Since immemorial communication has been an integral fraction of our life and will continue to be so. With an increase in globalisation and constant boost in world economy, communication has become a high priority area. As a result the selection of an appropriate channel of communication is one of the most critical decisions to be taken by an organisation looking at a long and successful run. Up until now public switch telephony network was the in monopoly. However with changing times, internet has provided us with an extremely beneficial alternative to it, namely VoIP.
Understanding The Working Of VoIP
VoIP or voice over internet protocol is a technology that works through internet. Unlike PSTN (public switch telephony network), voice over IP converts voice which is analog signal format into small sized digital IP packets and terminates it via Internet to the final destination or receiver. Before reaching the final destination these shrimp digital IP packets are reconverted into analog signals i.e. your voice.
The number of people deploying VoIP call termination service is constantly rising with no sign whatsoever of slowing down. This is chiefly due to the numerous benefits of this proper service. Let us have a eye at how this service can help us gain.
Advantages Of VoIP Services:-
Cost Deduction – VoIP helps in tremendously cutting down the cost of calling as compared to PSTN. You can end up saving over 40% for every call made through this service.
Efficiency- Announce over IP services works on packet switching instead of circuit switching technology thereby increasing the overall efficiency which has a advise impact on the productivity which too rises.
Flexibility – One of the major benefits of using this turn key technology is that you can get VoIP calls from across the globe irrespective of the network from where you are connected to.
Convergence- VoIP allows convergence of notify, data and video through a single network i.e. Internet. This proves to be advantageous for virtual workers or even while you are traveling.
More Features Functionality - With instruct over internet protocol, you get multifarious features with your telephony which are either not possible through PSTN or you are charged heavily for it. For instance, call forwarding, 3 way calling et cetera.
Disadvantages Of VoIP
Till a few years relieve VoIP was a technology almost unheard of and the only people who knew about it were either the IT professionals or the so called technology geeks. Even with number of advantages that voice over IP bestows upon us, it wasn’t given preference by the users. This was chiefly due to its quality. Jitters and fraudulent billing were some of the common issues that disappointed the users. Over a period of time constant improvement in the technology and awareness about its advantages has changed the entire scenario with most of the corporates and residentials switching over to VoIP service.
Impact Of IP Telephony On Business
Corporates from all sectors of the industry have acknowledged the golden points offered by IP telephony and this is precisely why they have started slowly but consistently bewitching towards deploying this service. A business irrespective of its size and area of expertise can successfully and profitably switch over to this service.
With the support of VoIP solutions and services business houses can substantially increase their revenue as well the productivity of the organisation. Gone are the days when PBX was used in organisations. Its place has now been taken over by VoIP PBX. It enables inter and intra office calls to be made at running cost. One can only imagine the savings that it leads to not to mention the rise in the efficiency of functions.
All said and done, no one can challenge the fact that VoIP is back and this time to stop. It won’t be too long before all of us would be making cheap calls across the globe with a smile on our face.
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Filed under Small Business Pbx by on Sep 5th, 2011. 
For a business that is objective starting out and has a limited budget, an Internet-based phone system will save money, provide maximum flexibility and make a grand first impression on customers. In the past, businesses that have wanted a sophisticated phone system have had to spend thousands of dollars to purchase and install hardware, only to be locked into equipment that fast becomes obsolete. By using an Internet-based phone system (sometimes called a virtual pbx) the business owner can be up and running within minutes for very little upfront cost, and will always have the most up-to-date technology at his or her disposal.
There are many companies that offer Internet-hosted phone systems. In choosing one, you will want to contemplate the features offered, any set-up charges (which are typically less than $100), the monthly account charge, and any charges for calls made and received. If you already have a phone number, you will want to check if it can be ‘ported’, or transferred to the current provider. Most companies offer both toll-free numbers and local phone, so if you are getting a new number, you’ll need to choose. You may also want to check if you will own the number, which will allow you to transfer to a different provider in the future.
The central feature of a hosted phone system is the auto attendant. When callers dial your number, the auto attendant will answer the call and display a list of extensions and other options. In addition to listing available extensions, many auto attendants include dial-by-name capability. Once the caller chooses an extension, the auto attendant will either send the caller directly to content mail or else ring one or more physical numbers for a set amount of time before sending unanswered calls to voice mail. It is up to you to program the attendant to follow the sequence of actions you wish, and this can vary by extension, time of day, and day of the week. The proper phone can be located anywhere – in your office, across town, or in another county.
Although a hosted phone system can be position up using standard phone lines, the most flexibility and cost savings are achieved when you use the system with VoIP phone lines (calls are transmitted via the Internet), and IP phones designed to plug directly into your local area network. While this will increase your initial cost, it is well worth the investment.
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Filed under Small Business Pbx by on Mar 6th, 2011.
When I was a stock broker back in the late 1990s my firm was as busy as could be and one of the necessary tools that we had to have in place in order to compete was an 800 number. There is a wide misconception that having an 800 number means that you have to have all sorts of sophisticated equipment and pay an absurd amount of money every month for the luxury. Additionally it is conception that you have to also sign a contract locking you in whether you use the 800 number or not.
