Optus Loop Live brings your old business phone into the future

Many Australian homes now forgo landline phones in favour of mobiles, but Aussie businesses still feel the need to keep traditional phone services active to connect, despite everyone in their team owning a smartphone. This means more phones to answer, more phone numbers to manage, and that someone needs to be chained to their desk in anticipation of incoming calls.

For someone like me who has worked online for over a decade, the idea of a business landline seems like an antiquated expense for any small business. Not just in the cost of the service but in the man power you need to allocate to it.

To overcome this, Optus has launched its Loop Live service, and it seems like a solid tech-first solution to this dilemma. You keep a landline number for your customer’s dial but answer all incoming calls on your smartphone. Plus, it comes with a bunch of other important communication tools, like text and video, all rolled up into a single app and for a single $50 per month subscription service fee.

Here's how it works:

1. Your customer dials your business number and the call is answered by a virtual assistant.

2. The customer is directed to choose a recipient for the call, ie: press 1 for sales, press 2 for support, etc.

3. The call is diverted to the Loop Live number of the right person on your team. If they can't take the call, Loop Live uses its 'smart call hunting' feature to divert the call to the next best person.

The virtual assistant uses sophisticated text-to-speech technology, so you don't need to worry about boring robotic-sounding messages. You simply enter what you want your customers to hear, and the assistant software will say exactly this. When you need to adjust your greetings, you log into your account and make the changes.

The Loop Live account portal is easy to use and is one of the best parts of the Loop Live service. Traditional Phone systems are often difficult to change, and costly if you need to get a phone technician to help. We found that making similar changes in Loop Live was fast and simple to learn.

More than calls

Loop Live is not only a great way to communicate with new and existing customers, but you should find it becomes an essential tool for your team to stay in touch and collaborate as well. You can use Loop Live to instant message team members, call them, or if you prefer face-to-face conversations, the Loop Live app also includes video conferencing similar to Skype and FaceTime.

The app is available for both Apple iOS and Google Android operating systems, so it'll work on almost all compatible smartphones. If you prefer video calls on your desktop or want to share your screen, you can access Loop Live on PCs and Macs through your web browser. It's worth noting that you still need to have your smartphone handy as you'll be sent an SMS to verify logins on a computer to keep the system safe.

Loop Live is also a great time and money saver when your team travels overseas. When you're abroad, the Loop Live app uses an internet connection to make and receive calls, so you don't need to pay roaming phone and data costs. This is great news for anyone who has been stung by a shocking phone bill after returning home from a business trip.

Who is Loop Live for?

Primarily Loop Live is designed with small businesses in mind. It would be especially good for teams without an office that your team works from together. A landline business number gives customers a single touch point for your team even if there is no central location that your team works from.

It's also a great option for solopreneurs who don't want to set up a second phone line at home, or who will be on the road too often to make use of a landline. You don't need a team of people for Loop Live to make your work life simpler. At $50 per month per user subscription fee, it isn't a cost that will weigh heavily on the balance sheet of a growing business.

For me, I love that all these key communication features and tools are found in a single platform. Rather than using Skype for video, Slack for text messaging, the standard phone dialler for calls, and multiple overseas SIM cards when travelling, you get everything you need in one place.

Loop Live can be used on any mobile network, but if you’re an Optus customer you get the extra benefit of not having data used by the Loop Live app count against your monthly data allowance.

Loop Live is a subscription with lock-in contract, and if you’re keen to try it out, Optus is currently running a first month free trial offer for new business customers with a valid ABN.

WhistleOut has partnered with Optus to share this information about Loop Live with you.

Joseph Hanlon

Editorial Director | X | LinkedIn

Joe Hanlon has been immersed in mobile phones, plans and the internet for over a decade, having written for publications like CNET, Techradar, Gizmodo and Lifehacker. He steers the editorial ship and makes sure that we are always serving up the most useful guides and recommendations. If you ever bump into Joe on the street, don't be afraid to ask for a phone recommendation. It's embarrassing how much he enjoys talking about this stuff. He also loves listening to podcasts, so feel free to email Joe with recommendations.

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