Thursday, July 12, 2012

Telephony Options For Small Businesses

By Robert V. Pridemore


The role of technology in business is constantly becoming critical to success and that includes the world of Telephony and the communications capabilities that it offers. The way businesses use telephones and related devices has changed a lot in recent years. Thanks to the Internet, phone technology has changed permanently and now allows you to be constantly connected. Today's phones also give you the chance to perform increasingly complex tasks right from your office telephone with seamless ease. If you want to upgrade the phone service or hardware that your business is currently using, consider some of your options as well as the benefits of making a change.

One change that has dramatically affected the way many businesses look at phone services in the invention of Voice Over IP, or VOIP, phones. These systems do not depend on regular phone lines but rather manage all of the office's numbers, routing, and calling by means of the Internet. Apart from saving you a considerable amount of money on monthly telecommunications expenses, VOIP networks also offer a slew of additional services, such as voicemail, fax, conference calling, and call recording. You can find a number of VOIP providers online and request a monthly cost estimate from their websites to help you decide if your business could benefit from this technology.

Having the best quality telephony service in your office is not of real benefit if you are using outdated phones that cannot take full advantage of your network. Standard office phones should be able to handle at least two incoming lines and offer additional keys that make it easy to forward, hold, and conference multiple calls. Popular business phone manufactures have even made some models that feature touch screens and elaborate call management options.

For businesses of all sizes, the cost of telecommunications equipment is a major concern since this represents a major part of the company's monthly budget. For that reason you should take your time and thoroughly compare all VOIP plan offers and telephone equipment. To ensure that you get all the services you require at the lowest price, ask for monthly rate quotes from a few different local companies.

Telephony related technology has significantly changed the business world and the way clients and professionals interact. Taking a bit of time to analyze the options available to your small business can help you find ways to take advantage of the latest advancements in telecommunications.




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