If you’re making dozens of business calls each day, having a phone glued to your ear isn’t sustainable. Making calls from a computer gives you the flexibility to access the information you need, work from anywhere, and take notes more easily.
In this article, we share how to call someone from a computer. We’ll also explore the benefits of calling from a computer for your business.
How can I make a phone call from a computer?
Computer-based calling uses your internet to make calls through software rather than traditional phone lines. Here’s how to ensure everything runs smoothly:
- Have a stable internet connection: WiFi is most commonly used for computer calls. However, if you want an even more reliable connection, use Ethernet instead.
- Get your sound equipment ready: You can use your computer’s microphone and speakers. You can also use a wired or wireless Bluetooth headset connected to your computer for calls.
- Sign up for a business phone app: Choose a virtual phone system that lets you make calls from your computer. With a business phone service like Quo, formerly OpenPhone, you can make calls from our desktop app or web app. These services are known as Voice over Internet Protocol, or VoIP, providers.
💡Pro tip: Regular computer calling apps like WhatsApp or FaceTime work fine for personal use, but fall short for businesses. They don’t have features like call routing, shared numbers, or call recording. Plus, they only work when the other person has the same app installed.
How to call someone from a computer with Quo: 3 simple ways
Quo is a business phone system designed to help you scale your customer relationships. Our desktop app lets you manage your conversations where you work. No need to juggle multiple customer interactions on the phone. You can get more done in less time.
After creating your account, you can make calls from your Windows PC or Mac.
Here are three different ways you can make a call with Quo on your computer:
1. Dial a number from the browser or desktop app
You can dial a phone number directly from Quo’s desktop or web app:
- Go to your workspace and look for the call icon.
- Type the phone number you want to call and click the call icon.
2. Select a contact from the desktop or web app
You can call someone already saved in your contacts:
- Open Quo using the desktop or web browser app.
- Go to the contact list in your workspace.
- Find the person you want to call, select their name, and tap the phone icon.
You can also type the person’s name in the search bar and call them from there.
3. Call someone from a conversation thread
You can also call your contacts in an existing conversation:
- Go to the top right-hand corner and press the first icon.
- Launch Quo on your computer and navigate to your messages.
- Find and open the conversation thread with the person you want to call.
3 powerful benefits of making calls from a computer
If you need to make a case for moving your call workflows to a computer, here are three clear perks:
1. Work more efficiently from any device
Making calls from your laptop helps you get a lot more work done while you’re on the phone. While talking to customers, you can:
- Pull up their interaction history including any messages and call transcripts
- Tag teammates for help with a customers’ request
- Access your CRM without switching devices
2. Save money over traditional phone systems
Calling and texting with Quo costs much less per month than traditional phone services. Equally important, you don’t have to pay ongoing maintenance or installation fees. You can start with a low-cost plan and only upgrade when you need more features.
3. Access helpful business features
With a VoIP provider like Quo, multiple team members can share the same phone number. This lets them answer and make calls from the same phone number on their own computers, ensuring your business doesn’t miss any incoming calls.
Here are a few more business features you can get with a provider like Quo:
- Desktop and mobile apps, including macOS, Windows, iOS, and Android
- Custom voicemail greetings
- Automated text messaging, including SMS auto-replies, scheduled messages, and text templates
- Outgoing caller ID
- Conference calling features
How to choose the right app to make calls from a laptop
Overwhelmed by the number of calling apps you can use? Here’s how to choose the right app for making calls from your computer:
1. Evaluate pricing
Your business phone’s pricing should scale with you as you grow. Choose a provider that offers cost-effective per-user pricing with no user minimums. That way, you can get started making calls by yourself or with your team.
2. Test ease of use
Using a business phone shouldn’t have a huge learning curve. Prioritize VoIP services that are easy to use. Give your preferred options a spin by signing up for a trial. See how they perform when you actually call someone from a computer.
3. Look for helpful business features
Don’t limit yourself to finding options that only let you make voice calls from your computer. Identify providers that help you build deeper customer relationships. Prioritize options that offer:
- Third-party integrations with your CRM and workflow automation tools like Zapier
- AI automations like call summaries and transcriptions, call tags, and contact suggestions
- Collaboration features like internal threads and shared inboxes
- Security infrastructure like SOC 2 certification, HIPAA compliance, and data encryption
Start calling from your computer with Quo
The ability to call someone from a computer adds convenience and flexibility to your daily workflow. You no longer have to rely solely on your mobile phone to answer or place calls.
Quo’s calling, texting, and AI-powered automation features ensure you never miss customer calls. You can place a call from your browser or Quo’s desktop app. Easily import your contacts, and with just one click, you’ll be connected.
With access to multiple virtual phone numbers in Quo, you can make calls from different numbers, depending on your business needs. For example, you can have a dedicated number for your sales team and another one for your support team. And you can use all Quo’s features from any device you choose — computer, tablet, or cell phone.
Give Quo a try and see how it can help your business get things done. Sign up for a free trial today.
Frequently asked questions about calling from a computer
A few more popular calling apps are Google Voice, Phone Link, FaceTime, and Dialpad. Here’s what you should know about them:
1. Google Voice: Google Voice’s paid plan, Google Voice for Business, is a popular business VoIP app for Windows and Mac users. While Google Voice doesn’t offer a desktop app, you can access it on most browsers or make calls using its Google Chrome extension.
Google Voice falls short as a business phone provider compared to options like Quo. It doesn’t have third-party integrations outside the Google ecosystem. It also doesn’t have any call-routing features other than ring groups. Plus, you need an additional Google Workspace subscription to use most Google Voice for Business plans.
2. Phone Link: Phone Link is a computer calling app designed for Windows PCs. You can connect both Android and iOS devices to your PC with Phone Link. The biggest drawback to Phone Link is it doesn’t give you access to phone numbers. You have to get a business number separately and connect it to Phone Link. It also lacks key business phone features like shared numbers, CRM integrations, and call recordings.
3. FaceTime: Most people are familiar with Apple’s FaceTime as a way to place audio or video calls from a Mac computer or an iPhone. However, like Microsoft’s Phone Link app, it uses your personal cell phone number. Plus, Android users can’t start FaceTime calls, which might make it hard for some customers to contact your business.
FaceTime doesn’t offer shared numbers, which means your team can’t field calls or texts from the same number. It doesn’t have call forwarding functionality either.
4. Dialpad: Dialpad is a business phone provider designed for contact center teams. It offers teams both voice and video call options. Dialpad falls short as a business calling app because its phone plans force teams to upgrade. It limits texting to 250 messages per user per month. It also limits access to multiple numbers and international calling unless you upgrade to a higher-tier plan.
Quo’s pricing starts at just $15 per user per month and comes with one phone number per user.
Yes, you can make international calls from a computer. If you use Quo, you can enable that number for international calling. Easily add credits that cost a fraction of what you would pay with a cell phone service.
Some VoIP apps support 911 emergency calls, but many don’t because they aren’t linked to a fixed location. Look for a provider that offers E911 support if you want to use it for emergencies.
No. With an app like Quo, all you need is an internet connection. You can make VoIP calls from your computer, smartphone, or tablet — no desk phones or special hardware required.
