Guides & Articles on Phone Services
Successful 'On-Hold' Messaging
Make your phones work harder. Put tell-and-sell to work on hold.
By Daniel Kehrer
Delivering sales and marketing messages on hold is an idea that's gaining momentum among small businesses. Sure, you want to avoid putting anyone on hold. But if you must, why not make the most of it? Don't waste that time with sleepy music or radio stations that carry someone else's ads! Instead, use the opportunity to "tell and sell." Successful ads on hold...
Getting and Using 800 Numbers
Boost response rates and your sales with free calls for customers
By Linda Formichelli
Toll-free numbers (or "800 numbers") let callers contact your business without having to pay for the call. Generally, toll-free numbers aren't expensive, although the cost rises as your volume climbs. Toll-free numbers typically begin with 800, but can also begin with 888, 877, or 866 since true 800 numbers are in such high demand that they're virtually all taken....
Choosing a Phone Service Provider
Customize your communication services to fit your needs
By Meagan Francis
In the past, choices were limited when it came to choosing a phone service provider for your business. But thanks to new technology and an increasingly competitive market, businesses now have a number of options. You can choose local, long-distance and international calling plans from a variety of providers or bundle all your services with a single company. Finding plans that mee...
Paging Service Providers
Paging service can be a reliable, inexpensive backup to a cell phone
By Beth Stackpole
Looking for an alternative or backup to your cell phone? Consider a pager as a speedy and reliable adjunct to your cell phone to stay connected with the office and your clients. Some reasons to consider pagers: They are relatively inexpensive. Costs range from about $5 a month for a basic, low-end subscription to up to $50 or more for a top-of-the-line, international plan with tw...
Voicemail Solutions
Find a telephone system to meet your voicemail needs
By Julianne Jardine
Nearly every small business today can benefit from a voicemail system. When used properly, voicemail can improve productivity, give your business a professional image, enhance customer relations, and make ordering products and services quicker and more efficient. Here are a few keys to making sense of voicemail systems. Learn which voicemail system best meets your company's cu...
Saving on International Phone Calls
Keep in touch with your worldwide network for cheap
By Shara Karasic, Work.com Community Manager
Making an international phone call has never been easier or cheaper. We've come a long way - I remember in 1990 when I was staying in a small village in the north of Bali. Making a phone call entailed riding nine kilometers on a bemo crowded with chickens, sacks of rice, baskets of flower offerings, and old ibus in lace kebayas. At the telephone office in Singaraja, I would sit...
Local Phone Service
How to Choose the Best Local and Long Distance Phone Service
By Greg Brown
Residential phone service in the United States used to be pretty predictable. AT&T, known as Ma Bell, was the de facto phone monopoly. Phones were indestructible, residential phone service adequate and prices, well, high.The states and, later, the U.S. Congress took a hatchet to AT&T, ushering in a new era of competition -- and confusion -- for consumers. Ma Bell was busted...
Long Distance Phone Service
Cut your costs without cutting quality when choosing among long distance carriers
By Greg Brown
Getting the most out of your long distance phone company these days can be tricky. It helps to have a very good idea of exactly where you call, preferably over several months, at what times, and for how long.Knowing your long distance phone call breakdown can help when choosing from among dozens of options for long distance phone service. The key is to buy at the right rate, whethe...
Calling Cards
Calling cards offer cheap alternatives to traditional telecommunications
By Stephanie Fagnani
Calling cards have long been the best way to avoid excessive hotel phone charges while traveling. Prepaid calling cards can also help keep expenses down while on the home turf, and many businesses are using them to reduce the often high monthly charges enforced by local phone companies and long distance providers. To make the most out of calling cards: 1. Determine what t...
Federal Minimum Wage Increase for 2007
The minimum wage has jumped from $5.15 to $5.85; more coming
By Daniel Kehrer
The federal minimum wage went unchanged for almost 10 years. That ended July 24, 2007 when the rate jumped 70 cents to $5.85 per hour. But that's just the first of three scheduled increases. Additional rate increases on the way are: * In July 2008 the rate goes to $6.55 * In July 2009 to $7.25.That's a combined 40 ...
International Cellular Phone Roaming Options
5 Ways to Save Money on Your Cell Phone International Roaming
By Shonika Proctor
Do you travel abroad for work or for play and feel that you constantly get stung on your international cell roaming rates no matter how disciplined you try to be with your usage? Well I can definitely relate if you are one of those people who thoroughly enjoy 1 Euro half pint beers, but feel the hangover kick in a month later when you open that 100 Euro m...
Prepaid Phone Cards
Save Money by Implementing the Use of Prepaid Phone Cards Within a Small Business
By Heather Topham Wood
Save money on business expenses by purchasing prepaid phone cards and using them in lieu of a traditional calling plan. You can decrease your overhead and escape overuse charges and fees with prepaid calling cards.Besides decreasing your phone usage costs, prepaid calling cards have other uses. You can choose to distribute phone cards amongst your clients as a customer incentive pr...
