Fixed Mobile Convergence (FMC): What Is It, & How Does It Help?

FMC is the abbreviation of “Fixed Mobile Convergence”, which is a concept that changes the rules in the world of communications by seamlessly integrating mobile devices with traditional office phone systems. In simple terms, FMC unites two different and typically isolated areas of communication: Fixed (an older on-premise phone system) and mobile (smartphones or softphones app) communications.

Businesses and organizations that have the need to improve their communication are enabled by a FMC-focused VoIP phone system to create an environment where employees can use their mobile phones much like they would a desk phone, whether in-office, homeworking, or on-the-move. This ensures seamless handovers across mobile and landline networks, with no dropped calls or shift in user experience. FMC is further enhanced when the VoIP phone system can integrate seamlessly with 3rd-party solutions like CRMs, ChMS systems for churches, and workflow automation or archival solutions.

Intulse has been doing all of this for years, and takes FMC to the next level, making it not only possible, but easy for churches, agencies, and businesses to integrate mobile and office communications. Here are some ways in which Intulse can help make Fixed Mobile Convergence work for you.

1. Simplified Call Handling Across Devices

The big benefits of FMC are that staff no longer have to juggle around with a multitude of different devices or even phone numbers. With Intulse, calls can be transitioned seamlessly between the desktop phone and mobile. This would involve starting a call on the desk phone and continuing it on the mobile device without interruption when they need to leave the office.

With the easy-to-use interface of Intulse, you can park and bridge calls across all your devices and set up preferences so no important communication goes unheard. Because Intulse makes communication over devices so seamless and clear, you don’t need to spend time pondering how you could have missed a call or juggle a bunch of different systems.

2. Better Mobility for a Remote Workforce

With more and more people working from home, there is a need to make sure people stay connected no matter where they are. Intulse leverages FMC to ensure that staff can access all of their communication tools from mobile devices, and in one app. Whether they’re at home, a café, or even traveling, answering calls and joining video meetings – all the same features Intulse clients have at their desk – are accessible.

Breaking down the barrier between mobile and landline communication allows staff to be mobile without sacrificing functionality. For a field team or a remote worker, that level of flexibility is a game-changer. The Intulse Apps, which is compatible with most major mobile devices, makes communication with colleagues or clients as easy as picking up the phone, no matter where in the world you are.

3. Enhanced Call Continuity

Ever have to leave your desk in the middle of an important call? With traditional systems, this may mean hanging up and calling someone back. A flexible VoIP phone system designed around FMC allows for seamless transitioning of calls between your desk phone and your mobile device, as well as from mobile networks to Wi-Fi. Simply park the call momentarily on one device and pick it up on the other. If you want something even easier, if you’re already calling on a mobile device you can literally just get up and go.

This is what is called “call continuity,” and that means you can continue the conversation without any break, while changing locations or networks. This is particularly useful in the case of staff who want to remain connected when commuting, moving between different meetings, or when Wi-Fi connectivity changes. Intulse’s VoIP technology eliminates frustrating dropped calls and interruptions that come with mobility.

4. Unified Communications Features

FMC is sort of the realization of UCaaS, or unified communications as a service, connecting all services to a personal mobile device. That means that all of the tools you need to fully communicate, whether it’s phone, SMS text, faxing, even video meetings – it’s all wrapped up in one easy solution. The Intulse VoIP system offers all the UCaaS features with mobile and desk devices, including voicemail, conferencing, call forwarding, instant messaging, and even screen sharing.

For example, a staff member can join a conference call while on his or her mobile phone while on the road and then return to the office, continuing on the desk phone or desktop computer. One can even access voicemail, share files, and conduct almost all collaboration with fellow team members using the Intulse App on a mobile device.

With today’s fast pace and low tolerance for delays, people usually have to operate several communication channels all at once. By putting all tools for communication in a single place, Intulse helps businesses create an all-encompassing and consistent communication experience across all devices.

5. Cost-Effective Communication

Intulse provides a seamless, direct way to achieve Fixed Mobile Convergence. Traditional phone systems require subscribing to many services, installing hardware on-site, and paying ongoing maintenance costs. By removing the need for companies to invest separately in both mobile and desk phone systems, the concept of FMC saves them money on hardware and operational expenses.

Since Intulse is a cloud-based VoIP system, this means that the need for expensive landline services isn’t necessary because calls are made over the internet. This cuts calling costs, and by integrating other communication tools like SMS texting, faxing, and video meetings into one app the works on almost any system, the need for other 3rd party software goes away. Merging mobile and fixed communications into one seamless system helps minimize redundant costs while enhancing functionality.

