Showing posts with label business phone systems. Show all posts
Showing posts with label business phone systems. Show all posts

Saturday, September 3, 2011

Modern business phones special

We are living in times which are witnessing rapid turnaround in technologies pertaining to communication, entertainment and information. We are witnessing this transition which has touched upon all aspects of our lives. The modern mobile phones and phone systems are an example of such a transition which enables you to do just about anything. The organisations making use of the modern systems are able to communicate internally as well as externally with ease and effectiveness. The mobile business phones are able to provide seamless, anywhere and anytime connectivity.

With the modern Business Phones, a person is able to connect with the internet wirelessly and the same can be used as standalone internet access medium. The same can even be connected with the computers as dial up connections. The ability to connect with the computers allows for the transfer of data from mobile to computer and vice versa. This connectivity is established by using the right data cabling methods. Also, the video calling facility can enable the business persons to remain in touch with their teams even when they are not in the offices. The ability to store all forms of data such as video, pictures, text and audio files in the memory makes it a small handheld computer.

Even the modern landline phone system comes with diverse functions. These are capable of meeting the communication needs of the whole organisation. With different phone lines, VOIP technology and the PBX system of managing, the modern phones meet the diverse communication needs of organisations. There is also a trend of using the hosted environment for these systems . The hosting service providers have emerged as a consequence who provide the services to the clients. These also enable the inter-branch communication with the internet connectivity. These systems work on high bandwidth of connections and enable management from one centralised location.

The ability to do multiple calling and performing multiple functions at the same time and also, saving of the costs of communication of the organisations, are the two major advantages provided by these phone systems. The organisations looking to install these systems often have to make the choice from the various branded products and models. Also, they might also have to make selections from the new and the old, refurbished systems. With so much on offer, making the right choice is not easy. Internet helps people make these choices. With plethora of information regarding existing models, providers, new launches, technologies and lots of product reviews, the choice making is rendered easy. Therefore, it is not surprising that all the sellers, buyers and even the people not directly connected with the phones such as the product reviewers make good use of internet for meeting their objectives.

The reviews of the phone systems and other technology products provide a good feedback to the customers around the world. However, one must make sure that he is using the authentic and genuine internet resource since the internet is likely to be used by vested interests to provide inaccurate or incorrect feedback.

Thursday, July 14, 2011

Benefits of VoIP Phone System

Telephone systems have become an indispensable part of businesses. For efficient communication in the business environment, business phone systems offer enhanced features and services that only make the communication easy, but also, make it more professional and secure. Advanced business phones have more features and functions than ordinary phones that include voicemail with e-mail integration, call handling, Computer telephony Integration (CTI), WiFi, VoIP multi-site networking, paging, intercom, advanced data networking and many other advanced features.

Data cabling for setting up new business telephone systems, upgradation of existing phone system or relocation of phones system at some other place is done by professional technicians. Some of the companies dealing in business phone systems also offer free site inspection and consultation to optimize performance and minimize costs of installing phone systems.

The growing popularity of VoIP phone system lies in its functionality, multiple features like caller ID, call forwarding, web mobility, voice mail management, conference calling facility and several other advantages including cost-savings. The VoIP system converts the analog voice signals into digital data packets to facilitate voice transmission in real time using the internet. VoIP system does not require any complex hardware set-up and its services can be used for making long distance calls and that too at cheaper rates. The key features of VoIP phone system are:

•Voice commands: Voice command activation enables dialing, transferring and retrieving of calls.

•Voice dialing: Instead of using phone keypad, voice dialing can be done verbally.

•VoIP gateway device: Configuration of VoIP service either through internet or through on-premise gateway device helps in imporoving the service quality.

•Management applications: Using of Response Point Administrator for setting-up and monitoring the entire phone system as per individual preferences, click-to-call contacts and veiw call status.

•Cost-effective technology: Long distance calls can be send and received over the internet using VoIP services at cheaper call rates.

•Direct dialing facility: Configuration of direct dialing numbers enables multiple business phone numbers to be operated through one line, instead of setting up new phone lines.

•VPN access: Virtual Private Network access allows people to use the phone system from remote networks.

•Digital Service: Configuration of voice service with digital service provider allows access in different regions.

•Automated receptionist: Enabling of automated voice service helps in answering and directing calls when the office is closed or when the operator can not take the calls. Customization of automated responses, greetings and prompts can also be done.

•Intercom: Intercom facility allows sending 2-way and 1-way calls for individuals or groups.

•Call Routing: VoIP phone system enables automated receptionist or official operator to route calls.

•Call history log: It helps in monitoring incoming and outgoing call activity by storing and filtering data collected by call log.

•Other important features include checking call status by viewing status indicators, incoming call notifications, call forwarding messaging, voicemail retrieval by phone or e-mail, parking music, importing of business and personal contacts from Microsoft Office Outlook, Windows Address Book (Windows XP), or Windows Contacts (Windows Vista).

Monday, May 30, 2011

Business phone systems

Telephonic conversations cannot be dispensed with. These are a need of day today life of a person and are crucial for the organizations. Whether it is the incoming calls or the internal calls, conversations using the modern business phone systems are crucial for the survival and growth of businesses. Whether it is the customer care representatives answering the calls of customers or employees within the organization who wish to talk to each other or to the outsiders, the need for telephony is indispensible.

