There are many VoIP business phone systems that help businesses meet their communication needs with ease. Businesses can even use free VoIP systems like Google voice to chat away through the Internet and this can greatly reduce business communication expenses drastically. This article will talk about what hosted VoIP for business, unified communications and what the standard features for business VoIP are. After reading you should know the importance of VoIP business phone systems.
What is Hosted VOIP for Business?
A hosted VoIP for business is usually one of the more advanced features of a VoIP service where providers host a virtual PBX or telephone system for your business. When you decide to use a hosted VoIP for your business it means you want your business to simulate important features that fortune 500 companies use in the ordinary telephone system. What this means is that you will enjoy features like having an automatic attendant and calls to your business’ toll free number will be routed to the right employee no matter where the person is or what he or she is doing. Apart from that you can set up conference calls where people from different geographical locations participate and share inputs.
This hosted VoIP technology allows small and medium sized businesses have a sophisticated telephone system without investing in telephone equipment. You can use your hosted VoIP with your existing phones no matter how many they are, with your mobile phones and all other VoIP features. These features collectively work out to help your business appear being up to date with the latest communication systems. The best way to illustrate hosted VoIP is with an example. Let’s say you are running a carpet cleaning business.
You can set up your business communication system in such a way that your callers can get you during working hours and get answered by an auto attendant during none working hours. When an auto attendant receives calls when it is not office hours and it can ask your callers to leave a voice message etc. Calls can be routed to different sections of your business and to the appropriate qualified employee in each section. Once your callers dial your business phone number a professional auto attendant will tell your callers that you have dialed the right company. Calls can be routed to different sections by having an automated message that goes like this: To place order dial 1, enquiry dial 2, promos dial 3, discounts dial 4 etc.
What is Unified Communications?
Here’s exactly what unified communication means. It is an industry term that describes an integration of real-time communication between two or more people with non real-time communication services across multiple devices and types of media. Real-time communication means chatting, two-way voice calls, video conferencing and data sharing like whiteboards. Non real time communication on the other hand includes voicemail, email, fax and SMS.
An individual can use these forms of communication for both business and social purposes. Unified communications can also be compared to your email inbox which you use to communicate in real-time and non real-time respectively. All other forms of interaction where users communicate for transactional purposes and integrated voice responses can also be referred to as unified communication. This form of communication makes up most standard features of business VoIP. Let’s find out what these standard features are.
What are the Standard Features for Business VOIP?
Almost all business VoIP plans from various VoIP providers come with features that set them apart from ordinary home or residential plans. As a result of this business VoIP services cost higher than ordinary residential plans. Some of the standard features that set them apart are unlimited incoming calls, low international calling rates, online control panel where calls and features are easily managed, business number and the ability to add personal phone lines and mobile numbers which can be routed accordingly. Apart from the aforementioned features, other standard features include call management, voicemail management and hosted PBX features. All these features help businesses appear as professional as possible.
VoIP business phone systems have helped many businesses save money on their communication needs. This is why businesses that have not yet taken advantage of VoIP technology are considering it in droves. You have been able to know what hosted VoIP is, unified system of communication and the standard features of business VoIP system. This knowledge will make you know exactly what to expect when using VoIP system for your business.