There’s an enormous business advantage in opening the doors of your business to customers outside the country. However, to sustain the global expansion of your business, you'll need to establish a stable line of communication between you and your customers overseas. Having the right tools—both reliable and affordable—will be indispensable for success.

Outdated modes of communication such as long-distance telephone calls are no longer the way to go. Overseas phone calls can quickly rack up long-distance charges as well as per-minute costs, so if you're looking to expand your business abroad, the expense might exceed the profits.

This is where international Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) calling comes in.

What is international VoIP calling?

VoIP is a communications technology which allows you to make voice calls over the Internet instead of landline or cellular networks.

Most virtual phone systems offer VoIP calling, but they typically only support domestic calls within the U.S. If you want to introduce your business to other countries, you’ll need a provider with the capacity for international VoIP calling.

Here are some reasons why international VoIP calling is better than making overseas landline calls:

• Less expensive. Since you’re making international calls via your internet provider, you’re essentially bypassing exorbitant phone company charges for international landline calls. VoIP providers also charge lower per-minute rates for overseas calls.
• More features. Taking your calls online means more features are available to you such as conference calling, chat, video calling, and more. This opens up more ways to communicate with your customers than just a regular two-person voice call.
• Quality. The quality of VoIP calls is the same as that of long-distance landline calls—and maybe even better, especially with a strong Internet connection.
• Flexibility. An international VoIP calling phone service doesn’t require you to be at your desk to talk to clients. You can make and receive calls from anywhere with an Internet connection.

What are the benefits of international VoIP calling for businesses?

Follow the trajectory of your business

Growing your audience organically via word of mouth can be very powerful. However, you can’t always control the path good news will take! For all you know, the next interested customer might be halfway across the world.

If word-of-mouth marketing happens to bring in customers from overseas, then your business should be equipped to welcome this opportunity. International VoIP calling can help you connect with customers around the world in an easy, cost-effective way, making it a critical part of your communication strategy.

Another market to tap into

If you’ve established a toehold into the international market, you’ll need tools to make it easier for customers around the globe to contact you and ensure continuity in your business.

Having international VoIP calling enabled can help you create and nurture loyal customers wherever they may come from.

Wider hiring opportunities

We live in an increasingly digital world where remote work is becoming the norm. We’re no longer limited to hiring employees within our immediate vicinity. If you are looking to expand into another market and grow your team, being able to make international calls will allow you to widen your search to foreign candidates as well as homegrown talent.

This is helpful especially if some of your business functions are supported by a team in a different region or if you require employees from different time zones.

Try international business calling with Grasshopper

International VoIP calling is just one of the many next-level features available to your business through Grasshopper—and another way our virtual phone system goes above and beyond to meet the unique needs of small businesses everywhere.

How to enable international Wi-Fi calling

Grasshopper provides VoIP and Wi-Fi calling for your smartphone or desktop.

Wi-Fi calling is automatically enabled for domestic calls. Also, all Grasshopper accounts can receive incoming calls from countries outside the US. However, you’ll have to enable international calling on your account before you can ring up numbers abroad.

International calling is disabled by default on all accounts to prevent fraudulent and unauthorized use. Contact Grasshopper's 24/7 customer support to enable international calling on your account.

Countries supported by international calling

We cover 52 countries around the world! For a list of countries supported by Grasshopper international calling, you can refer to our International Rates page. Incoming and outgoing international calls may incur extra fees as per the rates mentioned.

Connect with the world

Break down the borders of your business with Grasshopper’s international VoIP calling feature—connect with your callers, customers, and possibly even new talent all over the globe.

All in all, it’s a dynamic addition to your arsenal of communication tools as you prepare to take your business to the next level.

Experience Grasshopper’s main features for yourself—try it free for 7 days!