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. 
Being cost-conscious is a way of life for small business owners. Saving money isn’t just about lowering bills, it’s about streamlining and optimizing a business so that it’s positioned to take advantage of changing times and opportunities.
Here are five areas where cost savings can improve your business:
1. Go Green
Invest in energy-efficient technology, or multifunction equipment such as all-in-one printers. Green equipment often brings tax benefits, and many customers consume to do business with energy-conscious companies.
If the business isn’t in the market for new equipment, it’s a shiny proceed to monitor power exercise. Simple steps such as sharing printers and turning off equipment overnight or when it’s not in use can mean spacious energy savings.
2. Consider Temporary and Freelance Staff
Employee costs are a large piece of small business spending but business owners can be innovative to cut their expenses. Hiring temporary staff to handle busy periods rather than taking on permanent employees often makes sense. Independent contractors can encourage with specific projects. Employers don’t have to pay or withhold taxes for independent contractors who meet IRS requirements, and contractors only charge for the work produced.
Another option might be a professional employer organization, or PEO. PEOs take on the legal and administrative responsibilities for managing employees, meaning many small businesses can offer better benefits packages while keeping HR and legal liabilities and costs low.
3. Promotional Penny-Pinching
Small businesses are ideally placed to compose the most of the growth in social media marketing. Services like Twitter and Facebook are free and allow real-time interaction with customers, and setting up a blog to talk about your business can be cheap. E-mail marketing is often more cost-effective than traditional mailings.
If an online environment doesn’t work for your customers, reflect including advertising material with other mailings, such as invoices. This reduces mailing costs, and a simple insert is often cheaper to produce than stand-alone promotional material.
4. Virtual Options
Many business functions that faded to rely on expensive equipment and additional employees are now available in “virtual” accomplish. For example, a virtual PBX provider can make sure you have a professional 24-hour receptionist to answer and route calls. In addition, faxes can be sent via the Internet and printed out on ordinary printers, and “virtual assistants” can provide administrative support remotely whenever it’s needed.
5. Smart Purchasing
Every business needs supplies, but there are ways to reduce the cost of famous purchases from paper to cleaning materials. Many businesses take advantage of member rewards but there can be extra benefits through “double-dipping,” when reward points can also be earned on the credit card used for the purchase.
Collaboration is the small business owner’s friend. It’s gleaming to join forces with other small businesses to make joint purchases and take advantage of bulk discounts on needed items.
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Filed under Small Business Pbx by on Jun 4th, 2011.
Business phone systems are essential to the smooth operation of your business, especially if you’re running a little venture. A phone system is one of the most important communication tools in a company, so the quality of the setup and equipment is very important.
When you purchase a telephone system for your business, it’s important to capture budget into consideration as well as your specific needs. The equipment you remove 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 microscopic 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 mark name vendors sell PBX systems, so it’s easy to bag 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 set 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 cut costs significantly. Ayala phones offer excellent features for a microscopic or expansive office environment. Ayala phones provide everything you could ever need in a business telephone without a astronomical price tag.
In the end, the specific phone system you decide to put for your business will depend on more than one factor. What suits your needs may not be factual 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 May 21st, 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.
With a little forethought and a small time investment (hours not days), you can virtually eliminate the costly and confusing telephone system you have been struggling with or have been putting off purchasing due to SMB budget constraints.
If you’re paying Ma-Bell for a traditional phone line, or have your own confusing pbx switch on location, you’re not making the most of current phone technology. In fact, you may be wasting precious time and money for a system that does not meet your needs and actually takes away revenue.
Maybe you are paying a full-time employee to do nothing but manage the “phone system”, or worse, heaping the responsibility on a part-time additional duty basis to an employee who could otherwise focus on THEIR job.
You may have already joined the quarter million other home subscribers of the Magic jack community. Now it’s time to see how this can be applied to your dinky or medium business.
There are links to reviews of the magic jack included with this article, but in summary:
FEATURES:
- It’s cheap, costs include $40 for the device and 1st year of phone service, $19.95/yr after that
- Being a USB storage device(like a thumb drive), it carries it’s own software and installs when inserted in the USB slot
- You can either create calls using a headset/mic or a traditional telephone (cordless phones & fax machines)
- It comes with “voicemail” forwarded to any email account you wish
- you rep email notifications when new VMs arrive
- Although it’s not a traditional phone ine with 911 they provide 911 where YOU control the address, so you can spot the 911 for ANY area in the US (got a sick mother? )
- Nationwide toll-free is included and international can be had for a price or…
- Send a Magic Jack to anyone you want to call and who you want to call YOU and it’s free WORLDWIDE!
- You can migrate your current landline phone number, maybe your cell number not always, or get a new phone number*
- ALL of this depends on a broadband connection (I recommend Always on like Cable, NOT DSL), and a computer/laptop.
