Business Phone App and Softphone
Your office number on your mobile and laptop, wherever you're working.
Indigo Unified Communications sets up business phone apps and softphones so your team can make and take calls on the office number from a mobile, laptop or web browser. 8x8 offers the 8x8 Work app for desktop, web and mobile, 3CX has apps for Windows, web, iOS and Android, and Microsoft Teams Phone puts calls inside Teams. Callers see your business number, not a personal mobile. We install, configure and support the apps from Glasgow, alongside the rest of your phone system.
What is a softphone?
A softphone is a phone that runs as software. Instead of a handset on a desk, you use an app on your computer, a browser tab or your mobile, usually with a headset. It connects to your business phone system over the internet, so it behaves exactly like your desk extension: the same number, the same voicemail, the same transfers and the same call history.
A business phone app is the mobile version. Staff keep their personal number private, customers only see the company number, and when someone leaves, the customer relationship stays with you.
How the apps work on 8x8, 3CX and Teams Phone
| 8x8 Work app | 3CX apps | Microsoft Teams Phone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Devices | Desktop, web and mobile | Windows, web, iOS and Android | Teams on desktop, web and mobile |
| Stand-out feature | Flip a live call from one device to another; call-quality indicator | Headset integration (for example Jabra and Yealink); hot desking on shared desk phones | Calls, chat and meetings in the app your team already uses |
| Virtual desktops | Optimised for Citrix and Azure Virtual Desktop | Not confirmed | Managed with Microsoft 365 |
| Extras | Team chat, video meetings and UK business SMS in the same app | 3CX Meet video, live chat, WhatsApp and UK business SMS in the same app; AI call screening in the apps on the AI Edition | Connects to 8x8 or 3CX for calling if you prefer |
All three show presence, so your team can see whether a colleague is free before transferring a call. If you already live in Teams, read about Microsoft Teams calling →
Who it's for
- Hybrid and home workers. Answer the main line from the kitchen table and it sounds the same to the caller as it would from the office.
- Site and field teams. Construction site managers and renewable energy engineers take office calls on their mobiles, so enquiries don't sit in a voicemail box until they're back. Construction → · Renewable energy →
- Charities with volunteers. Volunteers take helpline calls from home without sharing their own numbers. Phone systems for charities →
What we set up
- The app on each person's laptop and mobile, signed in to their own extension
- Ring rules, so calls reach the desk phone, the app or both, in the order you choose
- Working hours and do-not-disturb settings, so staff aren't rung at 10pm
- Headsets that work with the app, if you need them
- A 999 emergency address recorded for every user and site, including home workers (see below)
- Phone apps on company mobiles managed through Microsoft Intune as standard
- Training for staff before go-live, and ongoing support from our Glasgow team
A softphone is only as good as the connection it runs on. Because Indigo also supplies business broadband, leased lines and 4G/5G connectivity, we can check the call path end to end. Business connectivity →
Can you call 999 from a business phone app?
Emergency calls are part of every UK phone service. Ofcom's rules require phone providers to give uninterrupted access to 999 and 112 and to pass caller location information to the emergency services. 8x8 states that its service supports 999 and 112 calls.
With an app, there's one catch. The location sent with the call may be the address registered for that number or user, not where the person is sitting. That's why we record a 999 emergency address for every user and site, including home workers. Tell us when someone moves, so the address stays right. We also recommend staff dial 999 from their mobile's own dialler when they can, which uses the mobile network. This is general guidance, not legal advice.
Frequently asked questions
What is a business phone app?
A business phone app lets staff make and receive calls on the company number from their own mobile. Calls go through your business phone system, so the customer sees the office number and the call appears in your call history and reports. Indigo Unified Communications sets up the 8x8 and 3CX apps and Microsoft Teams Phone for businesses across Scotland.
Do I need a desk phone if I use a softphone?
No. Many people work entirely from a laptop app and a headset, especially home and hybrid workers. Desk phones still suit receptionists, shared desks and anyone who takes a lot of calls. You can mix both: the call can ring the desk phone and the app at the same time. We'll recommend the right mix in your free phone system review.
Can staff use their personal mobile for business calls?
Yes. The app runs on a personal phone but calls show the business number, so staff keep their own number private. Business calls stay in the company's call history, and if someone leaves you simply remove their extension. Set working hours in the app so staff aren't disturbed outside their shift.
Does a softphone work over mobile data?
Yes. The apps work over WiFi or 4G and 5G mobile data. Call quality depends on the connection, so a weak signal can cause breaks in the audio. 8x8's app shows a call-quality indicator, and live calls can be moved between devices. For fixed sites with poor coverage, we can improve the connection itself.
Is a softphone secure?
A softphone uses the same security as the rest of your phone system. 3CX supports secure SIP (TLS), and 8x8 encrypts calls with TLS and SRTP. Staff sign in to their own extension, and losing a phone doesn't lose your number, because the extension lives in the cloud.
Book a free phone system review
We'll look at how your team works today and which apps, headsets and desk phones they actually need. You'll get a written recommendation within 2 working days, with pricing on our business phone systems page →.