Business phone systems and VoIP: guides from the team that installs them
Atom IP designs, installs and supports cloud phone systems for UK businesses — cloud handsets, softphones, mobile apps and Microsoft Teams calling, with number porting handled end to end. These guides are what we tell customers before they sign anything.
Reliable business phone systems, without the tie-in you regret.
Move from an ageing PBX or an unresponsive provider to a cloud phone system that fits how your business actually runs. Cloud handsets, softphones, mobile apps and Microsoft Teams calling — configured properly, supported by people who pick up.
- One number plan. Route calls across offices, home working and mobiles without confusion.
- Ready for the PSTN switch-off. All-IP calling on connectivity we understand and can support.
- Fast changes. Menus, hunt groups and out-of-hours schedules updated by real engineers, not tickets in a queue.
- Call intelligence built in. Optional Atom Insight adds recording, transcripts, summaries and coaching.
- Cloud VoIP with UK-hosted platforms
- Handsets, headsets and softphones
- Mobile apps for iOS and Android
- Microsoft Teams calling integration
- Auto-attendants, hunt groups, call queues
- Voicemail-to-email and SMS handling
- Call recording and retention
- Business continuity call routing
- Number porting from any UK provider
- CRM click-to-dial integrations
Full service detail, pricing structure and FAQs on the main page.
Business phone systemsThe three guides most phone system buyers read first
Cost, choosing a system and switching without losing your numbers. Read these and you will ask any provider, including us, better questions.
How Much Does a Business Phone System Cost in the UK?
A plain-English guide to what UK businesses actually pay for a cloud phone system, what is included per user, what is extra, how to compare two quotes, and what changes the figure for recruitment agencies and other phone-heavy teams.
The Best Business Phone System for Small Businesses in the UK (2026 Guide)
A practical, no-nonsense buyer's guide to choosing a cloud phone system for a UK small business — features, prices, red flags and the questions to ask before you sign anything.
Switching Your Business Phone Provider: The Complete UK Checklist
Everything you need to know before switching your UK business phone provider — timing, number porting, contract exits, notice periods, and the traps to avoid.
Business phone system guides, grouped by what you are trying to decide
Costs and choosing a business phone system
What a cloud phone system costs, how to compare quotes and how long a change really takes.
How Much Does a Business Phone System Cost in the UK?
A plain-English guide to what UK businesses actually pay for a cloud phone system, what is included per user, what is extra, how to compare two quotes, and what changes the figure for recruitment agencies and other phone-heavy teams.
The Best Business Phone System for Small Businesses in the UK (2026 Guide)
A practical, no-nonsense buyer's guide to choosing a cloud phone system for a UK small business — features, prices, red flags and the questions to ask before you sign anything.
How Long Does a Business Phone System Change Actually Take?
From first call to fully-cutover, what a realistic UK business phone-system migration timeline looks like.
Switching provider and keeping your numbers
Porting, notice periods, the PSTN switch-off and the traps to avoid when you move.
Switching Your Business Phone Provider: The Complete UK Checklist
Everything you need to know before switching your UK business phone provider — timing, number porting, contract exits, notice periods, and the traps to avoid.
Can You Keep Your Business Telephone Number When Switching Provider?
The short answer is almost always yes. The longer answer is worth understanding before you sign anything new.
The PSTN Switch-Off: What Hampshire Businesses Need to Do Now
BT is retiring the analogue phone network. Here’s what Southampton, Portsmouth, Winchester and Fareham businesses should do before the deadline.
Microsoft Teams, SIP trunking and how VoIP works
The technical choices behind a modern phone system, explained without the jargon.
Microsoft Teams Phone and Direct Routing for UK Business: A 2026 Guide
Everything UK businesses need to know about Microsoft Teams Phone, direct routing, Teams calling and using Teams as a business phone system in 2026 — pricing, features, limitations, and integration with cloud VoIP.
SIP Trunking vs Hosted VoIP: Which Business Phone System Approach Is Right?
A UK buyer's guide to SIP trunking, hosted VoIP, hosted PBX and cloud phone systems in 2026 — technical differences, prices, pros, cons and how to choose the right business phone system for your company.
What Happens to VoIP Phones When the Internet Goes Down?
The honest answer to the question every business owner asks before moving to cloud telephony.
Local guides: Southampton, Hampshire and the South Coast
Buyer guides for the towns and cities our engineers cover on site.
Business Phone Systems in Southampton: A 2025 Buyer’s Guide
Everything a Southampton SME should consider before choosing a new business phone system — from local FTTP availability to porting risks.
