Looking Beyond VoIP to VoIP

VoIP stands for voice over internet protocol, a method of transmitting speech to a distance using over the internet. Since the internet network cannot carry analogue audio signal, it is first converted to digital data, either through inbuilt software or an external device such as analogue telephone converter (ATA). The primary objective of VoIP is to make available affordable long distance domestic and overseas calls. The earlier system was VoIP to VoIP calls and somehow limited.

Continuous development has now made it possible for VoIP technology to move beyond VoIP to VoIP calls. In the past few years this improved technology has been made available to the public on a massive scale. Newer protocols such as Media Gateway Control Protocol and Session Internet Protocol offer limitless capabilities and devoid of drawbacks associated with earlier protocols. Global communications have always been associated with high cost; conventional systems are very expensive, which makes them available to only the privileged few. Introduction of VoIP to VoIP calls made the first dent in the cost of global communications. VoIP to VoIP calls are free and as long as you have high speed broadband internet you do not have to pay anything extra.

The same technology beyond VoIP to VoIP calls however offers immense possibilities. Businesses now can do away with the traditional PBX. Latest phones systems allow businesses to employ phone systems over the internet without investing much in new infrastructure. Internet or cloud PBX is a virtual phone system that combines voice and data transmission over a single network without compromising on quality, functionality and features.

Free VoIP Service and Paid Plans

VoIP is short for Voice over Internet Protocol. It is basically another name for internet telephony, a method of transmitting speech at a distance through the internet. VoIP calls are cheaper and in some cases, even free. VoIP calls can even be made without a telephone set. Since there are different ways of making calls over the internet, the type of VoIP service depends on certain factors.

One of the biggest advantages of VoIP service is that it draws value from existing infrastructure without having to pay anything extra. Most services offer software for free download to your computer and/or smart phone. You can ask your contacts to use the same VoIP service and download its software. You can then make free computer to computer calls to anywhere in the world as long as the person you want to call is logged on. No matter how long you talk, you pay nothing except for the monthly fee that you already pay to your broadband service.

However, when you want to make a call that requires a connection with the PSTN network, the good old traditional telephone system, or a cellular network, the VoIP service will ask you to subscribe to a paid plan. Most VoIP plans on offer depend upon whether you will be using it for calling within Australia or making overseas calls. Moreover, a VoIP service may have different rates for different countries. The right idea would be to determine your usage before you opting for a paid plan. Pay as you go plans would be better for domestic use. For businesses and individuals who need to call long distance regularly, check for a VoIP service that offers a no-questions-asked monthly plan.

Choosing a VoIP Phone System for Your Office

If telephone bills are eating into your business profits, you need to shift to a VoIP phone system. It is not only cheaper than analogue phone systems but also offers many useful features that make some business operations all the more easier to handle.

A simple explanation of VoIP phone system is that it uses the internet for transmitting speech at a distance. You can make long distance calls at a fraction of the cost that you pay to your telephone company. All that you need is a fast speed broadband connection. Calls made over computer networks are free; the only cost is what you already pay to your internet service provider. However, for making calls to other networks carry a small monthly fee.

VoIP phone systems are flexible. You can buy one with a number of handsets that you need now. As you go along you might need more. You can do that on your own with the management interface without calling for technical support to come over for setting it up.

However, there are always budget constraints to take into account. The right way to choose the perfect VoIP phone system best suited to your type of business is to call for quotes and list of features. Choose a brand that offers a couple of bonus features without any extra cost. Also, make sure that you do not pay for features that you do not require.

One feature that you must have in the VoIP phone system is automated attendant. It offers multiple language options and also route incoming calls to the relevant desk. Another feature that improves efficiency by reducing response times is the ability to take calls through computers with a push of a button.

Internet Based Telephone System: A Cost Effective Option

The type of office telephone system you choose for your business can make or break. If it is not reliable, you are unable to communicate with your customers resulting in loss of business. If it costs more to install or the call rate is expensive, it affects your profit. The office telephone system you need has to be reliable, affordable and the one that incorporates features that are just perfect for you.

We have all these years lived with analogue office systems. If we needed more lines we had no option other than employing a receptionist to handle incoming calls and routing them to concerned persons in the office. Moreover, traditional telephony simply gave us the ability of making and receiving calls and nothing else. Technology has changed all that. We now have an internet-based office telephone system that incorporates more features than even state-of-the-art cellular phones.

