Small Business Phone Services
Finding the right small business phone service can be a very tough job, especially if you're not up on all the technical jargon. Most likely, you're going to be interested in some kind of VOIP phone system. In short, that means that your phone lines will run on your regular computer network cables along with the rest of your network traffic. There are many things to consider when you're looking for the right small business phone service.
Some of these VOIP phone systems have some extensive capabilities, so you should be well prepared. The most important thing to know is the size of your phone network. Fortunately, it's fairly easy to add more connections and expand your network.
Many small business phone services can also handle voicemail surprisingly well. They can take your messages and notify you via email whenever you have a message. Some of them can also integrate with Microsoft Exchange, providing you many other capabilities. Call recording is also something to think about. If you need to record your calls and store them for any reason, make sure you choose a VOIP phone system that can handle it.
There are also systems out there that do a great job of handling conference bridges and three way calling. Conference bridges will require some significant computing power, so that is something you really need to consider. The cost involved may not make it worth hosting that yourself.
Voice Over IP is an excellent option for small businesses that aren't centralized. It will allow you to easily and cheaply communicate with your coworkers. Since the phone calls are transferred over the internet, all you need is an internet connection with enough available bandwith and you're in business. Now, I said you need enough available bandwith. Basically, anything like a ISDN, cable, or better will do. You just won't be able to use it on dial up. If you don't have enough bandwith, you'll experience dropped calls, noise, and other disruptions.
A good small business phone service can allow you to even manage things over a web site. Set your voicemail, change your bridge information, even change the ringer that people hear when they call. There are so many things you can configure and customize, you'll wonder how you ever lived with anything else.
Don't forget faxes when considering your system. Most IP phone systems will easily handle faxes as well. You just have to make sure that you specify this to the company that you're working with. Failure to do this can probably lead to a costly upgrade.