What is VoIP?

This is just a small sample of the advantages of using a

VoIP System
With hosted VoIP systems for small business, you get advanced communications
and collaboration capabilities—HD-quality voice, video conferencing, email-to-
voice, presence tracing, CRM integration, mobile-first technology, cloud scalability
and more.

Your people and partners can be more productive, work faster and smarter with
their favorite business apps and enjoy the same seamless experience no matter
how they are connected.

VoIP is quick and easy to set up and provision and offers multiple options for
deployment and services. You get a single communications platform that’s
reliable and secure.

VoIP for small business bundles phone, data, and video into one unified service
so you can do more with less.
Now you can enjoy the speed, flexibility, and security of unified communications
on your own network.

Let's go over some key terms:

• "VoIP" (voice over IP) lets you make phone calls over an IP (Internet
protocol) data network.
• "Unified communications" takes VoIP for small business a step further. It
helps you combine all of your communications, voice, data, and video, into a
single solution. with lots of features.

VoIP for small business keeps it simple

As a small business owner, you've got to stay flexible-and that's why VoIP for
small business is such a great way to go. By switching to an Internet-based phone
system on your own network, you'll stay connected at work and at home. You'll
have better security. And you'll have easier access to the information you need,
right when you need it.

 Save money
 Reduce travel expenses with Web conferencing, video calls, and other
collaborative tools
 Add extra phone lines easily-VoIP allows you to send more than one phone
call across the same Web-based network
 Communicate better with employees and customers
 Offer more ways for you and your employees to stay connected
 "Presence" technology allows you to see which employees are available
and how to contact them
 Unified communications make it easier for you to work from home-or from
anywhere with an Internet connection
 Enjoy lots of features without hidden fees
 Call forwarding
 Voicemail
 Unlimited long distance
 Call conferencing
 Caller ID

Quality business VoIP providers today offer a wide variety of feature packages,
services and prices. Your chosen Voice over IP provider and you can be prepared
to take the following steps to facilitate the smooth startup of your services:
• Evaluate Your Internet Connection. – Determine the strength and
capacity of your Internet connection and bandwidth.
• Assess Your Company Budget and Needs. – With knowledge of your
company’s current budget and VoIP needs, you can more easily select the service
provider and feature options that meet your requirements.
• Determine Your Equipment Needs. – Evaluate your current and near
future VoIP equipment needs.
• Compare VoIP Providers. – By comparing VoIP company service options,
advanced features and equipment along with user and industry reviews, you can
best make a wise decision, selecting the ideal VoIP provider.
Important Information to Request from Any Potential VoIP Provider

Upon signing a service contract with any business VoIP provider, be sure to
request basic service information and practices in writing. Be certain of such
details as startup costs and monthly fees, any limitations and costs on portable
phone numbers and exactly which features are included in the service package
you select.

Take Full Control and Advantage of Your VoIP System

Once your new business VoIP system and service are in place, you and your staff
members will have full-control capabilities for use of your business
communications system.

You can manage your call settings remotely, directing calls to voicemail or having
them transferred to another number or extension. You can also make exceptions
to any chosen setting in your phone system.

Major Business Benefits and Advantages of Installing VoIP

When Your VoIP system installed and running well in your company offices, you
can work much more efficiently, achieving more in less time. You will enjoy the
many benefits of knowing that you can leave the responsibility of your advanced
office telecommunications system operations to your VoIP provider.

Major benefits and advantages of your new business VoIP system enable you to
accomplish the following:

• Schedule Your Own Business Hours. – With the aid of your

comprehensive VoIP installation, you can virtually work whatever hours you
choose, from any location
• Telecommute with Style and Ease. – With use of hosted PBX from the
cloud, your advanced communications system can quickly connect you with
another office or with everyone in your company, even if you have both national
and international office locations.
• Use Diverse Messaging Features. – Enjoy benefits from such messaging
options as Voicemail Transcription so you can read textual messages while in
meetings or other places where listening to messages is inappropriate or not
possible.
• Request Multiple Phone Numbers. – VoIP providers often supply
additional phone numbers to service subscribers, free of charge or for a nominal
fee.

• Premium VoIP Features for Advanced Business Calling - Along with the
many standardized options available for use with your VoIP business system, you
also have use of premium options.

• Advanced features and options you are likely to have access to

include the following:

• Auto Attendant. – This convenient feature provides you with use of a virtual
receptionist. Automated and on-duty 24/7/365,
• Auto-Call Distribution (ACD). – As an advanced model of the call-search
feature, this option can actually locate and connect the correct office and
employee to handle each incoming call.
• Business SMS. – With this valuable function, you can direct text messages
to your clients, business associates or departmental divisions through your
business phone number from your mobile phone.
• Call Barge-In. – This valuable option enables the user to place a call as a
conferencing barge. This forced barge-in results in a three-way call along with a
listen in or call monitoring capability.
• Call Me Now. – This helpful feature enables clients to enter their telephone
numbers on your business website to reach your company directly.
• Call Recording. – This sophisticated feature supports employee recording,
playback, downloading and deletion of all calls, both inbound and outbound.
• Conference Bridge. – With this useful function, companies can host their
own conference calls. With most VoIP service plans, the average number of
participating callers is about 15 to 25 for a reasonable flat monthly charge.
These useful features can aid employees in placing, receiving and managing
business phone calls:

• Day/Night Mode. – This handy feature makes it possible for phone users
to designate different calling rules for daytime working hours and night hours when
the office is vacant.
• Find Me/Follow Me. – Working in sync, these two technical options enable
receiving calls at different places and/or via different telephones. The Find Me
feature discovers the designated employee’s location while the Follow Me finds
the phone for this location.
• Hunt Group. – This function allows groups of phone extensions to handle
certain calls. Related to this feature is Line Hunts, a convenient call option
permitting calls from one number to be distributed to multiple lines within a group
of phones.
• User Web Portal. – New VoIP service users are granted access to a web
portal to manage different aspects and features of their accounts. By using this
portal, users can add or cancel usage options, pay their monthly bills, review and
edit account settings, manage calls, set phone greetings and other outgoing
messages, and direct caller traffic and call distribution.
• Video Conferencing. – State-of-the-art VoIP systems for business include
video conference calling, providing each participant with a live video view of all
other participating callers.

Why Is Telephony Still a Business Must-Have?

An increasing number of employees today prefer to conduct their business
communications over digital means such as social media and live chat
applications. However, the phone remains a vital device in the workplace despite
this trend.

This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to VoIP.

Voice over Intern