VoIP is the short form for Voice over Internet Protocol It uses a technology that converts analog voice into digital packets and then uses Internet Protocol to send them to the final destination. So basically it is a system of making calls through the Internet across your Local Area Network or Wide Area Network. VoIP phone systems are being increasingly used in business establishments and are preferred to traditional phone systems mainly because they are inexpensive. Also, they are very convenient, portable and come with a host of communication features available at no extra charge.

The following are some of the major benefits that a VoIP phone system has to offer to a business:

• Advanced features: The VoIP phone system comes with a host of advanced features such as:

1. Call park
2. Call pick
3. Call reporting
4. Voicemail
5. Conference calling
6. Direct inward dialing, etc

All these features are provided at no extra cost and help in making a business extremely efficient by saving time and cost involved.

• Work from anywhere: With a VoIP phone system, you are not restricted to work from your office. You can even work from home and be in touch with the happenings in the office, provided you have a reliable Internet connection. All you need to do is deploy IP phones wherever there is an Internet connection and this way you can even set up branch offices that are connected to your main system at a central location.
• Save on costs: Using VoIP for your business calls will help you save money on the calls and also on the maintenance and support of the whole system. Even if you are diversifying your business and opening new branches elsewhere, you need not spend on laying separate cabling for your phone system.
• Scalability: A VoIP system grows with your business requirements which means you do not have to replace the whole system in case of additional requirements. Instead of such complications, you get additional extensions easily, which relieves you of sudden expenditure and inconvenience.
• Number mobility: With VoIP, you get to enjoy number mobility, which is highly beneficial for businessmen as they can use the same number anywhere in the world. It is a great convenience for business people who travel frequently as they get to use the same number wherever they go.

VoIP phone systems are a rage these days for both small and large business establishments due to the convenience they have to offer at an extremely affordable price. Hosted VoIP means a voice over IP service for businesses, which is provided by an outside company and does away with the need to but any additional equipment. With hosted VoIP phone systems, you do not have to worry about maintenance issues, updating, or managing the system for your company. It lets you focus on your work better without having to worry about issues related to the VoIP phone system.

Here are some tips that will be of immense help when selecting a Hosted VoIP system:

• Be clear about the features you need: Most of the hosted VoIP service providers include a host of features in their package that are not really needed but contribute in raising the cost of the service. It is best to evaluate the service providers in your area and opt for one that provides a few services that you need and is affordable too. You might end up getting a service provider who offers just the features you need for your business at a much lower cost than the rest.
• Research: Research is an invaluable tool for success and can be very useful when deciding on a Hosted VoIP phone system. Make the most out of the information on the internet, jot down your business requirements, discuss thoroughly with service providers in order to understand the working of the system. You should be clear about the features included how to implement them, and the costs that will be incurred.
• Scalability: The Hosted VoIP phone system that you choose should be one that will be able to grow with your business as the time goes by. It is futile to get stuck with a plan that is best only under the present circumstance. The features provided should suit your present business needs and even those of the future.
• Behind the curtains: Be sure to get vital information as to who owns the company you are planning to deal with, who is to be called in case of a problem, what their future plans of growth are, etc. The key is in knowing as much as you can about the network of the system so that you can be sure your business in reliable hands.

For affordable and reliable VOIP phone systems for your business, kindly visit us at Folkerson Communication, LTD. We can be contacted at Austin: (512) 977-0055, Temple: (254) 742-0064, Killeen: (254) 698-0016 and Waco: (254) 662-2255.

Communication plays an essential role in the functioning of any business, whether within the organization, or with customers and clients. If you are looking for a new phone system for your business, VoIP, or Voice Over Internet Protocol is definitely a choice worth considering. This modern telephone system is ideal for businesses, with its myriad functions and features making streamlined communication within a budget an affordable option. By opting for hosted VoIP, you do not even need to invest in the basic infrastructure, and can get started right away with just a computer system and an internet connection.

Enlisted below are the major benefits that VoIP offers to small and medium business enterprises-

• Cheaper cost- When compared to a traditional phone system, VoIP results in a substantial deduction in phone bills. This is especially significant in case of businesses involving a large amount of long-distance calls, in this case the monthly costs can be reduced by up to 70%.
• Scalability- Another major advantage of a VoIP phone system from a business-point of view is its scalability, which means that this phone system allows you to expand your business, or cut down on its size with perfect ease. Having a hosted VoIP service provider means that you do not need to invest in a new setup, and can instead simply add or remove extensions as per your requirement.
• Mobility- With a VoIP phone system for your business, you can literally carry your office with you wherever you go. Whether you are on a flight, in another country, or simply at home, as long as you have an internet connection, you can make and receive calls on your office number with VoIP. You can also make use of additional features like integrated voice mail to further streamline your business communication.
• Additional features- VoIP systems for business boost both employee efficiency and customer satisfaction through its feature-rich interface. Features like call-forwarding, call-waiting, voicemail, video-conferencing, voice-to-email, etc. ensure that you always remain a step ahead when it comes to communication needs at the workplace.

The above mentioned benefits simply give you a brief of what you can expect by switching to VoIP for your business. However, the actual impact of this revolutionary phone system can only be experienced by actually using it. All that it takes to replace your traditional phone system with VoIP is a phone call to a hosted VoIP service provider.

We at Folkerson Communications, LTD, provide customized and affordable hosted VoIP phone system for your business in and around Central Texas. For more details, call us at Austin: (512) 977-0055, Temple: (254) 742-0064, Killeen: (254) 698-0016 and Waco: (254) 662-2255.

Voicemail has gone on to become an integral part of voice communications, and as users consider switching from traditional PBX phone systems to VoIP, a question that is likely to arise in the mind is how this switch shall affect the functioning of voice mail? Just like with most other phone functions, VoIP also enhances the quality of voicemail by boosting its efficiency and quality. The basic advantage of the centralized voicemail in VoIP phone systems is the ease of interaction between both parties, as well as higher voicemail capacity. Moreover, it also eliminates the need for having voicemail boxes in each cubicle, due to its centralization.

The ease of use of such an interface makes it simple for agents to access voicemail without having to undergo any complex training. Such an enhancement in voicemail functionality leads to better customer satisfaction and ultimately better returns for the company. Some companies might make the mistake of thinking that voicemail management can’t be made better. However, the centralized voicemail feature of VoIP phone systems defies this, by making it possible to use the voicemail system in the central IP office for a remote office system.

The only requirements that you need for this setup are the necessary VoIP lines and the Small Community Network (SCN). Even though it is possible to access the feature in a networked IP office system, but it is highly recommended to get an SCN, due to the unpredictability of the former setup. Your hosted VoIP provider should be able to provide this basic infrastructure to you at a nominal cost. With this done, you shall only require a feature key and voicemail license key for the central system, with which you can then connect any number of remote systems, provided the extension and group numbering is unique for each system. Using the same extensions can pose difficulty during maintenance.

With a centralized voicemail system for VoIP installed, most of the voicemail features can be accessed at remote sites. These include call recording, automated answer, voice messaging, dial by name directory, etc. This simple setup can definitely be a great boost to communication in your office, and is specially suited for multi-location offices.

For affordable centralized VOIP systems in and around Central Texas, kindly visit us at Folkerson Communications Ltd. You can contact us at Austin: (512) 977-0055, Temple: (254) 742-0064, Killeen: (254) 698-0016 and Waco (254) 662-2255.