Besides that, the elasticity of a cloud-based system like Intulse lets businesses and organizations grow at their own pace without needing to dismantle expensive infrastructure but simply scale their communication needs. If you need another phone or another extension for a new staff member, you can add that in just a few minutes.

6. Improved Security and Reliability

A good FMC UCaaS solution like Intulse puts security first. While businesses and organizations are integrating mobile devices with their communications system, it is quite critical to make certain that data remains secure. Intulse provides encryption, secure authentication, and network security protocols to help safeguard your business communications.

An additional layer of security is one beyond the technology, especially for organizations like churches or businesses like insurance agencies. That layer one which liberates employees from using their personal mobile numbers or services, which may easily be breached for security. In place, they will be using the same secured infrastructure, like your office phone system, in order to make calls, send messages, or even transfer data well guarded against unauthorized access. Beyond that, the level of accountability that can be achieved is fantastic as calls placed through the system whether on desk phones or through the Intulse App are logged. When integrated with a CRM, or a ChMS for churches, call logs and call recordings can be stored and linked in each caller’s unique record within that system using the Intulse App’s integration.

Another strong advantage of Fixed Mobile Convergence with Intulse is that it’s highly reliable. Because Intulse is cloud-based, you will never have to worry about downtime due to hardware issues, including your internet access. Even when there are problems in your physical office network, the communications system will continue running. That level of redundancy lets employees stay connected no matter what.

7. Seamless Integration with CRM and Business Tools

An ideal FMC VoIP solution does not simply bridge your mobile and office phones but should also integrate with your other business tools, such as CRM systems, email, and team collaboration apps. Ideally a staff member who receives an incoming call will be able to view information about the customer, previous interactions, and important notes from their CRM directly on their mobile devices or at their desks.

This level of integration enhances customer interactions, as staff could always give one-on-one attention to the person they’re serving, rather than having to switch between devices or burrow for something. Moreover, this improves efficiency because personnel can access the needed data to make intelligent decisions and communicate properly.

With Intulse, we integrate with many different 3rd-party tools like popular CRM systems, such as SalesForce, Hubspot, and others. We also integrate with other archival and automation tools like Zapier, Smarsh, and Global Relay. These integrations are not just surface level, such as adding click-to-call functionality within a CRM (unlike most others). Our integrations are designed to simplify post-call processes, like taking call notes and adding them into a caller’s record in the CRM, storing call recordings automatically, or even just logging calls and texts into a CRM record or archival solution used to meet regulatory compliance needs. Long story short, we did not want our solution to be an expensive, surface-level solution that simply helps with mobile communication but instead a solution that solves practical organizational and operational challenges.

8. Customization and Scalability

All businesses have different needs for communication, and the concept of a FMC solution is that it should be highly customizable and scalable as your organization needs to grow. Whether one needs basic call forwarding between mobile and desk phones within a small business or involves more advanced features like analytics, conference calls, and CRM integrations in a large company, Intulse can provide the system with all the company’s specific requirements.

If you are still using a physical, on-premise phone system then moving to a FMC-focused, UCaaS VoIP phone solution is going to shift the paradigm for you. You are likely used to ordering physical phones, or know that at some point you will need other hardware or a major system upgrade because you cannot add any more devices to your current system. The FMC concept removes those barriers and limitations.

With Intulse, your phone system can grow at the speed of your business without major effort or significant increases in cost. You can easily scale up with Intulse by adding users and/or features easily without extra installation of hardware or drastic adjustments in the infrastructure. The best part? All of that can be done in just a few minutes.

9. A Modern Solution for Modern Communication Needs

The workplace has changed dramatically in the last few years, and mobility and flexibility have picked up tremendous momentum as a driver of success. Employees are not desk-bound anymore and customers demand quick, responsive service regardless of their geographic location. A solution that incorporates the concept of Fixed Mobile Convergence enables organizations to cope with such unprecedented challenges through a single, unified communication system across any device and network.

Intulse makes it easy to adopt this new wave of communication by offering FMC on top of its solid VoIP platform for a truly seamless experience. By offering unified communications, cost savings, security, and enhanced mobility, Intulse offers a complete bundle for any organization seeking to simplify and modernize their internal systems.

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If you are interested we can help implement the reality of Fixed Mobile Convergence to keep you connected, flexible, and competitive within today’s fast-moving environment. Whether at home, in the office, or anywhere in between, means your communication system works where and when you do. Contact us for a demo!