UNFEATURES
- Call quality (QoS) resembles a cell phone, in both sound quality and dropped calls.
- Customer service is basically their FAQs online and that’s about it.
- The device is bigger than other USB devices, but has a dongle to get it out of the way of your other USB plugs
- One yank on the phone cord and “POP”! out comes the MJ
- limited local phone numbers means long distance numbers in some locations
- Ordering the service online or over the phone or using the MJ program can be confusing
* The “local” phone numbers are not always a local call for your city, for instance in Montana the ONLY number they have are local to Helena, titanic if you live in the capital not so broad for the rest of the state.
The savvy entrepreneur has already seen some openings with the above list for cutting costs. Let’s look at a few ways you can gain the most of this new technology for your business.
We’re objective seeing the tip of the iceberg, but here are some cost effective uses:
HARDWARE
- Connect your Home & Work offices
- Virtual Office employee(s) and VAs
- Key Customer and teleconference training
- Anyone who travels for your company
IMPLEMENTATION
- Fax
- Small pbx-like features
- Integration with other tech i.e. Virtual PBX systems
First, HARDWARE solutions.
By simply purchasing the Magic Jack device at $40 ea. you can achieve tons on the recurring phone bill.
1 – Connect home & work offices, buy a MJ contrivance for home and work, for anyone who commutes. After the initial $40 you get 1 year of uninterrupted calling from work to home etc. try out call forwarding thru a virtual pbx
2 – Virtual Office employees or VAs you contract with can now maintain voice contact with no cost to THEM if you simply buy them a MJ arrangement, it’s up to you if you ask for it back at the end of the contract or give it to them for a job well done.
3 – Key customer care and Teleconferencing or training This encompasses many areas but essentially it’s a uncover of the above, for a nominal $40 charge you can ensure your key clients and business partners stay connected again at no fee for them. It’s so easy to exhaust they really won’t have to wade through a tech manual to begin calling you. If you host training over the phone/online through .rdp connections etc. you can send one of the MJs to them ahead of training (perhaps with any manuals) and ask them to call on your $40 dime. Especially if you will have ongoing training with this client. Again, you can choose to just give it to them as a gift. $40 isn’t distinguished when you consider the price of other training materials you use.
4 – The Road Warriors friend Having spent half my life on the road, I can tell you if I were doing that kind of work now, I would hold the MJ without even thinking about it. Being able to call “Local” to my home or the US when overseas for a year for $20 you bet I’m on board. Unprejudiced imagine, you win to the hotel (with broadband access of course) gradual at night, and just want to touch base with home or the office, now you plug in MJ into your laptop and before you can unwrap the baby soap bar, you’re ready to make or receive calls from home FOR FREE minus $20 initial fee 
If you are already paying for cell phones for the travelers maybe you can lop down on some of the primetime minutes by simply buying the MJ, or better yet, give the MJ to them for personal calls and encourage strict business ONLY calls on the cell phone wiht no excuses for wasted minutes chatting with family etc.
Now that’s only what you can do by being nice enough to purchase MJ devices for everyone, now let’s explaore some of the cool things that can be set up on the USAGE/Implementation side of the house:
1 – FAX Although officially not supported yet, key word being “YET”, faxing can be done from anywhere again as a local call with no special setup, just plug in and send. Again, you might consider integrating with a virtual pbx system for a smoother operation especially if you wish to offer fax wait on capability.
2 – Private Branch Exchange (private telephone switchboard) although it’s far from a PBX or virtual PBX system, the magic jack will allow 3-way calling and take voicemails. Once you have the MJ phone number you can marry it with a virtual pbx and get full-featured use of a pbx with the orders or significant calls coming to your MJ phone.
If you have set up your business to be on autopilot, send a MJ to your order takers and Cust Aid VAs and let the calls come in with no per minute charges coming attend to you.
3 – Integrate The most effective expend of technology means marry-ing or integrating several solutions to create a full-featured robust solution.
If you aren’t familiar with virtual-PBXs look into using one like onebox, for service starting around $10/mo., prices go up depending on usage, you get 1-800 access and the same basic features that a geeky full-time phone switch programmer at your company can create, with less cost and hassle.
- Have calls routed within the PBX to various voicemails, but more importantly following the Tim Ferris way of doing things, you can have them follow YOU or any of your employees and VAs, no matter what phone or time of day they will be at that phone number, giving the illusion of 24/7 customer support.
Routing can also include having the really important calls directed to the MJ device number/voice mail so you get ONLY the most pressing calls, again, from anywhere in the world (With broadband access).
Well, this is again just brushing the surface of what the world of VoIP and devices like the MagicJack can garner for the SMB world, for more info please visit http://squatchtech.ning.com and follow the articles relating to small business technology use.
Your uncle BobSquatch
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Filed under Small Business Pbx by on Jan 24th, 2011.