While that may have been true in the past, it is no longer true today thanks to the advent of virtual 800 number services. Now it is possible for your small business to have all the advantages of a big business only without the costs and headaches.
There are several different virtual 800 number services that you can settle from and some of the more well known in the industry are companies such as RingCentral and Grasshopper, but for the most part they all provide the same services. Basically what happens is that you either have an 800 number assigned to you or you can pay a little more for a vanity number (such as 800-DOG-FOOD) and then the virtual 800 number service acts as your switch board.
When a potential customer calls your 800 number that call can be routed to your cell phone, your office phone, your home phone, or any other phone line you like. What’s more, you can change what line rings via call forwarding so you can dictate which line rings when the customer is calling. This means you can be on the speed and still not miss that important call.
If you have multiple people working for you then the virtual 800 number service allows you to area up extensions. When a caller calls your 800 number they will hear, “Thank you for calling XYZ Corp. For sales press one, for service press two, and so on. Again you dictate what is said.
Many virtual 800 number services even have little extra such as music playing while a call is being transferred and the ability to receive faxes as well. The faxes will be sent to your e-mail, your PDA, or even you iPhone or BlackBerry.
You may be wondering why this is important for your cramped business. The retort is simple; the look and feel. Callers will have no idea that they are phoning into a small business and they may feel as though they are dealing with a Fortune 500 company. Additionally, having an 800 number is honest good business. Many people will not call a company if there is no 800 number available. And why should they? If they call long distance then they have to pay the tab and so they will likely not call you and instead recede on to your competitor who does have an 800 number.
Even if your business is primarily local, why would you want to crush the opportunity to be statewide, national, or even international? With an 800 number comes flexibility and with flexibility comes more calls.
Now the big question, “How much is it? ” Well much to the surprise of many, most virtual 800 number services start at around ten bucks per month with no contract. You may even be able to find a virtual 800 number service that will give you a free trial for a certain amount of time.
The bottom line is that with the ease and low cost of having an 800 number nowadays, there is simply no excuse to not have one. It’s your business and while it may be a small business, you can give it that sizable business look and feel with a virtual 800 number.
Sources: RingCentral, Internet Phone Service By Ring Central – How Internet Phone service Works, RingCentral.com
Grasshopper, 800 Numbers and Voicemail for Small Businesses – Grashopper Virtual PBX, Grasshopper.com
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Filed under Small Business Pbx by on Nov 29th, 2010.
Business phone systems are essential to the smooth operation of your business, especially if you’re running a small venture. A phone system is one of the most essential communication tools in a company, so the quality of the setup and equipment is very primary.
When you rob a telephone system for your business, it’s important to take budget into consideration as well as your specific needs. The equipment you purchase should handle the requirements of your business now and into the future.
The type of business phone system you implement will depend on the size of your company and your plans for future expansion. Most basic phone systems come with options such as voicemail, a receptionist station, call transfer capabilities, and room for expansion. A KSU telephone system is the most common type in this category – it’s a small box mounted on a wall that requires software to run. Many name brands sell this type of phone system, so it’s not difficult to find a vendor.
PBX telephone systems are another option. KSU systems are perfectly acceptable for about 10-40 users, but if you have a larger organization PBX is the next step up. PBX stands for private branch exchange system, which is essentially a small private switchboard just for your company. This type of phone system is needed for larger businesses because it’s the only telephone system that can handle a lot of activity.
Whether you go with a hosted PBX or a virtual PBX, this is the only setup that can handle a large amount of incoming calls, route connections, and process everything quickly and precisely. A hosted PBX or virtual PBX comes with a lot of different features as well, such as automated directories of employee extensions, call parking, conference calling capabilities, and customizable voicemail services.
A whole host of brand name vendors sell PBX systems, so it’s easy to find something that will suit your business perfectly.
Luckily, setting up a business phone system doesn’t have to be expensive. These days the Internet makes it possible to purchase low-cost systems from vendors over the web. Distinct services even allow you to station up a virtual phone system through the Internet that provides all the features you would normally get with hardware.
A business system also needs high-quality phones to work properly, whether you’re setting up a classic phone system or are venturing to try VOIP services that promise to prick costs significantly. Ayala phones offer excellent features for a small or large office environment. Ayala phones provide everything you could ever need in a business telephone without a grand price tag.
In the end, the specific phone system you decide to establish for your business will depend on more than one factor. What suits your needs may not be right for another company. Do some research ahead of time to figure out what kind of system will fulfill the requirements of your business and work best with the number of employees you currently have at the office.
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Filed under Small Business Pbx by on Sep 21st, 2010.
Miniature businesses face enormous challenges in today’s economy. Saying that is a tremendous understatement and I apologize to the millions of small business owners who wear so many hats for not being able to effect it into stronger words. A one or two person company is unexcited responsible for all of the same business processes as a 10, 20, 50 or 100 person company. Some of these processes include finances, sales, marketing, legal, and human resources. They are also responsible for how they expend (or not use) technology to help their business. The use of technology within the small business world is growing quickly, perhaps faster than some would like to admit, and is infiltrating every business function. The result is that it is affecting almost every business decision and either helping to solve problems at one end of the spectrum or causing headaches at the other.
