In short
Webex is a VoIP service: the Webex App carries meetings and calls as data, and Webex Calling is Cisco's cloud phone system. Users take a Professional or Standard licence, shared phones a Workspace licence. Calls reach the phone network through Cisco Calling Plans, Cloud Connected PSTN or a local gateway. Cisco lists UK data centres in London and Manchester.
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Tell us roughly how many users or sites you have and we will reply by email with options and a quote.
Is Webex a VoIP service?
Yes. Everything in the Webex App, from meetings to messaging to calls, travels over the internet as data, which is what VoIP means. Two Webex users can call each other app to app, just as they join a meeting.
The part most businesses are asking about is Webex Calling, Cisco's cloud phone system. It adds what a business phone system needs:
- Phone numbers and extensions for users, ringing in the Webex App on desktop, mobile and tablet, and on Cisco desk phones
- PBX features such as hunt groups, call queues, auto attendants, voicemail, call park and shared lines
- Connection to the phone network, so users call and receive calls from any landline or mobile
- Control Hub, Cisco's web portal, where administrators manage users, numbers, devices and call flows
So a Webex VoIP phone is simply a Cisco desk phone, or the Webex App, registered to Webex Calling. For the basics of VoIP itself, see what is a VoIP phone system?
Webex Calling licences
Cisco licenses Webex Calling by the type of user or space. From Cisco's licence documentation:
| Licence | Built for | Key points |
|---|---|---|
| Professional (User) | Individual users who need the full feature set | Includes the Webex App soft clients and devices, call recording and the Microsoft Teams integration; a virtual line and group voicemail come with each Professional licence |
| Standard (User) | Users with standard telephony needs | A user has either a physical device or the soft clients, not both; includes call recording and the Teams integration; no AI Assistant for calling |
| Professional (Workspace) | Shared spaces that need professional features | Device endpoints only, with up to five assigned devices sharing the same line |
| Workspace | Common areas such as receptions, corridors and break rooms | A single Cisco phone or analogue adapter; not for individual users |
Cisco notes that moving a user from Professional down to Standard loses their provisioning, so it is worth getting the mix right at the start. We confirm the licences and any add-ons each person and space needs. For prices, ask us for a quote.
Not sure which licence fits? Ask us
Tell us what you need and we will recommend the right licence for your organisation, with a quote.
How Webex VoIP calls reach the phone network
Webex Calling needs a PSTN connection for calls to ordinary numbers. Cisco offers three routes, chosen per location, so different sites in one organisation can use different routes:
| PSTN option | How it works | Often suits |
|---|---|---|
| Cisco Calling Plans | Cisco provides the phone service, with new numbers and port requests handled in Control Hub. The United Kingdom is one of the countries Cisco lists | One supplier for calling and the phone service |
| Cloud Connected PSTN | A calling provider that Cisco has integrated with Webex Calling, selected in Control Hub | A specific provider with no equipment on site |
| Premises-based PSTN (local gateway) | A Cisco gateway, Cisco Unified Border Element or a supported SBC connects Webex Calling to your existing SIP trunks or lines; it can also be partner-hosted | Keeping a carrier or contract, staged moves from an on-premises Cisco system, or analogue devices on site |
Every location also needs a correct emergency address. If you are keeping SIP trunks, see SIP trunk providers on our sister site, and for the general mechanism, how a VoIP phone system works.
Where Webex Calling runs
Cisco delivers Webex Calling from redundant data centres in several regions. Its published list of Webex Calling data centre locations includes London and Manchester in the UK, alongside Amsterdam and Frankfurt elsewhere in Europe. That helps when your data protection review asks where calling services are delivered from.
For organisations that want a dedicated environment, Cisco also offers Webex Calling Dedicated Instance, a separately licensed deployment. And for those still running an on-premises Cisco call manager, a local gateway lets some users stay on the old system while others move to the cloud, so the change can happen in stages. Our PBX vs VoIP explainer sets out the wider choices.
Is Webex Calling the right fit for you?
We will check it against your systems and requirements and recommend the right option.
Webex phones, devices and apps
Webex Calling works across a family of Cisco devices and apps:
- The Webex App on Windows, Mac, iOS, Android and tablets, with calling, messaging and meetings in one place
- Cisco desk phones for individual users and shared spaces, with hot desking on supported devices. See VoIP desk phones
- Cisco collaboration devices for meeting rooms and desks, which can make and take Webex calls. See VoIP conference phones
- Analogue adapters for older phones and devices on a Workspace licence. See VoIP adapters
Cisco's licence documentation also allows supported third-party devices on Standard licences. Handsets can be bought outright or, in some cases, included in your monthly rental, with the options confirmed at quote. Our VoIP handsets for business hub covers the wider choice.
