Purchasing Resources for Phone Systems

Phone Systems

Maintaining good relationships with your business contacts is a vital component of running a successful business. One method of doing this is through the use of phone systems. To get the most out of a phone system, your business will need one that is reliable and produces high-quality voice services. There are various types of phone systems you can choose from for your business. PBX, IP PBX, and VoIP are three of the options that are available for businesses. Each of these options has its own benefits and pitfalls to consider when you are deciding which is appropriate for your company.

Benefits

Phone systems often have hundreds of configurable features for switching calls and directing traffic. Providers estimate, however, that most companies never use 90 percent of their phones’ features. VoIP systems provide a lot of similar features and are becoming more popular every day, but why?

Reduced Costs

The costs of VoIP service providers are much lower than traditional phone companies, which must deal with the existing, expensive-to-maintain infrastructure and the associated industry regulations. With these lower costs, VoIP providers can charge much less than their competitors.

In addition, businesses no longer need separate networks for their phones and Internet, and this is a huge money saver. The costs resulting from employee additions, moves, and changes are virtually eliminated because all you have to do is move your IP phone to a different network and plug it in.

Flexibility

A VoIP system is much more flexible than a traditional phone system. First, it’s portable, so wherever you have access to a broadband connection, you will have access to your phone. For a business representative, this is extremely valuable because you’ll never miss a call from a client, even if you’re travelling or are away from the office.

Increased Productivity

VoIP systems can be configured to ring simultaneously on multiple devices before going to voice mail. This can eliminate the time-consuming need to constantly check your messages, freeing up that time to perform other tasks.

Virtual Location

With a VoIP system, you can have any area code attached to your phone number. This means that a business based in Indiana could have the area code of New York. If you have customers in a particular area or want to attract them, then having a phone number based in the same area can be a great advantage.

Conference Phone Calls

With a standard phone line, only two people can speak at once. Using a VoIP, you can set up a multiperson conference, with a whole team of your employees communicating together in real time. A VoIP compresses data packets during calls, which allows more information to be handled over the carrier.

Pitfalls

VoIP

Voice-Over Internet Protocol systems have become very popular, but it's important to remember that they use bandwidth instead of a regular phone line. Since they rely on your broadband or dial-up connection, they use your connection speed when making calls. A lesser Internet connection is just too slow for VoIP. Also, if your connection goes down, your phone line goes down as well. No Internet means no phone line, which is catastrophic for any business.

Costs

IP telephony systems like VoIP or IP PBX have relatively low setup costs. This is because they require only one data cable for a whole phone system, unlike regular phone systems that need multiple lines for multiple connections. However, it's important not to forget that the cost of each IP phone is much greater than the cost of each analogue phone. For a large business that needs a lot of phones, the enticement of the low setup cost is offset by the cost of the actual phones. You also need network cables for PC connection.

Emergencies

One of the most well-known disadvantages of VoIP is 911 emergency service calls. Because VoIP is not geographically based, there can be difficulties connecting to your local emergency service.

Traditional phone networks provide your business’s address information to the 911 operator, but VoIP can't use this feature.

PBX

PBX phone systems are a lot like regular phone systems, except they incorporate multiple lines. This can seem like an excellent system for a business since you can have up to eight lines going simultaneously. The problem is, if your call volume is fairly consistent, and you have more than three lines going at once, they can easily become ineffective. This is because it's very easy to connect calls to the wrong people or disconnect callers by mistake.

Pricing

Phone systems are becoming a vital part of the workplace. Industry analysts Frost & Sullivan made the prediction that worldwide revenues for IP PBXs would expand to just over nine billion in 2007. This is compared with 2003 when revenues were only slightly under two billion. Other industry experts forecasted that more than 50 percent of worldwide phone traffic would be IP-based by 2007.

Cost of Ownership

Switching to a VoIP system can save a significant amount of money for a business. Before an organization decides on a phone system, it first must identify the needs of the business. Expensive systems cost more in the short-term, but the long-term benefits more than make up for it.

Conclusion

There is not any one phone system that is appropriate for every business. The size of your business, the services available in your area, your company’s budget, and the needs of your business are some of the factors that you should think about before contracting with a phone systems provider. Basic services are a good fit for most small businesses, but larger companies will likely need more than just basic phone system services. In order to ensure that you make the right decision, consider your needs at the point of your highest call volume. If the system you incorporate into your business can handle the highest volume of calls your business usually gets, and if the system fits into your company’s budget, it is likely the right system.