Obviously, business processes have evolved over time. Many years ago, the processes were much simpler. The common merchant simply had to understand the supply and demands of their products, how to deal with the revenue, and how to be able to be sure to get the most for their invested dollar (choose low, sell high). (Yes, this is an oversimplification.) Then, a customer slipped and fell while shopping, sued the pants off of the merchant and the need for attorneys to help prevent this from happening to others was birthed. As more and more litigation reared its ugly head into the affairs of diminutive business, the need to retain legal representation as a permanent member of the staff became paramount.
Then we have the tax laws which have slowly become proverbial thorns in the sides of shrimp businesses. Changes in the tax laws, ambiguity, and the fear of missing something primary have led many small business owners to retain the external professional befriend of an accountant. Many small businesses commonly have accountants as members of their executive advisory board right along side their attorneys.
And so it goes, needs arise, small business owners try to do it themselves (at least initially), and then they bring on experts to handle the needs. Usually, though, the businesses retain the experts only after some other poor sap has demonstrated what happens when the experts are not alive to in the process. The threats of legal action or severe penalties due to tax issues have proven to be a motivating factor for many companies.
Technology is in the beginning stages of this integration process. Most microscopic business owners believe that they can handle their technology challenges with little outside abet. A large number of tiny business owners work extremely hard at writing or hiring friends to develop their websites, setting up their emails and getting their company lap tops or desktop computer workstations. Having succeeded at getting those things in place, many of these business owners believe that they have done all it takes to have a top-notch technology program. Yet, at the end of the day, most are shocked when they derive that their technology budgets have been blown or company profits are not where they should be although they have performed due diligence in every other area.
Technology has and continues to change and evolve at an enormous rate. Innovations thought unheard of yesterday are commonplace today. For example, just a few short years ago, the most common method of tracking appointments was via the use of day planners. Changes to a person’s calendar were often tedious and required some coordination. Now, many people use their cell phones and personal digital assistants (PDA) to not only track their calendars, but also to check email, voice mail and a variety of other things designed to keep them in touch with their business and personal matters.
Unfortunately, the nature of the technology changes and implied implications within business present tremendous challenges for small business owners. Now, instead of just being able to focus on delivering excellent service to its customers, the miniature businesses must be able to understand how technology is affecting the very nature of their business. How, for example, has the ability to be able to use a “push-to-talk” communications system impacted the construction business? How has the advent of the Internet affecting bookstores and the music industry?
The problem is that these changes are happening fleet, very quick. These changes include everything from hardware improvements, better software, and improved processes for using both hardware and software together. Having not only knowledge of the changes but also the wisdom that it takes to understand how newer technologies can affect your bottom line may determine your level of overall future success.
If you are a itsy-bitsy business owner still doing everything yourself, consider the following simple questions. You may have a website, but do you understand the intricacies of search engine optimization (SEO)? Or, what is PBX, and which is better for your business, virtual PBX or on premise PBX? How great should you be spending on software updates? What about network protection; how much is enough? And how much time are you actually spending worrying about these types of issues at the risk of neglecting other pressing matters.
And, how has the utilize of technology affected the ability of companies to stay in business when the unthinkable happens? Despite of the use of technology, many companies don’t have very good disaster recovery or equipment replacement plans. (If you don’t know what a disaster recovery plan is, then we have a real problem; seek succor immediately.) If your company doesn’t have a plan for replacing equipment such as computers before they die, then the idea is to have serious issues once they do, and they will. And, when they do, it is too late to prevent or mitigate the repair cost and it is definitely too late to avoid the loss in business productivity. There are literally thousands of questions like these that can keep a small business owner up at night; or, at the very least, take up enough of your attention to make you less effective during the day.
So, what is it going to take for you as a small business owner to realize that the time is now for you to retain a technology expert as a key member of your team much like an accountant or an attorney? A technology expert worth his or her salt will be very proactive in helping to identify issues well ahead of time. The retained expert acting as a key member of the staff will develop technology plans that support the company’s business plans and goals. This expert will ultimately save the company thousands of dollars per year while allowing the business owners to do what they do best without worrying about technology-related issues. They will pay for themselves in so many ways that you’ll wonder just how you got by without them in the past.
If you have a small business, and you are doing it all, then it is likely only a matter of time before disaster strikes. It may strike in an positive manner such as a network or computer break that ultimately costs money or results in lost productivity. Hope for that, because the alternative is much less pleasant. The alternative? Well, it is when you notice that your competitor is able to deliver their product or service cheaper, faster, and with a higher quality than you and your staff. You notice that your bottom line seems to be getting trimmer, slowly at first, and then faster as time goes.
Sorry to say, but it is at that point that you are likely on your way out of business.
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Filed under Small Business Pbx by on Aug 20th, 2010.