VoIP (voice over internet protocol) telephone systems are less expensive to set up and install. Most of it can be done without having to call for technical help. In addition, some of the services such as caller ID, call forwarding and call waiting that are available at an extra cost from your telephone company are free with VoIP. Moreover, services like contact list management and name dialling are not available with a traditional office telephone system, even if you are ready to pay.

Internet telephony is flexible and versatile. You can add more users as you go on your own without having technical support coming over. Moreover, traditional telephone systems charge you for every long distance call on the basis of how long it lasted. With internet telephony, you need not worry about it because you are charged a flat monthly fee.

Multitasking Small Business Phone System for Efficient Call Management

The type of business you own and the number of calls you handle on daily basis determines the type of phone system you require. A small business phone system does not come cheap and you definitely want to get the best out of every dollar you spend. Having a good small business phone system that is just appropriate will greatly improve business operations.

As an owner of a small 7-room motel on the highway, I can tell you for sure that improper call management is unprofessional and hinders business growth. If you are using regular phones, call waiting means you miss a call and there is a limit to how many lines you can have. The best small business phone system is a PBX system. These are extremely convenient small business phone systems and you see them in hotels and doctor’s offices all the time.

PBX systems can handle as many lines you want to and can be bought with up to 60 phones with provision for adding more. It is all about multitasking. No matter how many people are calling at a given point in time, the system has the capacity to route each call to the relevant room, doctor, office or department within the premises. Traditional PBX systems were operated manually. Remember the receptionist manning a PBX with headphones on? Modern small business phone systems have an auto attendant answering system.

Modern small business phone systems can be connected to the internet for making low-cost VoIP calls. Just make sure that the broadband plan you choose offers adequate bandwidth to handle heavy usage. If your business demands that you or your employees be out in the field most of the time, choose a system that offers connectivity through cellular phones that can be used as walkie-talkies as well.

Internet Based Business Phone Systems

Computers and internet have changed the way businesses communicate with associates and clients. The conventional phone system was marred by poor voice quality and downtimes. The old business phone system also did not provide special features. A modern phone system using internet lines is extremely efficient, cost effective and comes with a host of special features.

A normal phone can be connected to a personal computer or laptop using an adapter that converts analogue signals from a conventional receiver into digital data to be carried over the internet. Such analogue telephone adapters are simple to install without any professional help.

Another business phone system uses an internet phone that looks the same as a normal phone; handset, cradle and dialling keys. The difference is that it uses a RJ-45 Ethernet connector instead of the normal RJ-11 phone connector. The phone incorporates all hardware and software required for making calls through internet lines.

Yet another type of business phone system uses computer hardware and software to make computer-to-computer calls. Such calls are often free and require the personal you are calling to be connected to the internet and also use the same software.

One of the major benefits of a modern business phone system is that calls between extensions have super voice quality irrespective of how far the person you are calling is located. A reliable high fidelity business phone system allows businesses spread across vast geographical areas to function as one.

The internet has actually reinvented telephony and made business communications not only cost effective but also more efficient and versatile. Modern business phone systems are more advanced and automatically route callers to the concerned department. Office phones can be taken along whenever and wherever they go and still remain in touch.

Suitable Business Phone Plans for Small Businesses

Regardless of whether you are running a home-based business or a small business that employs several people, choosing the best business phone plans will keep your customer service and marketing costs down.

Modern businesses are not conducted the way they used to be earlier. Phones and internet are as essential for today’s businesses as the product or service they offer. It is thus crucial that business owners choose business phone plans that incorporate broadband connections as well. To get the lowest rate, it is necessary to spend some time to find a suitable package.

To choose suitable business phone plans, you will find that you have to compare packages offered by several telecom companies. This involves getting quotes from companies offering phone and broadband services as well as determining your business’s needs.

What you need to take into account is the number of computers in the office and how many employees need telephones on their desks. If the number of computers is more, then you need business phone plans that offer wireless services so that each employee can connect to the Internet and also have a phone or a wireless headset.

