Phone System Help: Choosing the Right One
November 6, 2009
Replacing your dinosaur phone system has been a headache for some. I think I found some help that will ease the pain. The following helpful advice came from a column in Inc. Technology. This will get you phone system shoppers off to a great start!
“With such an assortment of phone systems on the market, business owners need help cutting through the clutter so that they can figure out the best phone system for their business:
#1. Get a head count of employees that need outside lines. Start by considering the number of employees that need to use the system. Then add up the number of extensions needed for fax machines, modems, credit card terminals, etc. If it’s a small office with a staff of fewer than 10 employees, consider off-the-shelf phones systems for considerable savings. But if your business has a staff of more than 40, it’s most likely that a Private Branch Exchange (PBX) system is called for. No longer is PBX synonymous for those huge telecom closets you see at large firms. They now come in the small business size and can fit on top of a desk.
#2. Forecast company needs down the road. When considering a system, examine where your company will be a few years from now. Will you increase staff? Will you open branch offices? Is an acquisition or merger likely? Experts suggest doubling the wiring if your company is likely to expand in the not-too-distant future.
#3. Consider VoIP. For phone service, check into Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) phone systems. VoIP technology allows businesses to place and receive calls using the Web, offering potential cost savings. Matt Godden, president of Seattle, Wash.-based Xoasis Networks, a provider of small-business VoIP phone systems, says, “If you’re a company with branch offices, you can transfer all calls without hangup and pickup and have one operator manage all four offices” with VoIP. There were more than 4.5 million VoIP users in the U.S. last year, and that number will double this year, according to International Data Corp.
#4. Buy second hand or rent. Try leasing or buying used phone equipment. Companies change phones for many reasons — not just that their phones are outdated — and your company might be able to benefit from some bargains in the market. Some firms specialize in selling refurbished equipment.
#5. Buy at the close of the quarter. For firms that aren’t keen on leasing, keep certain things in mind when buying a new phone system. Purchase at the end of the quarter when sales reps are trying to hit quotas. You may find some bargains. #6. Pick a reputable seller. Who will take your call if the system goes down? Better to deal with a company that will be responsive and help you out of a jam. Most dealers handle not only the sale but installation. It’s important to undertake due diligence when choosing a dealer. The first question should be how many installations the dealer has finished using your phone system. #7. Compatibility is key. Remember to consider the other equipment or services you already own or contract for that you’re not going to replace. Make sure any new phone system is compatible with headsets, conferencing tools, voicemail and call forwarding systems that you already have and use.”
I am personally happy with our Panasonic System. I wholeheartedly recommend it to any who ask. I really like the upgradeable programming capabilities. But, whatever system you go with, I hope you found this information as helpful as I did.
Good Strategy For Long Distance Savings
November 4, 2009
Damon Brown wrote a very practical plan to choose the best long distance plan for Inc. Technology. Taking his advice seems fool proof.
“Here are six tips for finding the best phone plan for your business:
Tip #1: Go rate shopping each year
Phone company rates aren’t static. More importantly, the needs of your company will change over time. “It would also be wise to check rates again at least once each year,” says Stephanie Chandler, founder of BusinessInfoGuide.com, a Sacramento, Calif. based newsletter and website for entrepreneurs and start-ups. ”You can potentially save a lot of money by shopping for the best long distance plan on an annual basis.”
Tip #2: Consider a cell phone-based plan
If you have a highly-mobile business or need phones for only a few employees, experts recommend considering cell phones. Furthermore, nearly all cell phone carriers charge the same for local and long-distance calls. “Since cell service gets more reliable every day and most include long distance, this can be a viable option for many small businesses,” Chandler says.
There are a few big disadvantages. One, there are limited minutes during normal business hours, which are 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. weekdays for most cell phone carriers. Two, a basic phone line may still need to be installed and maintained for Internet and fax usage (though a local-only line can be significantly cheaper). Three, make sure the carrier’s coverage is good in your office.
Tip #3: Consider Internet-based calling
Vonage and other new phone companies now offer long-distance calling via Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), which allows your business to call people for less by routing communications through the computer. Monthly fees are around $40, and often include a fax line, call forwarding and caller ID. Unfortunately, the service requires a special phone adapter, broadband connection and, most bothersome, no Web surfing while a call is being made (splitting the modem feed would be required).
VoIP is fairly new technology, but AT&T and Qwest are now offering packages. “If you want to tiptoe in, try a company with a money-back guarantee,” recommends Kim Komando, Microsoft Online’s workplace technology expert. “And make sure you understand the terms before taking the plunge.”
