Compare the Ooma Office desktop, mobile and Chrome apps: Which is best for you?

A great business phone service is all about letting you communicate with customers and partners easily. VoIP phone services take that to the next level, allowing you to communicate when and where you want on a multitude of devices.

Ooma Office is no exception. You can use a traditional business desk phone with advanced features that makes call management easier, but you can also use a variety of apps to make and take phone calls, check voicemails, and even chat.

There’s the Ooma Office desktop app, mobile app and Ooma Office for Google Chrome Extension. But, which one is best for your purposes? And what differences do they have, if any? We’ll break it down to make your business communication even more efficient.

Keep in mind that the Ooma Office Desktop App and other features are contingent on which Ooma Office plan you have. For example, the Desktop App comes with the Ooma Office Pro and Pro Plus plans.

Ooma Office desktop app

The Oome Office desktop app can do a lot, and is designed for small business users who want to take advantage of the best of their VoIP system from the familiarity of their desktop or laptop computer.

The desktop app delivers a long list of features. You can:

• Make and receive phone calls

• Access multiple lines simultaneously

• Conference two calls together for 3-way Calling

• Create, manage and attend Ooma Meeting videoconferencing

• Add personal contacts

• Import contacts and calendars from external services like Google Calendar and Office

• Enable Do Not Disturb

• Send and receive text messages

• Make international calls

• Transfer calls to colleagues’ extensions

• Use call management features like Call Park and Call Flip

• Browse your company directory

• Listen to and manage voicemails

• Send and receive Virtual Faxes

• Check call history

• Manage Ooma Office preferences

The desktop app is best for you in two scenarios. The first is if you don’t need dedicated phone hardware. If you’re a small business, maybe you run out of your own home or you’re trying to minimize costs. It’s perfectly fine to use your laptop or desktop computer as your phone, too.

You can do everything you need to right from the desktop app. Also, if you like to work remotely from cafes or co-working spaces, lugging around a dedicated business phone isn’t ideal. You can handle your calls right where you normally do your work, your laptop.

Ooma Office mobile app

The Ooma Office mobile app for iPhone and Android is perfect for business owners who are on the go. If you want to stay connected with customers and clients while you shuttle between locations, or if you’re a realtor on the way to an open house, it’s a great way to access business phone features from your smartphone.

Here’s what you can do with the Ooma Office mobile app:

• Make and receive phone calls

• Transfer calls to colleagues’ extensions

• Use call management features like Call Park and Call Flip

• Listen to and manage voicemails

• Send and receive text messages

• Manage Ooma Office preferences

• Make international calls

• Enable Do Not Disturb

The mobile app uses both Wi-Fi® and cellular data, so you really can take your business on the go.

If you’re a realtor, a consultant, a field worker, a lawyer who does significant work at court houses, or you just have multiple locations you need to visit, the mobile app is a great way to handle your business.

While it’s not as extensive to use as the desktop app, it is as close as you’re going to get to carrying a big VoIP business phone in your pocket.

Ooma Office for Google Chrome Extension

If you’re busy working in a web browser, the last thing you want to do is leave to check your voicemails, texts and faxes.

Well, with the Ooma Office for Google Chrome Extension, you can do just that. It’s built for business owners and workers who use the Chrome browser to research, gather information or prospect for sales and need to quickly make some calls.

You can do more than just click-to-call though, such as:

• Access and browse company directories

• Listen to and manage voicemails

• Check Virtual Fax logs

• Check call logs and return calls

• Send and receive text and picture messages

• Create personal contacts

• Check upcoming audio conference details

• Manage Ooma Office preferences

There is one major thing you can’t do with the Chrome Extension—receive calls.

Ooma Office your way

No matter which way you need to use Ooma Office to take care of your business, it’s got your back. You can use the desktop app on your computer to take videoconferences, use the mobile app to separate your business from your personal calls while you’re on the go, or even quickly call that number for that potential new client when browsing in Chrome.