The cost of business phone plans depends largely on two things, the speed of broadband and maximum data allowed for download and upload. Fast speed is necessary if more than one computer is accessing the Internet at the same time. On the other hand, if the business sells its products purely online, you need the fastest speed available and unlimited data usage. Remember to choose a reliable provider to be assured that the servers won’t crash and the phones services are always up.

Business Phone Systems for Small Businesses

One would say that what is so special about a business phone. A phone is a phone; no matter the purpose, it is used for talking to a person who is not near you. Actually, it is not that simple. The first difference is that a business phone is used more often, even used to talk to a colleague who is in another part of the building. Moreover, technology has brought about a paradigm shift in the way businesses are conducted these days.

Information technology has been instrumental in mushrooming of home-based businesses and online business ventures. Success of these start-ups typically depends on employing efficient phone systems.

A simple investment in a business phone system that allows transmission of data and voice over the same cable can cut cost of customer service and marketing to a great extent. Many small phone systems are designed specifically for small businesses and provide the ability to make calls over traditional networks as well as voice over internet protocol (VoIP).

What distinguishes a business phone system is the wide array of features including voice mails, auto attendants, ring groups and PBXs that allow up to 64 telephone connections with fewer telephone lines. Some state-of-the-art phone systems allow linkages with cellular phones, speech recognition and routing calls to VoIP lines. Despite advanced features, these systems are extremely user friendly, easy to install and come with a detailed step-by-step instructions.

It is important to determine current as well as future needs before selecting a business phone system. The best business phone system is the one that suits your present needs and also designed for further upgrading so that it grows along with your business and is able to handle expansion.

How to Obtain 1800 Numbers

1800 numbers are toll-free numbers that allow existing or potential customers to contact your business for free. The caller is not charged if the call is made from a fixed line phone anywhere in Australia. Calls made from mobile phones are charged as per the policy of the service provider. The owner of a toll-free number pays for incoming calls at subsidised rates.

Too free numbers are meant for domestic dialling and generally not available to people calling from outside Australia.

Customers take 1800 numbers for granted these days. Toll-free numbers are synonymous with business success and companies not having one are not taken seriously. 1800 numbers are cherished because they lend instant credibility to a business regardless of its actual state of affairs.

Toll-free 1800 numbers that are easy to remember are known as smart numbers. In addition, there are alphanumeric equivalents of phone numbers; numbers that spell the name of a company. For example, 1800-749927 is easy to remember as 1800-PIZZAS.

All phone numbers are owned by the Australia Communications and Media Authority (ACMA), a department of the federal government. ACMA auctions smart numbers. As such, all toll-free 1800 numbers and local rate 1300 numbers are earmarked for future sale if not already sold at an auction held by ACMA.

Smart numbers can be obtained directly from ACMA. However, the reality is that most good smart numbers have already been bought by companies in the business of reselling or leasing toll-free numbers. If you are looking for a smart 1800 numbers, make sure that you buy directly or choose one that a phone word company is offering. If you enquire if the number is available, there is a chance that the company will purchase and resell to you if it is available from ACMA.

How Business Can Benefit from 1300 Numbers

1300 numbers, commonly known as Smart Numbers or Local Rate Numbers in Australia, are 10-digit numbers used for taking incoming calls. Also known as priority 1300 numbers, one cannot make outgoing calls from these numbers.

Such priority numbers are primarily used by businesses to add credibility and trust to their brand and to give a professional appearance to advertisements. It is human psychology at work. Which one do you think you will call if you see a mobile number and a 1300 number advertised in two ads? 1300 numbers send out a message that the business is ready to take your enquiry. 1300 numbers use a routing function that ensures that the call is routed to another number if the primary number is busy or not answered. This way, a call never goes unanswered except in case all dedicated are busy.

1300 numbers work across whole of Australia and charge the caller a low rate. No matter where a caller is calling from in Australia, the call is routed to an appropriate place in a given area. For example, businesses may ask the telephone company to route calls made from Sydney to their Sydney number. Likewise, calls made from Melbourne may be routed to a Melbourne number and calls made from anywhere else to Brisbane. In all cases, the caller pays the normal local charge.

13 numbers also fall in the same category of priority numbers. The difference is only in the length of the number and the fee charged to the owner of the shorter number. The recipient is not charged for calls made to a 13 number from the same local call area.