Are you on shopping for Business VoIP Telephone System? Here are 10 important things to know before you choose this modern standard device in today’s business communication.
1. First thing to be noticed is about the Service provider. Among the two types of VoIP options available Hosted VoIP service or virtual PBX is the most commonly used one for small and medium businesses. Here the VoIP system is managed and hosted externally to your company. In this, you need to buy only the IP telephone or you can get it at lease.
The second option is to go for purchasing VoIP equipment. Here you can buy it from the system integrator who also maintains your current LAN network. They also install the equipment. This contractor you hire is responsible for the maintenance and operation of hardware, software, firmware and others. Unlike the hosted VoIP system, here you may need to get additional network equipments, servers and battery back up systems. Before implementing such a customer owned solution it is always important to test the network integrity.
2. As always cost gets the next priority. As per the studies conducted by ‘Nemertes Research, called Convergence: Reality at Last’ it is found that the typical implementation cost per CPE (customer premises equipment) VoIP user ranged from 5 for deployments of over 1,000 users to 3 for deployments of 100 or less. Savings per user is likely to ascend with the increase in the number of the users. To get high end services at a fraction of the initial CPE outlay costs, Hosted VoIP phone service would be good especially for small businesses.
3. Next important criterion is its reliability. Today VoIP is considered as a reliable communication mode. Any single point of failure is eliminated with the distributing call processing functions across the network. Earlier choppy calls were a compliant among users. But today it has been stabilized with the help of newer technology and far better networks. VoIP network, H.323 is one of the upcoming new standards. In case if there is any kind of power outage, powers back up systems are utilized.
4. Flexibility is the next feature to be considered. More adaptability is attained with the hosted VoIP phone services like Hosted PBXs and customer owned VoIP systems (premise based IP PBXs) than with the traditional PBX systems. There are much more advantages like features can be added to the telephone sets more easily and ease and quickness of making changes. Moreover, there is no need of a technician to come to site. MAV activities, i.e Moves Adds and Changes; are easily completed. You yourself can move the telephone sets without any kind of alteration to the telephone number and features. Only thing to be done is to unplug the phone and plug it onto another jack location, provided it is connected to the network.
5. Features which VoIP service & systems provide are three-way calling, voicemail, speed dialling and caller ID. Other than these traditional features that you normally expect there are other advanced features too. Call Queuing, Call Centre, Remote Office Features, Attendant Console, Find / Follow Features, Fax, PC Calling and – Enhanced 911are just some of them. Call Queuing helps to put the calls into queues to be answered in turn by designated group of extensions. To set up calling and answering groups for specific tasks such as marketing sales and service you can use Call centre. Remote Office is the one which provides the features that bring together off-site locations such as satellite offices, allowing them to function as part of the main office. Attendant Console helps to manage call and functions from a single interface. With the Find / Follow option Calls can be presented to multiple locations simultaneously, regardless of their location. The last feature mentioned is another feature which increases the demand of this device, Enhanced 911. This means that when you dial 911 it automatically sends the address of your location to the emergency personnel.
6. Maintenance is also easy with this new service. Ongoing maintenance is provided at the off-premises location. All voice and data solutions can be incorporated into a single management interface thus enabling the customer to reduce administrative costs. The interface mentioned here includes gateways, controllers, telephones and applications.
7. Coming to the infrastructure VoIP needs only one cable, a data connection to the desktop. This is enough to accommodate both voice and data. This is quite convenient when compared to the traditional PBX telephone systems which require at least one pair of wires to connect to the desktop.
8. Customer service that the provider offers is equally important. There is an excellent range of options for service as well as maintenance with Hosted VoIP service providers. It would be good to look for service that includes 7 x 24 x 365 coverage.
9. Your next consideration has to go for productivity. One main advantage of VoIP phone service or system is that your voice messages, e-mails and faxes are all delivered to one desktop account which also makes things easier and simple. It helps you to save time and energy with its capabilities such as click to all and Microsoft Outlook integration.
10. Finally it is about cutting edge. VoIP offers converged services and adaptability. There is a very convenient feature of getting updated to the latest versions of software and giving access to the newest technology available. It is one important thing to be followed in this competitive era.
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