Remember Me
forgot your password?

Critical Considerations When Comparing Small Business Phone Systems

Selecting the appropriate small business phone system can significantly increase a company's productivity as well as reduce the cost of doing business. It's important to have a solid understanding of small business phone systems in order to avoid paying too much or selecting a system that does not have the capacity to grow with your business. This article will review the options that are available and the issues you need to consider.

Though it may seem like a simple decision, choosing the right small business phone system can help or hinder your business's productivity and professional appearance. When deciding on a PBX phone system, there are several things you'll want to consider.

- How many employees require a separate extension and will the employees benefit from having voicemail?

- Will employees need to utilize a mobile system during the times when they are out of the office?

- Will the company be adding employees? Selecting a modular system for a growing company is vital. A low price, simple small business phone system won't be able to expand with the company.

- Do employees work in remote locations? A telephone system with a call routing feature is ideal for companies that have employees working outside of the office.

Some of the basic features included with a small business phone system include:

- Auto attendant
- Remote voicemail pickup
- Multiple extensions
- Call Forwarding
- Call Waiting
- Call Holding
- Voice Mail
- Speakerphone
- Speed dial
- Faxing capacity

Extra Features

Small business phone systems that offer additional features can greatly increase the productivity of an office. Not only are these cutting edge features designed to improve efficiency and professionalism, but they work to ensure that calls don't fall through the cracks. It only takes one missed call to lose out a large order or miss a profitable lead. Some of the additional features available in today's small business phone systems include:

- A call recording feature that saves phone conversations to a hard drive.
- An audio recording function emails the recording as an attachment.
- Voice to E-mail allows employees to be notified by email of new voice mail messages.
- Auto-fax detection automatically transfers faxes, thus eliminating the need for a separate fax line.

Types of Small Business Phone Systems

Today's small businesses have many different options in terms of small business phone systems and how they will handle their calls:

PBX (Private Branch Exchange)

PBX systems have the capacity to route calls between co-workers as well as to outside lines. This makes it preferable to a standard VOIP system. Some PBX systems utilize VOIP technology meaning reduced costs on long distance charges.

VOIP (Voice over Internet Protocol)

VOIP has fast become a favorite choice among business owners since long distance charges are eliminated as the call is routed via high speed internet, bypassing the telephone company's copper wires. The trouble with purely VOIP phone systems is that if the internet goes down, then so does your phone system.

Hybrid PBX Systems

Hybrid PBX systems utilize both the telephone company's copper wires to connect calls and VOIP - whichever is cheaper and available. The greatest asset of hybrid PBX systems is that if for any reason VOIP capabilities are unavailable, the phone system can still make and take calls via copper wire.

Virtual PBX

A Virtual PBX can be an effective for small, single offices that don't make or take many calls. They essentially combine an auto-attendant PBX system with VOIP telephone lines. The greatest downside to the virtual PBX is that you end up paying much more over the long-run for the service than if you would have purchased an in-house small business phone system. Virtual PBX companies will charge per minute for the VOIP connection whereas if the phone system was in-house, you would pay little to nothing for calls.

When selecting a small business phone system, look for versatility and a system filled with options that can save time and increase productivity. Price is important, but ask vendors if essential services such as installation, customizing the small business phone system, technical support and training are included with the purchase. These small business phone systems can be complicated to set up without expertise and you won't want to pay extra for these necessary services.

Christine OKelly

Christine O'Kelly is an Author for Best Deal Allworx, a leading provider of Allworx small business phone systems. Allworx is a feature-rich small">http://www.bestdealaw.com/Allworx-Significant-Features-s/20.htm">small business phone system designed specifically for small to mid-sized businesses.

Rate this Article: 0 / 5 stars - 0 vote(s)
Print Email Re-Publish


Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/technology-articles/critical-considerations-when-comparing-small-business-phone-systems-434705.html
Add new Comment



Captcha

  • Latest Technology Articles
  • More from Christine OKelly

Thermal spray masking materials

By: Raj Krishnaswamy | 04/07/2009
This article explores the minimum characteristics that thermal spray masking materials need to exhibit in order to withstand the harsh environments.

Bharatbook.com : Impact of IMS on the telecoms landscape

By: Bharat Book Bureau | 04/07/2009
Bharatbook.com added a new report on "IMS Report Market Forecast" describes the key drivers to successful future of IMS services, applications and handsets.

