Separate work and personal calls with iPlum business phone line

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iPlum is an app that provides a separate phone number on your mobile phone.

Platforms: iOS and Android
Ideal For: Small agencies and teams; agents with international clients

Top selling points

• Fast setup
• Affordable international calling
• Cloud console for management of multiple users
• Can be used on tablets

Top concerns

• Additional charge per minute for data above standard data plan costs

What you should know

iPlum allows users to set up an additional phone line on their mobile phone; this is the second of such apps I’ve reviewed (Flyp is another), and I expect it won’t be the last.

The app’s developers have extensive experience in corporate and entrepreneurial telecommunications, as well as in mobile data security protocols.

Users have the option of a new number within any area code across the country. iPlum also comes with a browser-based dashboard to review calls, messages, settings and in the case of teams, monitor user activity.

All the features of your standard iPhone or Android phone are present, such as custom greetings, voicemail, texting, conference calling, speaker phone and Bluetooth connectivity.

Calls on iPlum count against your data plan and cost $0.01/minute. Each line is $1/month.

iPlum doesn’t use forwarding; recipients will see your business line number on their caller ID.

Brokers in small agencies can use iPlum to affordably set up a business phone system. Account management features allow administrators to view minutes called and text volume per number, as well as associated costs.

Account managers do not have access to each number’s text or voicemail content.

The app is available in more than 23 languages, and international calling averages $0.02/minute to many common overseas locales. iPlum can be used to text or call from anywhere in the world.

I find apps like this to be valuable bolt-on business tools that can help new or small-office agents establish a reputable presence within the market. It can also help small firms avoid the costs involved with traditional call systems.

Have a technology product you would like to discuss? Email Craig Rowe.