Intercom Systems
Compare intercom solutions for your business
By Jennifer Ehlenfeldt
An intercom system can be a beneficial addition whether you operate a home-based business or manage a corporation in a multi-level property. Finding the right system depends on your needs and budget.1. Decide if you prefer wired or wireless intercom systems.2. Sketch a layout of where you want intercom access in your office.3. Consider adding security functions with an intercom sys...
Satellite Phone Service Providers
How to get the most from your satellite phone service
By Shannon Ambroson
Satellite phones allow you to contact almost anyone in the world, using communication satellites orbiting in space. Whether you travel within the United States or overseas, you will undoubtedly run into areas with nonexistent cellular phone coverage. Satellite phone service providers give you a reliable option when you must communicate with your business, customers or family.Satell...
Wireless Telecommunications Messaging
Getting the most out of mobile messaging for your company
By Kim Finn
If you're older than 30, you may not rely on wireless telecommunications messaging, especially for business, but the future will likely see mobile instant messaging and mobile text messaging evolve into accepted standards in business communication.If you haven't given wireless messaging a try, you should probably think about it. If you have kids, start with them because the...
International Long Distance Call Back Carriers
Find the best international long distance call back carriers
By Danny Manson
Acting as a virtual calling card, long distance call back is a service that allows users to receive incredibly low rates for making long distance and international calls. This new technology allows users to dial a unique local access number and then receive a call back from their call back service. The service then prompts the user to dial the number they wish to call, and the call...
Long Distance Discount Operators and Resellers
Become a long distance reseller by selling discount calling cards
By Betsy D. Vanderslice
Discount long distance phone resellers are small companies that "rent" long distance minutes in bulk from a major carrier and resell them to consumers at cheaper rates. They can afford to do this because they do not have to pay costs associated with big corporations such as advertising and marketing.You can boost your bottom line by becoming a long distance discount phone...
Finding Phone Numbers
Find phone numbers more efficiently with technology
By Jeffrey Lindblom
When we see a movie character pick up a phone and ask the operator for "KLondike 54321," we can let loose a small sigh at the nostalgic simplicity of the phone number lookup. Now, getting the assistance of an operator means a charge of a few dollars. Do you call the office number (office cell, cubicle or meeting room) or do you call a home number (home cell or home land l...
Carrier Billing and Customer Care Solutions
Select the right carrier billing and customer care solutions for your business
By Kimberly Webb
Running a telecommunications company isn't easy, and one of the biggest decisions you'll make is deciding among the different telecom billing and customer care systems on the market. You need to make sure that the solution is efficient and can keep up with all your billing and customer service needs. First, look at the different billing systems for telecommunications. Y...
Calling Card Solutions for Service Providers
Calling card software information for your small business
By Betsy D. Vanderslice
Phone card software has allowed many small business owners to make money without a lot of risk. As the competition grows in the market, it is important to stay on top of the latest calling card solutions for service providers. Advanced technology and evolving laws in the telecommunications world mean this business will remain profitable as long as you keep up with the trends.With t...
Directories of Toll-Free Listings
Toll-free phone number directories are great for business
By Maria St. Louis-Sanchez
Every day, thousands of people spend needless dollars because they neglected to use directories of toll-free listings. Many businesses that are attempting to reach out to their customers offer toll-free lines as a service but instead, many customers use their regular phone number.Your business can save on expensive long-distance charges if you simply put to use the many listings fo...
Competitive Local Exchange Carriers (CLEC) in Texas
Save on phone service with Texas CLECs
By B. Lumadue
Several CLECs serve the state of Texas. Competitive Local Exchange Carriers (CLEC) in Texas have been around since the Telecommunications Act of 1996. They compete with Incumbent Local Exchange Carriers (ILEC). ILECs are the carriers that were in place before deregulation. Most are Regional Bell Operating Companies that were created after the break up of AT&T in the 1980s. The ...
Pay Telephones
Find a pay phone business to buy or repair phones
By Sharisa Lewis
With the popularity of cell phones, there is less of a market for pay phones. However, you can still find pay phones outside of 7-Elevens, some grocery stores, gas stations or other businesses. Although pay phones are not as common anymore, they can still benefit your business. Customers can use them in an emergency instead of relying on your business phone. They can also use pay p...
Call Forwarding
Use call forwarding products to ensure an answer for every customer call
By Angela Kovalyak
If you are a business that requires customer interaction, then you need phone call forwarding services. There is nothing worse than having a client call you and listen to dozens of rings without anyone, or anything, answering the phone. More than likely, this potential customer will take business elsewhere.To add call forwarding to your business phones, you can:1. Subscribe to a ca...
Aircraft and Vehicle Broadcast Systems
Find or customize your own aircraft and vehicle broadcast systems
By Violette DeSantis
Television production vehicles and aircraft and vehicle broadcast systems are perfect for industry insiders and novices alike. When you have a corporate event or benefit that needs to be broadcast or a news or sporting event to relay to any part of the world, vehicle video systems are necessary tools.A system for vehicle broadcast is installed in a variety of vehicles from small tr...