An Introduction to Popular E-book File Formats

By: GMarco | 03/07/2009
As we know there are various devices for reading e-books, there are also popular file formats associated with several of such devices. There have always been debates as to which is the best among them, though each of these formats has its own advantages and disadvantages. Some of the popular file formats include Adobe PDF, Microsoft LIT, Amazon AZW, Mobipocket PRC, PDB, etc. Some popular PC content formats, such as HTML, TXT, and DOC, may also compete as e-book formats. In this article, let’s ha

Solar Power History and Uses

By: Detlef Warner | 03/07/2009
A quick history of solar power and the uses of solar energy today.

Common Myths Associated with Energy Saving Light Bulbs

By: Joseph | 03/07/2009
The modern florescent lamp was first conceived by Peter Cooper Hewitt in the late 1890s and they were initially used for large industrial buildings and photographic studios. However, despite their obvious efficiency and monetary advantages there are still some critics. This article will detail the history of the CFL and examine one of its harshest critics, British newspaper, the Daily Mail.

Climate change, energy saving light bulbs and the Daily Mail

By: Joseph | 03/07/2009
The modern florescent lamp was first conceived by Peter Cooper Hewitt in the late 1890s and they were initially used for large industrial buildings and photographic studios. However, despite their obvious efficiency and monetary advantages there are still some critics. This article will detail the history of the CFL and examine one of its harshest critics, British newspaper, the Daily Mail.

Sony Vaio LV250B Review

By: Gill Critchley | 03/07/2009
Sony's Vaio LV250B is the follow-up PC to the debut LV100 series of desktop PCs and this all-in-one remains just as feature-rich and versatile as the original.

Modern Industrial Water Treatment Plants

By: Vivek | 03/07/2009
Water as we all know is a very precious natural resource. One can stay about a month without food, but it's hard to survive for a week without water. Although it covers one-third portion of our planet, only 3% is fresh water, and out of that only 1% is readily accessible for human use. This article puts light on the relevance of water treatment plants in stopping the potential water crisis from emerging and provides access to a reliable B2B marketplace for water treatment plants and equipment.

A Cosmetic Dentist Often Will Recommend Veneers And Bonding To Repair Damaged Teeth

By: Christine OKelly | 14/10/2008 | Health
Consultation with a cosmetic dentist will help you make an informed decision regarding a treatment for damaged, chipped, or stained teeth. Two common approaches are veneers and bonding procedures, which both have advantages and disadvantages.

Make Your Trade Show Exhibit Work For You

By: Christine OKelly | 14/10/2008 | Marketing
Designing a trade show display can be a challenge because you want it to not only draw attention but want it to promote interaction between the attendees and your employees. Hiring a professional trade show exhibit company will allow you to define your goals and design a display within your budget.

The Needs Confined Space Rescue Teams Have Beyond Knowledge Of The Procedures

By: Christine OKelly | 14/10/2008 | Careers
Effective and successful confined space rescue procedures require more than just the knowledge behind the procedures. Confined space rescue teams must have all of the necessary items to follow through these procedures and this article outlines some of these.

What Services You Should Expect Your Dentist To Provide

By: Christine OKelly | 13/10/2008 | Health
Whether you've moved or are just ready for a new dentist, it's important to do your research on the services offered by local dentists. This article explains some services that many dental offices offer to their patients.

Errors Veteran Property Managers Make With Apartment Rentals

By: Christine OKelly | 13/10/2008 | Finance
Even the most experienced property managers who have been dealing with the apartment rental industry for years can be making mistakes that are hindering the profits coming in from the building. Here are some you should consider.

Display Advice For Corporate Glass Signs

By: Christine OKelly | 13/10/2008 | Marketing
Glass signs are a stylish, trendy, and effective method of advertising for any business. This article looks at different ways to use and mount a glass sign that will increase visibility and improve profits.

Identifying Minor Repairs In A Volvo Transmission

By: Christine OKelly | 09/10/2008 | Cars
Remanufactured Volvo transmissions are sometimes inevitable, but by learning the basics of this important part and learning how to eliminate simple problems, you can save a significant amount of money. Here is a quick overview of what to look for in a Volvo transmission.

Smart Tips For Using A Hydraulic Vehicle Lift

By: Christine OKelly | 06/10/2008 | Cars
Casual and professional mechanics use a vehicle lift for a variety of different auto repairs and maintenance. There are several things you can do when working with truck lifts to make sure they are used safely.

Submit Your Articles Free: Signup


Article Categories




Use of this web site constitutes acceptance of the Terms Of Use and Privacy Policy | User published content is licensed under a Creative Commons License.
Copyright © 2005-2008 Free Articles by ArticlesBase.com, All rights reserved. (0.31, 6)