Reliable Internet Business Phone Systems for SMBs
Traditional landline phone systems are expensive to maintain, difficult to scale, and nearly impossible to use with a remote or hybrid team. Modern VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) phone systems run over your internet connection, integrate with your existing devices - desk phones, mobile phones, computers - and include features like call routing, voicemail-to-email, conference calling, and call recording as standard. North Star supplies, configures, and supports VoIP systems for BC and AB businesses.
What is a VoIP business phone system?
VoIP phone systems replace traditional copper-line phone service by transmitting voice calls over your internet connection. The system is hosted in the cloud by the carrier, which means there is no on-premises PBX hardware to maintain. Your staff can make and receive calls from desk phones, mobile apps on their smartphones, or softphone applications on their computers - all under the same business phone number. Features like auto-attendant, call queues, call recording, ring groups, and voicemail-to-email transcription are typically included in the monthly plan rather than being expensive add-ons. For businesses in BC and AB with multiple locations or remote staff in communities like Prince George, Fort St. John, or Grande Prairie, VoIP is often the only practical way to present a unified phone system to your customers.
What North Star delivers.
Number porting and provisioning handled by North Star.
Keep your existing phone numbers. North Star manages the porting process so your business number carries over to the new system without any interruption to incoming calls.
Desk phones, mobile apps, and computer softphones.
Your staff can use whatever device suits them. Desk phones are available for those who prefer them; the mobile app puts your business line on your team's existing smartphones.
Auto-attendant, ring groups, call queues, and call recording.
Route calls the way your business actually works, not the way a rigid old PBX demands. Update routing rules yourself through a simple web portal.
Voicemail-to-email with transcription.
Voicemails are transcribed and emailed to the right person so nothing gets missed, even when a team member is in a meeting or out in the field.
Full business phone functionality for remote and hybrid teams.
Staff working from home in Kamloops or a project site in the Yukon can make and receive calls on their business number. No different from being in the office.
What buyers ask before they sign.
How much does a VoIP business phone system cost?
VoIP plans for Canadian SMBs typically range from $20 to $50 CAD per user per month for the hosting and calling plan. Desk phones are a one-time hardware cost of $100 to $300 per unit depending on the model. North Star charges a one-time setup and provisioning fee for new installations.
What internet speed do we need for VoIP to work reliably?
Each concurrent call requires approximately 100 kbps of upload and download bandwidth. For most BC and AB business internet connections, VoIP capacity is not a limiting factor. North Star assesses your internet connection during onboarding and recommends QoS (Quality of Service) configuration on your router to prioritise voice traffic.
Can we keep our existing phone numbers?
Yes. Number porting transfers your existing business phone numbers to the new VoIP system. The porting process typically takes two to three weeks and is managed entirely by North Star.
What happens to our phones if the internet goes down?
VoIP requires internet connectivity. North Star recommends configuring a failover to mobile numbers for critical lines, so incoming calls are forwarded to a cell phone if your internet connection drops. A secondary LTE backup internet connection is an option for businesses where phone reliability is critical.
Does North Star support Microsoft Teams calling as a VoIP solution?
Yes. For businesses already on Microsoft 365, Microsoft Teams Phone with Calling Plans or Direct Routing is a strong option that eliminates the need for a separate phone system. North Star can configure Teams Phone as part of a Microsoft 365 managed services engagement.
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Start Your Free Assessment Back to CloudFrequently asked questions
What internet speed do I need for a business phone system?
VoIP call quality depends on bandwidth and latency rather than just raw speed. Most internet business phone systems require about 100kbps per concurrent call. For a typical office in Kelowna or Red Deer, a standard fibre connection is more than sufficient. Northstar IT performs a network assessment before installation to ensure your local area network and internet connection can handle voice traffic without jitter or dropped calls.
Can I keep my existing local phone numbers?
Yes, number portability is a standard part of our migration process. We coordinate the transfer of your existing local and toll free numbers from your current provider to our internet business phone systems. This ensures zero downtime for your customers in Vancouver or Whitehorse while you transition to a more modern and cost effective communication platform with advanced features like voicemail to email.
Does VoIP work during a power outage or internet failure?
Because internet business phone systems are cloud based, calls can be automatically rerouted to mobile devices or other branch locations if your local office loses power. This disaster recovery feature is built into our managed VoIP service. We also recommend redundant internet connections for critical operations in areas like Grande Prairie or Fort St John to ensure your voice communications remain active regardless of local infrastructure issues.
Is a VoIP system secure against eavesdropping?
Security is a core pillar of Northstar IT services. Our internet business phone systems use encrypted signaling and media streams to protect your conversations. We also implement strict firewall rules and monitoring to prevent unauthorised access to your phone system. Combining VoIP with our managed cybersecurity services provides a robust defence for your business communications across all your locations in Western Canada.