Auto Attendant
Receptionists are becoming rare, as the tasks of these individuals are usually spread out among team members. While some businesses still retain receptionists, others find that nixing an extra employee can save money. With an auto attendant, calls are routed to the appropriate person faster, and it can provide assistance to whomever is on receptionist duty.

Music On Hold
This feature is not limited to music only – you can provide helpful information regarding your company while a caller is on hold. Be sure to keep this information up to date to avoid any misinformation.

If you choose to use music, be sure to have the proper licensing or search the available “royalty-free” music. But note that “royalty-free” doesn’t necessarily mean “free.”

Call Basics
Call waiting, hold, park, pickup, and transfer are all extremely helpful whether you have a large or small office. Call waiting and hold are fairly standard. Call park is similar to hold, but you can access a call from any phone within your system. Call pickup allows you to answer someone else’s call at your station. Various types of transfer functions enable routing calls to the appropriate extensions or mailboxes easily.

Follow Me
There are two options when it comes to the Follow Me feature: multiple ringing (where all the lines are ringing at once) or sequential ringing (if the primary line isn’t answered in a given time, the next line in order is tried, and so on). This is helpful for those who work at home or odd hours, eliminating the need to constantly change settings.

Hunt Groups
These work like the Follow Me feature, but somewhat on a larger scale. For example, you can assign a phone number to your sales team, and incoming calls will be routed to members simultaneously or sequentially. They can even call a specific team member to speak directly with him or her.

Selective Diversion
While diverting calls is nothing new, selective diversion provides you with the ability to route calls according to specific criteria. These criteria can include time of day, day of week, and even a caller’s number. For example, a business that offers emergency services or after hours support may opt to set up a schedule for nights and weekends to divert calls to the mobile phone of the person who is on call at that time. Depending on the time or day, calls that would normally be handled within the office would be diverted to a worker’s mobile phone.

You can also divert calls from your important clients to your private mobile number on weekends or holidays, to ensure that they can contact you in case of emergency from a single number.

Please remember that diverting calls to a fixed line, mobile phone, or a number on another VoIP provider’s network, you will be charged at your usual rate for such calls. You will not incur charges if you are simply diverting calls to another one of your own VoIP lines.

Conference Calls
Three-way calls, or conference calls, let you connect two calls into one. Some systems permit you to add additional parties, which make collaboration easier without having to meet in person.

Call Recording
With this feature, you can record calls as necessary. Within your area, be sure to fully understand the audio recording laws. Also, as common courtesy goes, you should always inform the person if you will be recording the call.

Dial Extensions
Often overlooked as a benefit, dialing extensions allows you to contact other lines easily, without having to dial a whole phone number or use up space on your speed dial list. With VoIP plans, you don’t pay for calls to the same provider, essentially making all of your lines ‘extensions’ in the traditional sense.

Voicemail
Fairly commonplace, voicemail ensures that you don’t miss an important call or message. Voicemail to email is sent as an attachment and allows you to replay the message as often as you’d like without incurring additional fees (especially helpful when overseas).

1300/1800 numbers
Rather than distributing a local line, a 1300 or 1800 number makes your business seem larger and more corporate. Also, they are more flexible if your company decides to move or opens multiple branches. You can point the 1300 or 1800 to your new number, or the caller can be directed to the nearest branch based on location.

Does your small business use a VoIP phone system? What other benefits have you experienced? Share with us on Facebook, Google+, Twitter, and Pinterest.

For an excellent selection of VoIP phone systems, parts and accessories, please visit us online. If you have any questions or need assistance, please feel free to call 1-800-564-8045.

VoIP Services
Whether you go the hosted Cloud services route, or manage your own system, switching to VoIP technology will afford your business a multitude of benefits. VoIP solutions are available for fax, email, voicemail, conferences and work across business phones and mobile phones. Connect your communication routes to make it easier for customers and colleagues to contact you. Keep your employees accessible to your customers for improved service and business. Aside from this, VoIP services can often be more cost-effective upfront and in the long run.

Downsides
Perceived downsides of VoIP include reliability and latency. People may find that calls may not be as reliable on VoIP as on other systems. Latency issues deal with how long a command takes to respond. However, both of these issues can be addressed by choosing the right provider. If you have concerns, whether it’s regarding reliability, latency, or something else, seek a provider that addresses these concerns and puts forth an effort to safeguard whatever it may be.

Emergency Calls
Emergency calling from VoIP systems may be a concern for some. Emergency calls from traditional phone systems can easily be tracked since the phone number is linked to a physical location. IP technology lacks that direct relation. However, VoIP calls can be tracked. An Internet service provider can track an IP address and, in most cases, the signal can be tracked.

Security
Telephone hacking can be a threat to businesses, but with the appropriate safeguards, you can keep your VoIP calls safe. If available, take advantage of security options (ex. encryption or firewalls) from your provider. You may also be interested in anti-virus software. This will protect you from known viruses, but because attackers are always creating new viruses, it is imperative to maintain and keep your software up to date. Before switching to VoIP, assess your telephone security needs and choose a provider and/or software accordingly.

Much like everything else, VoIP services are not perfect. But overall, the advantages of VoIP technologies far outweigh the disadvantages. Affordability, efficiency, versatility, and scalability are just some of the reasons businesses want to switch.

Have you adopted VoIP services within your business? What benefits have your experienced? Share with us on Facebook, Google+, Twitter, and Pinterest.

For excellent VoIP telephones and equipment, visit us online or give us a call at 1-800-564-8045.

What is a hosted VoIP solution? They are phone systems that are based in the cloud. No more bulky equipment within your office, eliminating periodic maintenance calls and visits. All processes are handled offsite and within the cloud. Other benefits include the following.

Reduced Phone Bill

Your phone bill is drastically reduced as some systems offer pay as you go and grow plans. Also, it is easier to manage multiple offices as all locations are connected through the cloud.

Eliminate The Need For Expensive Hardware

Because your system is managed offsite, maintaining hardware in your office is unnecessary. The need for replacing old PBX equipment is no longer a worry, saving you more money in the long run.

Free, Helpful Features

Features like voicemail and auto attendant are offered at no extra charge. Your business can utilize these free features to your advantage, possibly resulting in increased efficiency and quality of work.

Use Your Smartphone With Your Business Number – Work On The Go!

Thanks to smart phone apps, you can conduct your business from your smart phone without using your personal number. Notifications for calls or faxes can be sent directly to your smart phone. You can take care of your personal and work business at the same time!

If your phone system is draining you with high phone bill and maintenance costs, it may be wise to consider switching to a hosted VoIP system. Startechtel.com can help you find quality VoIP phones to suit your business and office needs. Visit us online or give us a call to speak with a representative directly. You can reach us Monday-Friday 7:00am-5:00pm at 1-800-564-8045. You can also connect with us on Twitter, Facebook, Google+, and Pinterest.