FMC vs VoIP: Which Is Right for Your Business?
Native dialler or app-based calling? The right choice depends on how your team works. Here's what you need to know before committing.
The Short Version
If your team is mobile-first — field workers, hybrid staff, sales teams, or anyone who spends more time out of the office than at a desk — FMC is the better choice. It uses your phone's native dialler, works without a data connection, and requires zero behaviour change from your employees.
If your team is desk-based and you need integrated messaging, video conferencing, and collaboration tools alongside calling, VoIP/UCaaS platforms like RingCentral, 8x8, or Microsoft Teams Phone are purpose-built for that workflow.
The critical insight most providers won't tell you: research shows fewer than 5% of employees consistently use app-based calling when given the choice. People default to their phone's native dialler. FMC works with this behaviour instead of fighting against it.
3 Key Takeaways
FMC Works Without Data
FMC calls use the mobile voice network, not data. Your team can make and receive business calls in areas where VoIP would fail — poor WiFi, underground, rural areas, or congested networks.
Less Than 5% App Compliance
Research consistently shows fewer than 5% of employees use app-based calling tools as intended. FMC eliminates this problem — there's no app to forget, no login to remember, no behaviour change required.
Zero Battery Drain
VoIP apps run in the background consuming battery and data. FMC uses your phone's native dialler — the same one you'd use for any call — so there's no additional battery impact whatsoever.
FMC vs VoIP: Side-by-Side
How native dialler FMC compares to app-based VoIP and UCaaS solutions
| Feature | FMC (Native Dialler) | VoIP / UCaaS (App-Based) |
|---|---|---|
| Call Technology | Native dialler (circuit-switched) | App-based (data/internet) |
| Data Connection Required | No — works on voice signal alone | Yes — needs WiFi or 4G/5G data |
| Battery Impact | None — uses standard phone dialler | High — app runs in background |
| User Adoption / Learning Curve | Zero — users dial as normal | Training required — new app & interface |
| Employee Compliance (<5% insight) | High — no behaviour change needed | Low — less than 5% consistently use apps |
| Call Quality | Carrier-grade HD voice | Variable — depends on data connection |
| Works in Low Signal Areas | Yes — voice needs less bandwidth | No — drops or degrades without data |
| Call Recording & Compliance | Built-in via PBX integration | Requires app-level recording setup |
| Business Caller ID | Yes — native to the SIM | Yes — via app configuration |
| PBX Integration | Direct SIM-to-PBX routing | SIP trunk or API integration |
| Ideal For | Field workers, mobile-first, BYOD, hybrid | Desk-based teams, contact centres |
When VoIP Makes Sense
VoIP and UCaaS platforms are excellent for desk-based teams who work primarily from a computer. If your staff spend their day at a desk with reliable WiFi, a unified app that combines calling, messaging, video, and file sharing is genuinely useful.
The ideal VoIP user profile:
- Works from a desk with reliable internet
- Needs video conferencing and screen sharing
- Contact centre agents handling high call volumes
- Teams already embedded in a collaboration platform
When FMC Makes Sense
FMC is built for mobile-first teams — anyone who needs business calling features but isn't tied to a desk. It works with how people actually use their phones, not against it.
The ideal FMC user profile:
- Field workers, engineers, delivery teams
- Sales teams constantly on the move
- BYOD environments where you can't mandate apps
- Hybrid workers splitting time between office and remote
- Any team where app adoption has already failed
How IQ Mobile FMC Works
IQ Mobile provides FMC SIMs on the EE network — the UK's largest mobile network. Insert the SIM, and your phone's native dialler gains full PBX functionality: business caller ID, call routing, hunt groups, voicemail, call recording, and more.
Unlike competitors locked to a single PBX platform, IQ Mobile is PBX-agnostic — it works with Asterisk, Broadsoft, 3CX, FreeSWITCH, and many more. If you already have a phone system, our FMC SIMs integrate with it.
FMC vs VoIP: Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about choosing between FMC and VoIP