Business Phone Systems in Hampshire: VoIP, Hosted PBX and the 2026 Buyer's Guide
A Hampshire buyer's guide to business phone systems in 2026 — cloud phone systems, hosted VoIP, hosted PBX, SIP trunking, Microsoft Teams calling and the PSTN switch-off — with local pricing and installer coverage.
Portsmouth Business Phone Systems and Broadband: The 2026 Local Guide
Portsmouth business phone systems, cloud VoIP, hosted PBX, business broadband and leased lines — 2026 pricing, PO1–PO6 coverage, and the PSTN switch-off timeline for Portsmouth companies.
Basingstoke Business Phone System, VoIP and Broadband: A 2026 Buyer's Guide
Basingstoke business phone system and business broadband options in 2026 — cloud VoIP, hosted PBX, SIP trunking, Microsoft Teams calling, business FTTP and leased lines across RG21–RG29.
Call recording, compliance and CRM integration
What you can record, how long you can keep it, and how calls land in your CRM automatically.
Call Recording in the UK: Compliance and Best Practice
What UK businesses can and cannot record, how long they can keep it, and what to tell callers.
Recruitment CRM Call Logging: How Calls Get Into Bullhorn, Vincere and Your CRM
Click-to-dial, screen-pop, automatic call logging and AI call notes are four different things. This guide explains how each works with a recruitment CRM, how calls are matched to candidates and clients, and what to check before you buy a phone system that "integrates".
Rather talk it through than read it?
Tell us how many people need a phone, where they work and what you have now. We will come back with a straight answer on options and cost.
How a business phone system project runs with Atom IP
Review
We look at your current bill, contract, call flow and pain points.
Design
We propose a phone plan built around how your team actually works.
Migrate
We port numbers, configure handsets and go live with zero downtime.
Support
A named team you can reach directly for changes and issues.
What Atom IP customers say
“Good guys — worked with them to switch over from a previous very good supplier. They have gone above and beyond to understand our needs and bespoke systems to help support our specific needs. Transition over on getting their systems up and running was smooth. As a small business owner, trust and confidence are important to me.”
“We have been using Josh at Atom for a few years now. Service has always been amazing. Just today our router blew up due to a power surge and he came out promptly with a new one to make sure we were back online in time for trading. Would highly recommend.”
“There aren’t many telecom providers that can be described as truly honest and straightforward. Georgia was very well spoken and made me feel my company was in the right hands. Ollie and Josh responded promptly throughout getting my phones and security systems set up. The install was seamless with no drop in connectivity and no technical issues since.”
Business phone system FAQs
Short answers here. The guides above go into detail, and an engineer will answer anything specific to your building or team.
Get a business phone system quote from the team that installs it
Tell us roughly how many users, how many sites and what you run today. You will hear back from an engineer, not a sales script, within one working day.
- Keep your existing numbers, ported from any UK provider
- Desk phones, laptop softphones and mobile apps on one number plan
- Southampton engineers, on site across Hampshire, remote UK-wide
Phone systems alongside the rest of your setup
A phone system only works as well as the broadband under it and the contract around it. These are the pages buyers read next.
Solutions
All solutionsLocations
All locations- Southampton, HampshireBusiness phones, broadband and IT in Southampton
- Portsmouth, HampshireBusiness phones, broadband and IT in Portsmouth
- Winchester, HampshireBusiness phones, broadband and IT in Winchester
- Bournemouth, DorsetBusiness phones, broadband and IT in Bournemouth
- Basingstoke, HampshireBusiness phones, broadband and IT in Basingstoke
- Reading, BerkshireBusiness phones, broadband and IT in Reading
- LondonBusiness phones, broadband and IT in London
- Guildford, SurreyBusiness phones, broadband and IT in Guildford
For recruitment agencies
Recruitment hub- 50+ seat agenciesTelephony, connectivity and call intelligence for larger UK recruitment groups — governance, SLAs, phased migration, security review and consolidated reporting.
- Bullhorn integrationBullhorn telephony integration for UK agencies: click-to-dial from any Bullhorn record, inbound screen-pop, automatic call logging as Notes, call recording links and AI call notes. Confirmed against your own tenant.
- Vincere integrationVincere phone integration: click-to-dial from Candidate and Contact records, screen-pop, automatic call logging as Vincere activities, call recording links and AI call summaries for UK recruitment agencies.
- Call recording & UK GDPRHow UK recruitment agencies should handle call recording: lawful basis, transparency, retention, access control and subject access requests. Practical, not theoretical.
- Wallboards & analyticsLive wallboards and call analytics for recruitment desks — the activity metrics worth tracking, how to source them accurately, and how to coach with them.