overview:

Rich Technology Group provides free consultation and assistance regarding business communication and VOIP services. Considering this aspect, the most frequently occurring question that we get asked is “How many IP Phones can you connect to a VOIP extension?” To help our customers get a detailed idea of how the VOIP extension works and to make them understand the important points to ponder, Rich Technology has shared the complete information in this article.  

How many devices are allowed?

The number of devices, whether that be hardware IP phones or mobile/desktop apps, that can be put on a single extension depends upon the service provider you go with. For example, Vonage allows up to 3 IP phones, Nextiva allows up to 5 IP Phones, RingCentral allows up to 6 IP phones, and so on.

Why there is a need to have multiple devices on a single extension?

Many times, people want to set up multiple phones on a single extension so they can be reached all the time without missing a call. As having multiple phones on a single extension will ring all the connected phones, it gives the user the ability to work from home, office, and on the go without causing any delays.

​People can check voicemail because of this mobility as they are able to make calls, receive calls, transfer calls, etc., and have the same sense of normality no matter where they are located. 

A big reason why businesses set up new phones with the same extension is to test the new IP phones. After testing and finding out whether they work well or not, these phones are rolled out for everyone else. Rich Technology Group has worked with many IT companies that use this testing method and then move the entire batch to the administration to use it with separate extensions. Similarly, to create a pseudo-ring group, many people use the same extension with multiple phones.

Here’s how many phones you can connect to a VOIP extension & things to consider before doing this!

Things to be aware of when using multiple IP Phones on the same extension:

The common misconception regarding using multiple extensions on the same IP Phone is that it is a cost-saving tactic. However, this is not true. If you have many people working in the office space, and you go for paying a certain amount per month for only one extension with multiple phones, you face a lot of backlashes.

​First of all, calls cannot be transferred if only one extension is used. The same extension will have the same voicemail for every single person so there will be no personalization in terms of dial tones, messages, etc. Thus, for business, it acts as a downgrading and unprofessional element.

The second element that makes getting multiple phones on a single extension not worthwhile is the difficulty in handling virtual receptionists. As you can’t classify or divide different users on the same extension, having a separate dial by name to be routed correctly is also out of the question. You would not be able to set up route calls to a specific person. Similarly, the purpose of a virtual receptionist would be essentially defeated using the same extension.

​Finally, transferring calls on a single extension is a nightmare and almost nonexistent because calls are transferred to unique extension numbers typically. Not only it act as a barrier in business communication but also it can be a problem for confidentiality for many organizations. While most service providers will let you have more than one device on a single extension, some of them have placed specific restrictions to prevent making simultaneous calls from multiple devices at a time. To prevent such a use case, many providers even block and prohibit users from saying that another device is in use on the extension.

​Although it is not common with all VOIP providers, it is a cheat avoidance method. Also, mobile apps and desktop apps are usually not considered in the count of allowed devices allotment but for some providers, it is classified as a separate virtual device. To conclude, we can say that although using multiple phones or devices on a single extension can be a convenient way to answer calls from different locations, it has a list of cons to consider.

So, be sure to verify the maximum number of devices you can connect with a single extension.  If you want to find out any additional information regarding extensions or anything else in general, feel free to contact Rich Technology Group. Our service and consultation are free and we can provide the best pricing if you reach out to us first. 

As we have long-term connections in the VOIP industry, we can also negotiate special pricing with the VOIP providers on your behalf. That being said, contact Rich Technology Group without any hesitation. 

We represent all the major VOIP phone system service providers and internet providers and our consulting service is 100% free.