Tip #4: Join organizations for group discounts
The Small Business Association, the National Business Association, and other organizations often offer deep discounts on long-distance services. Networking with other businesses is always a good idea, but weigh the potential savings against the cost of membership.
Tip #5: Separate local and long-distance services
While packages can save money, experts say separating local and long-distance services may save additional money. More creative types can use a flat-rate cell phone for long distance and a traditional line for local calls. Also, provided you have the patience to dial some extra numbers, using a phone card will give a cheaper per-minute average. “A prepaid long-distance card can cut costs if you don’t make many long-distance landline calls,” according to Consumer Reports. The publication estimates it can save businesses a few hundred dollars annually.
Tip #6: Ask for estimate based on usage
Measure or calculate your likely call usage. Ask potential providers for a rough estimate of your potential monthly bill. “If they can’t answer this question in advance, then choose another provider,” Chandler says.”
I have always found that shopping around for better prices on things like long distance and insurance have paid off. What perhaps we should do is take a look at them twice a year rather than just once…if you have the time.
VoIP Is The Cost Effective – Smart Choice
November 3, 2009
VoIP is a cheaper option for dialtone both for personal or business use. I know many friends who have already made the switch which was initially because of cost but then they found the features available with the service the reason to stay. For those who are still on the fence, here’s what INC. Technology had to say:
“Small businesses that opt to go with cable firms for their voice service find their monthly bills are about 10 to 15 percent cheaper than with plain old telephone service a/k/a “POTS.” Moreover, few take any issue with the voice quality, especially Mike Arden, principal analyst with ABI Research, of Oyster Bay, N.Y. Arden says that quality is mainly a problem when you contract with third parties. “The really inexpensive services can’t control the quality,” he says.
There are two ways to get VoIP service. One is to get a hosted service. The other is to install a PBX router over a broadband line. Arden says in each case, the grade of voice reception depends on the amount of bandwidth. Arden added that his research showed that small businesses often gravitated to cable-based VoIP so they can get more features for the same price as basic POTS, not necessarily because they wanted to save money.
Such features include things like unified messaging that let employees keep voicemails on their desktop PCs as audio files.”
The VoIP and Telecommuting Connection
November 2, 2009
This article appeared on MSNBC.com and was really informative regarding telecommuting and the possibilities of using ones own VoIP network:
“Victor Cousins has a pretty good gig working for the human resources department at Sun Microsystems, but he doesn’t have an office, just a locker.
Don’t feel sorry for him. He’s not one of those types who measure his career success by the size of his office. In fact, he’s proud to be office-less, and he’s the quintessential telecommuter. He works anywhere he wants – his home in Oakland, the local coffee shop, and at any Sun location throughout the country. When his mother had knee surgery in May he was able to spend time with her, working out of a Sun office in St. Louis.
Welcome to the workplace of the future. Cousins is an example of the mobile worker that will become much more pervasive in the next 10 years.
Finally, telecommuting will become a mainstay in Corporate America but that doesn’t mean everyone will be working at home all the time, a prediction made by many workforce observers just a decade ago. The U.S. worker will be a mélange of office inhabitant and work-anywhere warrior.
Take Cousins. Even though he doesn’t have an office, he reserves office space at Sun’s San Francisco location when he needs to be in house and interact with coworkers and managers. Right now, he splits his time 50-50 between home and in the office, but envisions spending more time away from the mother ship in the months ahead.
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“I like having the balance,” he says about the flexibility and freedom to work from anywhere. He has a desktop computer; a laptop and a high speed Internet VoIP connection at his home. Sun paid more than $3,000 toward the equipment he needed to go mobile.
Today, upwards of 12 million employees telework more than 8 hours per week, up from about 6 million in 2000, according to Gartner Dataquest. The number will hit nearly 14 million by 2009. Caroline Jones, an analyst for Gartner who expects the number to continue to grow, says the rate of increase has been steady for a number of years even though telecommuting hasn’t been getting a lot of publicity in recent years.”
With the growth in VoIP networks and reliability the potential for telecommuting has become more practical and accessible than ever.
New Definition to telecommuting!
October 9, 2009
This is the most amazing contribution to telecommuting. You operate this “phone set” with your mouse on your laptop, notebook, smart phone or desk top computer just as if it were your office phone set. You can be anywhere you can go wireless or access the internet. Read below to find out what Panasonic has to say:
Communications Assistant IP Softphone – New Flexibility in Your Business Phone System
The Panasonic Communication Assistant IP Softphone module allows road warriors, sales and support staff, or any other power user to use their computer as an IP Phone for anytime, anywhere access to unified communications; meaning their communication will be “through” the home office phone system for extremely efficient, unified communication. The user simply needs to connect to the corporate IP network over a secure managed broadband connection to enable the IP Softphone. Transferring calls, accessing extensions and utilizing voice mail all become as simple as working from a “land” desk. Your business phone system just went mobile office! On the road employees have all the home office communication support they need.