A modern telephone systems is what is required by these organizations. An organization would like to make sure that there is effective and timely communication within and outside of the organization. It would be interested in having all those channels of communications which can improve the efficiency of operations, provide avenues for solving the problems and interact in a meaningful way. At the same time, companies need to make sure that these telephone systems are not used in the wrong way, increasing the costs of telephone bills and also leading to inefficiencies creeping in. Therefore a centralised telephone system with all the modern functionalities is often used in the organizations.

Business phone systems often make use of a number of extension lines to which the incoming calls are routed so that the person can reach the right person in the company. Also, if there is a need to make international or long distance calls which is quite a costly affair, then the phone system comes with VOIP functionality and internet connectivity. These are some of the most common functions which come with the modern systems. Computerised systems often make it easy for the handlers to perform all these functions, manage the calls and maintain control over the costs.

With features like video conferencing, free calling over the mobile VOIP services and a range of other services and features, these systems offer full control over the calling operations. So, you no longer have to worry about the employees making inadvertent use of this facility and hanging over the phones unnecessarily increasing the cost of telephone bills on one hand and not attending to their work on the other.

Some of the modern businesses are centred on the telephony. Whether it is long distance calling, BPO or the call centre operations of the companies, it is important that these are done in a cost effective and professional way. Therefore, VOIP functionality is used to gain maximum benefit. All the phone systems that are to be used in the organizations do come with these features.

While selecting the right model of the telephone system, it is important that you consider what your requirement is since there are a number of product models available in the market. Both the new and the used models can be used. The used models are refurbished to make these modern without affecting the performance. Even the used telephone systems market is full of options and companies do make use of the opportunities presented by these.

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Business Telephone Systems

I was wondering which of the business phone systems to have for my new setup. I did not want to face the same old problems which I encountered in the previous place. With the shift in the facility to a new location, I wanted telephonic requirements sorted out well in advance. Actually, the need for the business telephone systems was necessitated because of the past experience of:

1. having no control over the employees making calls to other locations for non-business purposes,

2. Not being able to monitor the use of phone systems throughout the company, and

3. Not having the right functions and features in the systems which could have prevented the costs which were incurred due to not knowing the same.

Determined, not to make repeat the past mistakes, I decided to take my time and make the decision after doing a good bit of research. At first, I drew up the exact requirements of my organization’s phone system. How many telephone lines and their extensions are required? How frequently do we need to call outside to foreign countries? How shall the internal wiring be done so that the inter-extension connectivity can be established? Likewise, there were many others factors that were considered while ascertaining the requirements.

A good deal of market survey was undertaken to know what all models were available on the shelf which met out requirements and provided even more extended features. Price, performance, warranties and guarantees offered, durability, scalability and robustness of the systems were some of the factors which were duly kept in mind while analysing the models. Even the refurbished old business telephone systems were looked into seriously. These, too, provided the good deal with lowest prices as well as good performance and features. All the material gathered from these shops like flyers, information brochures, etc was taken back home and reviewed again.

Recourse was also taken to internet to find more materials which could help me arrive at a decision. There were many suppliers online who were willing to offer these business phone systems. We found many more model options. The best part of using internet resources was enlightening information base that we could lay our hands on. There were wonderful blog posts and articles to read on technology aspects. It was the product review sites which helped me a great deal on finding out what the customers and the experts have to say about the models. Some of the sites provided comparative analysis of the models as well on some common benchmark parameters. These independent reviews of the telephone system shed good light on some models which helped me in pruning our short-listed models list further.

Finally, based on these inputs from various source and my own thought about the good business phone system, I bought one which could be relevant not just for meeting present needs but also for a few years ahead and there were positive feedbacks about this model.

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Phone systems

When it comes to buying business phone systems there are a range of options to choose from. The choice invariably has to be made on the company brand, the model and whether you need a new system or an old one can do. All boils down to your precise requirements. When it comes to determining what the precise requirements are, you need to consider following points:

1.Number of employees: As a rule of thumb, more are the number of employees more is the requirement of extension lines connecting them. But, this could be a false assumption since not all types of employees may be required to be on exclusive lines. May be it is one department that needs a line. So, number of employees as well as their precise needs require to be factored in.

2.Nature of calls: Whether your business has more of incoming calls or the outgoing calls can also determine what type of systems you need. More inbound calls could mean that you might need to set up multiple incoming lines which can be directed to customer service representatives. On the other hand, more outgoing calls need to be explored in greater detail. Where are most of these call made could be crucial in deciding what type of business telephone systems you need? If it is more of long distance calling that is done, you might need phone systems having the VOIP functionality.

3.Nature of business: This also goes a long way in determining what type of business phone system need to be used. If you need to have employees in the field for most of the time, then you might not need centralized business phone systems. Instead, you might need to give them mobiles with internet connectivity and VOIP functionality to reduce the costs of communicating substantially.

4.Old or new systems: What is wrong is getting an old but refurbished system for your needs? This might save you quite a big chunk of money. Small businesses might find having a look at resellers shop worth the money. It is important to check for the various functions. It is also good if the resellers are offering the warranties or guarantees on these products.

5.Growth rate: You would certainly not like to be doing shopping for phone systems every year. You would like this one time investment to be providing you benefits for at least a couple of years. The growth rate of business can indicate what all communication facilities would be required in next few years. Based on this assessment, you might consider buying the right model now.


Every business would like to reduce its operating costs by better planning and management of operations. Reducing telephone bill costs is very much possible if careful choice of the business telephone systems is made on the basis of precise requirements of present and foreseeable future. So, take your time and be prudent and rational in making the choice of the right system.