Webex with Microsoft Teams, recording and contact centres
- Microsoft Teams: Cisco's integration lets users place and receive Webex calls from inside the Teams client. It comes with Professional (User) and Standard licences, not Workspace. Compare the two platforms on our sister site's Webex Calling vs Teams page, or read Microsoft Teams VoIP
- Call recording: built in on Professional and Standard licences, with recording set to every call, pause and resume, or on demand. See VoIP call recording
- Contact centre: Webex Calling Customer Assist upgrades call queues with agent and supervisor tools and screen pop, and Webex Contact Center is Cisco's full cloud contact centre
- CRM: integrations through the Webex App and Cisco's App Hub. See VoIP CRM integration
Who Webex VoIP suits
- Organisations that meet in Webex and want calling, messaging and meetings in one app with one sign-in
- Cisco estates, including Cisco networking, Meraki and Cisco collaboration devices, that want calling from the same family
- Organisations moving off an on-premises Cisco call manager that want a staged move to the cloud through a local gateway
- Multi-site and international organisations that want to choose a PSTN option per location
- Microsoft Teams users who prefer Cisco calling, through the Teams integration on Professional and Standard licences
If most of your staff already work in Microsoft 365 all day, compare Webex with Microsoft Teams VoIP. If you want licensing by simultaneous calls rather than per user, look at 3CX VoIP. Our guide to choosing the best VoIP phone system sets out the criteria side by side, and multi-line VoIP phone systems covers several sites on one system.
Webex Calling from a Cisco Partner
Forever Systems is a Cisco Partner, so Webex Calling sits naturally alongside the rest of our Cisco work. Voice quality depends on the network as much as the phone system, and we can look at both together: Cisco Meraki cloud-managed switches with PoE and voice VLANs, Wi-Fi that gives voice priority, and the VoIP QoS settings that keep calls clear.
- Scope. Licence types for each user and space, and the add-ons you need.
- PSTN and numbers. The PSTN option for each location, new numbers and the port of your existing ones.
- Devices. Cisco desk phones, room devices and adapters, provisioned in Control Hub.
- Call flows and integrations. Auto attendants, hunt groups, queues, recording and the Teams integration if you need it.
- Network check, go-live and changes. We check the network is ready for voice, test call flows and train users, and can help with changes afterwards.
Our sister site has more on Webex Calling, and Forever Group's main site covers Cisco VoIP. Contact us for a quote, or to compare Webex with the other platforms we supply.
How Forever Systems helps you choose a VoIP phone system
We supply and support several VoIP platforms, so we can recommend the one that fits how your team takes calls rather than fitting your business around one product.
- Platform advice across hosted 3CX, Microsoft Teams Phone, Webex Calling, Forever UC and Forever Teams, with SIP trunks for phone systems you already own
- A requirements check of your broadband, network and routers before anything goes live
- Numbers and porting: we can help you keep your existing business numbers and plan the move away from analogue and ISDN lines
- Handsets and headsets that suit each platform, bought outright or, in some cases, included in your monthly rental, with the options confirmed at quote
- Set-up and changes: call flows, users and devices configured for you, and help with moves, adds and changes afterwards
- For BT Cloud Voice, see our sister site cloudvoice.cloud, and for hosted and cloud platforms in depth, cloudphone.cloud
We work with businesses, schools, charities and public sector organisations.
Frequently asked questions
Is Webex a VoIP service?
Yes. The Webex App carries meetings, messages and calls over the internet. Webex Calling is Cisco's cloud phone system, which adds numbers, extensions, call queues, auto attendants and voicemail, and connects to the public phone network.
What is the difference between the Webex App and Webex Calling?
The Webex App is the application people use for messaging, meetings and calls. Webex Calling is the cloud phone service behind business calling, licensed per user or space and managed in Control Hub, which gives users phone numbers in the app and on Cisco phones.
Can I keep my phone numbers and carrier with Webex Calling?
Yes. Numbers can usually be ported to Cisco Calling Plans or a Cloud Connected PSTN provider, or you can keep your existing carrier or SIP trunks through a local gateway. Each location uses one option, and different locations can use different ones.
Does Webex Calling work with Microsoft Teams?
Yes. Cisco's Webex Calling integration for Microsoft Teams lets users make and receive Webex calls from the Teams client. It is included with Professional (User) and Standard licences, not with Workspace licences.
Is Webex Calling hosted in the UK?
Cisco delivers Webex Calling from redundant data centres in several regions, and its published list of Webex Calling data centre locations includes London and Manchester. Ask us if you need to confirm data location for a compliance review.
Which phones work with Webex Calling?
Cisco desk phones, Cisco collaboration devices and analogue adapters work with Webex Calling, and Cisco's documentation allows supported third-party devices on Standard licences. Users can also call from the Webex App on desktop, mobile and tablet.
Still have a question about Webex Calling?
Ask us and a member of our team will reply by email.
More VoIP phone system guides
Teams VoIPCalls to landlines and mobiles in Microsoft Teams: licences, PSTN routes and devices.
3CX VoIP3CX as a VoIP PBX: where it runs, the editions, licensing and SIP trunks.VoIP call recordingHow VoIP platforms record calls, which tiers include it and the UK rules.VoIP CRM integrationScreen pop, click to call and automatic call logging from your VoIP phone system.VoIP requirementsBroadband, bandwidth, latency, network, power and devices: the checklist for business VoIP.VoIP handsetsDesk, cordless, conference and Wi-Fi handsets, headsets and adapters, matched to each role.