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Small Business Comparison Guide to Phone Systems 2. There are many phone systems that are available in 2. They all have different technologies and come in a variety of configurations that offer different features and benefits. In this article we give a brief outline of the different types available and then offer a comparison of the top systems that are available on the market to make your buying choice easier, this is done on price, ease of set- up and functionality. How to find the right system.

Before looking for a provider, you should think about your communication needs. It is a good idea to make a list of “need to have” and “good to have”. Take this list with you when meeting prospective suppliers. This will help you avoid getting swayed by salesmen who will sales talk you into getting features and services you don’t need.

Here is a guide to make your list. How many lines and extensions do you need?

How many users do you have? How do you see your business in the next 6 months? Next year? What other equipment do you need to use? What Features do you need? How often will you use these features? Do your employee’s work from home or are they always mobile? When you finally narrow down your choices, you should ask for a demo so that you will know how easy it is to use.

Change. Your organization will continue to change whether you like it or not so best be prepared for it, you need a network that will change with you. It’s always good to be able to add more features if necessary and be able to add more or less handsets without the need to call out expensive technicians.

Consider the number and locations of handsets that you might need. Other than obvious locations such as cubicles and managers’ offices, consider other areas such as conference rooms and other areas where employees may need to make or receive calls.

Which Companies are the best? That all depends what you are looking for. For a service with a low monthly cost, full features and easily extendable the virtual PBX companies are a great choice. Some people however prefer to stick to traditional analogue or digital phone systems for stability and savings in the long term. How big should it be? The size of your system can be determined by counting the number of users and locations that need a phone. Where do you need to put the phones?

You also need to determine how many calls will be coming into and leaving the office at the same time. The total of incoming and outgoing calls at any given moment is the number of lines that you need. Accounting for about 2.

If your configuration is too low, your clients will get a busy signal which a big No No for customer service. Types. Analogue These are the traditional phone systems, these are a great option if a business only needs a very small system for example one line and 2 extensions. Only basic functions are offered for example call transfer and call on hold. If you want to transfer the number to your mobile, you need to do this at the phone line service provider and can usually be done as an added extra. The good thing about the analogues is once they are paid for and installed there are no monthly charges.

Take note that modern analogue phone systems have the ability to have digital extension phones connected to them. An example of this system is the Panasonic KXT- E6. Virtual BPXThis system is becoming more and more popular with small businesses since packages and functionality are becoming cheaper and confidence with the internet is growing. The technology of a virtual PBX system is based in the cloud and controlled via a central login system. You connect an IP phone to the internet and you are connected. Small businesses like the flexibility they get from these systems, for example, being able to work seamlessly between the home and the office and having a central portal to control all remote workers.

Wherever you are you can appear to be calling from one central office with the same work number and identity. Many additional functionalities are available such as call conferencing, virtual receptionist and music on hold. Special options Some telephone systems such as Vo.

IP (Voice over Internet Protocol) can link directly to your computer equipped with special software. This type uses the Internet to send and receive calls.

This kind of system is used in Call Centres but even small businesses can benefit from it. It is very affordable in terms of equipment and call charges. You can also use it with other programs and software that includes: Monitoring calls and telephone usage.

Cost accounting. Dial contacts automatically. Tracking time spent with customers.

Pulling up customer information during a call. If you will be using fax machines, credit card terminals and modems, you should ask your provider if you can link the system to your other equipment. Flexibility is critical when you are starting your business.

Go for a system that gives you the opportunity to add more features as you need them. Brands. There are many excellent brands that offer a wide range of small business telephone systems to choose from. Each brand boasts of a number of features but they all have the basic features in common.

Cisco – Best For Value. Cisco leads the Small Business PBX market with its Unified Communications 3. Series, providing a single, all- in- one network solution. When we say all- in- one, we mean it supports voice, SIP Trunking and wireless communication. It has voicemail capabilities and automated attendant.

It has built- in routing and switching. It is easy to install and is flexible enough to grow with you. Although we say that it’s better than a PBX, this Cisco Series still retains the capabilities of a PBX plus other great features and added benefits. By using this series, you lower your communication expenses because you can take advantage of Vo. IP. You can also choose from a wide range of models. Above all, you get a good quality system from one of the major players in the industry. Avaya – Best For mobile workers.

Avaya’s leading system for small business is called IP Office. Like Cisco’s, it is also flexible enough to grow with your company. It offers technical flexibility meaning it uses digital, analog, IP or any combination of these. It also has mobility features and is compatible with popular collaboration applications.

You can choose from 3 different types  – Essential, Preferred or Advanced Edition. Essential is the most affordable of the three and has basic capabilities.

Preferred has 1. 0x more voice messaging capacity than Essential. The Advanced Edition offers all these and more. For the Preferred and Advanced Editions, users can take advantage of the following features for different types of user. Power User allows everyone in the company to communicate via IP phone, cell phone or laptop. All the messages are received in one inbox and the user is automatically notified if an important message comes in.

Mobile Worker makes any mobile device an extension of your office phone. It includes call handling features and speed dials.

Office Worker is designed for employees who work inside the building. Employees can use a single, easy- to- use interface to manage conferences or check who’s on the phone, who’s away or who’s busy. Remote teleworkers integrate seamlessly. With this platform, they can have the same functionality you have in the office. They simply connect their phones to the company’s system via a virtual private network. Receptionists take high volume calls each day. Help them manage their calls from their PCs by streamlining call handling with easy point and click controls.

Incoming calls and call status are displayed on the screen. Your one receptionist can monitor all  extensions and integrate with your database software. The Customer Service Supervisor can generate reports to monitor sales activities, marketing campaigns and agent productivity. The Customer Service Agent can clearly see information about the calls such as calls on hold, in progress or lost.

The number of agents logged in and out is also recorded. Free Download Crack Chicken Invaders 4 Xmas.