With Your Wi-Fi Mobile Device
Panasonic IP Softphone for Windows Mobile devices enables mobile workers to have anytime anywhere access to comprehensive and powerful business telephony on their Windows Mobile devices. Panasonic IP Softphone for Windows Mobile is an IP business phone system software for WiFi-enabled Windows Mobile based devices. It provides transparent access to real time voice communications and productivity-enhancing Panasonic Business Telephone System features such as call set up, transfer and multiparty conference – all in the convenience of a handheld device. The software helps you manage call appearances and provides access to speed dial numbers and other personal calling features.
Integration with Microsoft Outlook
Communication Assistant seamlessly integrates with Microsoft® Outlook® allowing users to easily dial contact phone numbers and receive incoming call pop-up alerts. A small dockable toolbar appears within Outlook, allowing users easy access to advanced telephony applications.
New Flexibility for Your Business Phone System
September 25, 2009
Communications Assistant IP Softphone – New Flexibility in Your Business Phone System
The Panasonic Communication Assistant IP Softphone module allows road warriors, sales and support staff, or any other power user to use their computer as an IP Phone for anytime, anywhere access to unified communications; meaning their communication will be “through” the home office phone system for extremely efficient, unified communication. The user simply needs to connect to the corporate IP network over a secure managed broadband connection to enable the IP Softphone. Transferring calls, accessing extensions and utilizing voice mail all become as simple as working from a “land” desk. Your business phone system just went mobile office! On the road employees have all the home office communication support they need.
With Your Wi-Fi Mobile Device
Panasonic IP Softphone for Windows Mobile devices enables mobile workers to have anytime anywhere access to comprehensive and powerful business telephony on their Windows Mobile devices. Panasonic IP Softphone for Windows Mobile is an IP business phone system software for WiFi-enabled Windows Mobile based devices. It provides transparent access to real time voice communications and productivity-enhancing Panasonic Business Telephone System features such as call set up, transfer and multiparty conference – all in the convenience of a handheld device. The software helps you manage call appearances and provides access to speed dial numbers and other personal calling features.
Integration with Microsoft Outlook
Communication Assistant seamlessly integrates with Microsoft® Outlook® allowing users to easily dial contact phone numbers and receive incoming call pop-up alerts. A small dockable toolbar appears within Outlook, allowing users easy access to advanced telephony applications.
Just What is a Virtual Private Network?
September 18, 2009
- The Way it Works
“The world has changed a lot in the last couple of decades. Instead of simply dealing with local or regional concerns, many businesses now have to think about global markets and logistics. Many companies have facilities spread out across the country or around the world, and there is one thing that all of them need: A way to maintain fast, secure and reliable communications wherever their offices are.
As the popularity of the Internet grew, businesses turned to it as a means of extending their own networks. First came intranets, which are password-protected sites designed for use only by company employees. Now, many companies are creating their own VPN (virtual private network) to accommodate their communications needs of remote employees and distant offices.
Basically, a VPN is a private network that uses a public network – usually a VoIP system to connect remote sites or users together. Instead of using a dedicated, real-world connection such as leased lines, a VPN uses “virtual” connection routed through the VoIP from the company’s private network to the remote site or employee.”
Taken from HowStuffWorks.com
Cutting the Phone Lines
August 7, 2009
Telephone companies have ruled the communications industry with an iron fist for more than 100 years. The Bell system held a monopoly on domestic telephone service until 1984, when a federal law finally busted the company into several competing companies including AT&T. Today, a few huge phone service providers continue to charge exorbitant fees for a basic service.
The advent of VoIP, or Voice over Internet Protocal, represents a sea change in terms of the way we communicate. VoIP phone systems transfer analog audio into digital data that can be transmitted over the Internet. Free services such as Skype have harnessed this technology, allowing users to cut phone companies out of the loop entirely. The implications are enormous, and consumers are guaranteed to come out ahead.
Panasonic Phone Sytems – Top in VoIP
July 13, 2009
Panasonic has introduced their KX-NCP500 / 1000 VoIP phone systems. After the launch of their KX-TDE100 and KX-TDE200 in 2007 Panasonic has seen a swing towards Voip based PBX solutions in the small to medium business because they need the features of a full scale phone system with the flexibility for home offices, remote networking and telecommuting.
Fortunately, Premiere Communications has maintained the status as the only certified Panasonic Dealer in the Western Washington region. We were able to be trained and qualified on this innovative system at its launch in 2008.
