A call path is a dedicated route for a single phone call within a network. It’s what connects your call from start to finish. With traditional phone systems, the number of call paths available to you usually matches the number of users, lines, or extensions your phone service provider has set up for your account.
Moving to a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) system, which incorporates technologies like Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) trunks, can streamline your telecommunications. SIP trunks allow multiple call paths over one internet connection, which allows for greater capacity without adding extra lines.
Let’s say you run a busy call center where each phone call is a customer needing service.
With traditional lines, you’d need a separate call path for each customer. With a SIP trunk, it’s like upgrading to a multi-line phone system, allowing you to help several customers at once without the expense of extra lines. If your SIP trunk supports 10 call paths, your team can manage 10 calls simultaneously through just one digital line.
How to Avoid Getting Trapped By Call Paths on Pricing Plans
VoIP phone systems are inherently more flexible than traditional landlines. They set limits differently, whether by user count, call minutes, simultaneous calls, or the number of call paths or SIP trunks you use.
Each provider might throw around their own terms for these limits, and yes, it can get a bit confusing since the industry hasn’t settled on standard definitions.
So here’s our advice: don’t sweat the small stuff, like trying to parse every detail between call paths and SIP trunks. What really matters for your business is understanding how many calls you can have at once—and making sure that number fits your needs.
Be aware that sales reps may rely heavily on their predefined terms. Make sure you seek clear, practical explanations of how their call limits will function in everyday business use. Choose a VoIP service that supports your business’s call volume needs without imposing a ton of unnecessary limitations or costs.
Examples of How Different Business Phone Services Limit Call Paths
When choosing a VoIP service, understanding call paths—the number of simultaneous calls you can make—is crucial. Providers might call them channels, paths, or sessions, but the essence lies in how many active calls the system supports.
We’ve included four examples of how VoIP providers present their services so you can get a feel for the variety in service structures and call capacity options.
Nextiva
Nextiva is a prominent player in the VoIP landscape, offering businesses a unified suite of services for seamless communication and collaboration. Its platform integrates voice, video, and messaging capabilities to help your company operate more efficiently.
At the basic level, Nextiva’s pricing starts around $30.95 per month per user, with the ability to handle three calls at once. If your business needs more, there’s an option to add a call queue for an additional fee, bumping up the number of calls you can manage to 25.
This call queue system keeps incoming calls in line, providing on-hold music or messages until someone on your team can take the call.
For exact pricing and to find the plan that matches your call volume needs, it’s best to get in touch with Nextiva’s customer service. They can help tailor the service to your business’s size and call handling requirements.
RingCentral
RingCentral brings a versatile communication platform to the table, offering voice, video, and team messaging services through its cloud-based system. It focuses on businesses looking for a scalable and integrated communication solution.
With RingCentral, you can manage up to nine simultaneous calls across your devices. If more calls come in while you’re at this limit, they’re smartly rerouted to your RingCentral mobile app, ensuring you don’t miss important contacts. Should you reach the maximum for outgoing calls, the system will promptly notify you.
Plans are budget-friendly, starting at $20 and going up to $35 per user each month with an annual commitment, striking a balance between cost and capability.
To tailor the service to your specific call handling needs, reach out to RingCentral’s team. They’ll guide you to the plan that’s just right for your business’s call volume.
Ooma
Ooma is an accessible VoIP solution, particularly if you’re watching your budget. It offers a straightforward set of features that serve the essential communication needs of small to medium-sized businesses.
For Ooma, the concept of call handling is integrated into its services, allowing for a notable degree of simultaneous call management. Specifically, with Ooma Office, you can expect to manage up to 10 concurrent calls, offering significant flexibility for day-to-day operations.
If you opt for the Pro Plus account, the capabilities expand, with up to 15 call queues available, and each queue can handle up to 25 calls at once. This setup is ideal for businesses with higher call volumes.
8×8
8×8 is a solid solution for businesses requiring international calling and comprehensive communication tools. Its services are designed to support a global workforce with an emphasis on connectivity and collaboration.
When diving into 8×8’s call-handling features, it’s evident that the system is tailored for multitasking within its Work for Desktop application. 8×8 Work allows users to handle two calls simultaneously on various devices, including desk phones and mobiles.
This feature means that if you’re on a call and another one comes in, you can place the first call on hold, answer the new call, and even switch between the two as needed. For small teams or businesses requiring the ability to conduct multiple discussions simultaneously, 8×8 offers a practical solution without overcomplicating the user experience.