By Steve Mike Levy
Small business phone systems have come a long way in a relatively short period of time. No longer do you have to pay a lot of money to install cumbersome, expensive systems - and yet, you have access to more flexibility, more features, and better sound quality than ever.
Characteristics of today's small business telephone systems
· Extremely flexible
With traditional analog (landline) systems, you had to decide what features you wanted and then have the phone company add them, usually at significant cost feature by feature. A tech had to come out to your business, and actually physically change your setup or make other adjustments so that those features could be added.
That's not true with today's Internet-based telephone systems. Called "voice over Internet protocol" or VoIP, the Internet has made installing and upgrading small business telephone systems very easy indeed. You'll usually have to have an initial session with a tech to set things up, but then you can usually handle most changes by yourself from an easy-to-use Web based interface.
· Loaded with features - at no extra cost
Traditional small business phone systems do have features like call forwarding, call waiting, and caller ID, but you're generally going to pay extra for them. With voice over Internet protocol telephone systems, you'll get most if not all of those features at no extra cost beyond your monthly fee.
· Most long-distance calls are included for "free," too
With traditional small business systems, you had to pay extra for long-distance calls; even more expensive were long-distance calls to other countries. With Internet-based telephone services, you generally won't pay anything extra for domestic long distance phone calls, and you'll pay a modest fee at most for international calls.
· Add more users very easily
As your business expands, you probably also need more employees, which means you'll need more extensions for those employees. With traditional analog systems, you had to have a technician come out and set things up for you. Depending on your particular service's requirements, though, you can generally buy one service package and grow with it for a significant period of time without having to pay extra. And best of all, you can generally add the extra extensions yourself, again through an easy-to-use interface.
· Call forwarding to your cell phone lets you be out and about
You can get call forwarding in some cases to your cell phone, your home phone number, or other phone numbers as needed with traditional analog services, but again, you'll pay extra for this service. With the new Internet based small business phone systems, call forwarding comes with your service, at no extra charge. If you need to be out and about and not stuck at your desk phone, you can forward calls to your cell phone and carry on with business as usual, even though you're not actually in the office.
· You can use your analog equipment
If you've had a traditional phone system and are now switching over to Internet-based services, you can use your analog equipment. The connections are simply run through a router, which then connects to the Internet instead of through traditional phone lines. Most people say that with these small business telephone systems, voice quality is even better than with traditional landline service, giving you the best of all worlds.
I suggest you take the time to visit the website of Steve Mike levy at http://www.BusinessPhoneSystemsfinder.com and learn more about the changing world of Business Phone Systems.
If your looking to purchase an Office Phone System you may also receive access to instant price quotes at:
http://www.BusinessPhoneSystemsfinder.com/choosing_business_phone_systems.php
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Steve_Mike_Levy/1117836
Small business phone systems have come a long way in a relatively short period of time. No longer do you have to pay a lot of money to install cumbersome, expensive systems - and yet, you have access to more flexibility, more features, and better sound quality than ever.
Characteristics of today's small business telephone systems
· Extremely flexible
With traditional analog (landline) systems, you had to decide what features you wanted and then have the phone company add them, usually at significant cost feature by feature. A tech had to come out to your business, and actually physically change your setup or make other adjustments so that those features could be added.
That's not true with today's Internet-based telephone systems. Called "voice over Internet protocol" or VoIP, the Internet has made installing and upgrading small business telephone systems very easy indeed. You'll usually have to have an initial session with a tech to set things up, but then you can usually handle most changes by yourself from an easy-to-use Web based interface.
· Loaded with features - at no extra cost
Traditional small business phone systems do have features like call forwarding, call waiting, and caller ID, but you're generally going to pay extra for them. With voice over Internet protocol telephone systems, you'll get most if not all of those features at no extra cost beyond your monthly fee.
· Most long-distance calls are included for "free," too
With traditional small business systems, you had to pay extra for long-distance calls; even more expensive were long-distance calls to other countries. With Internet-based telephone services, you generally won't pay anything extra for domestic long distance phone calls, and you'll pay a modest fee at most for international calls.
· Add more users very easily
As your business expands, you probably also need more employees, which means you'll need more extensions for those employees. With traditional analog systems, you had to have a technician come out and set things up for you. Depending on your particular service's requirements, though, you can generally buy one service package and grow with it for a significant period of time without having to pay extra. And best of all, you can generally add the extra extensions yourself, again through an easy-to-use interface.
· Call forwarding to your cell phone lets you be out and about
You can get call forwarding in some cases to your cell phone, your home phone number, or other phone numbers as needed with traditional analog services, but again, you'll pay extra for this service. With the new Internet based small business phone systems, call forwarding comes with your service, at no extra charge. If you need to be out and about and not stuck at your desk phone, you can forward calls to your cell phone and carry on with business as usual, even though you're not actually in the office.
· You can use your analog equipment
If you've had a traditional phone system and are now switching over to Internet-based services, you can use your analog equipment. The connections are simply run through a router, which then connects to the Internet instead of through traditional phone lines. Most people say that with these small business telephone systems, voice quality is even better than with traditional landline service, giving you the best of all worlds.
I suggest you take the time to visit the website of Steve Mike levy at http://www.BusinessPhoneSystemsfinder.com and learn more about the changing world of Business Phone Systems.
If your looking to purchase an Office Phone System you may also receive access to instant price quotes at:
http://www.BusinessPhoneSystemsfinder.com/choosing_business_phone_systems.php
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Steve_Mike_Levy/1117836