A stable and efficient communication system is the backbone of any business. As business grows, so does its needs. Depending upon the number of employees, areas of operation, nature of work and profile of clients, one must choose the most suitable phone system. Following are the various business phone system options, each with features, pros and cons, which will help you, match them to your needs and make the right choice:

Virtual Phone System

If your business has employees working remotely, a virtual phone system is apt for you. In this system a business phone line is connected to the cell phones of remote workers irrespective of the location they are in. When a client calls on the business phone number, the call is diverted to the worker’s cell phones. The phone system offers services like call forwarding, automated receptionist, online faxing, voice mail etc.

It is an affordable solution for small businesses that are in need of presenting a professional face to their clients and at the same time saving on costs of communicating with the employees.

Landlines

The most traditional form of phone systems, landline phones are time tested and fairly reliable method of communication. Suited for large organisations that have designated teams to manage the equipment may opt for such systems and support the complex business arrangements.

Landlines also offer features like call forwarding, transferring, conference calls, fax etc. However, they need maintenance and often prove to be costlier than other advanced phone systems.

VoIP Systems

Best suited for businesses that wish to use sophisticated communication systems that project themselves as smart professionals, VoIP systems offer a wide range of services. In this system, the internet connection is used to convert even the computers and laptops into virtual phones. The installation costs of this system are reasonable.

There are two kinds of VOIP systems available:

Self Hosted VoIP

In this, the business buys, owns and maintains the equipment, mainly the Private Branch Exchange or PBX hardware to run the phone lines. PBX system allows for circuit switching within the organisation’s phone system. If a business has an IT team in place, this system works best as everything is under self control and can be configured as willed. It does have an upfront high cost as the entire equipment needs to be bought but a business that foresees growth and needs better accessibility to all functioning may opt for this service.

Cloud-based VoIP system

In this case the phone system company will provide the hardware and software related services and there is no hassle to manage anything internally. A monthly or quarterly payment is made to the vendor. Hence, for businesses that do not have many employees, this system is the most suitable.

Keeping in mind the budget and future plans, a business has many options to choose from when it comes to a phone system. Make sure you have done the research well as there are many vendors providing these services. Pick the best plan and best equipment to build a competent phone system for your business.

We, at Folkerson Communications, Ltd., offer affordable business phone systems in Austin, TX. For more information, you can call us at (254) 698 – 0016.

A business phone system is the primary mode of communication between the company and its clients. You need to have a phone system with high-end technology in order to stay ahead of your competitors. Having the latest equipment will make communication even more effective and help you save your time as well as money.

Below are some signs that your business needs a new phone system:

• Existing phone system is technically outdated: If your existing phone systems have become technically obsolete and require frequent repair and maintenance services, you must consider installing new systems. Also, the traditional business phone systems are complex and require specialized hardware which involves a lot of investment. In contrast, most modern phone systems simply require working internet connection to be operated. 
• Your business requires increased functionality: Your current phone systems may function well but they can fail to keep up with the latest business operations. For instance, the new phone systems can provide you statistics by monitoring and recording the calls. These features are not available in the older systems. In addition, there are many other features in advanced phone systems which make them a perfect choice for your business.
• You are relocating your office: It is ideal to get a new phone system in case you are moving from your present office location. Transporting your present networking and phone equipment will add to significant costs as you need to uninstall, transport and re-install them in the new office. With so many constraints, it is better to upgrade to a new phone system.
• Increasing call volume: As an expanding company, your phone calls can spiral upwards. However, if you do not have enough phone lines to handle the growing traffic, it can hamper your business. Instead of increasing ports, opt for a modern business phone system that can easily accommodate the influx of rising calls.
• The old system has reached its maximum capacity: Older phone systems have limited ports, are hard to maintain and offer limited features. With upgraded phone systems, the location of the users doesn’t matter as it is simple to add extensions. This saves your time and money as well as adds to your company’s productivity.

We, at Folkerson Communications, Ltd., offer a wide range of hosted phone systems to the business firms in Killeen, TX. For more information, you can call us at (254) 698 – 0016 or visit our office at 701 Sun Meadows Dr., Harker Heights, TX 76548.

A phone system is an integral part of any business as it promotes productivity. The business phone systems nowadays are not just limited to making and receiving calls but are multi-functional systems that offer additional features like call recording, instant messaging, video calling etc.

If you are a small business, it is imperative that you install an efficient phone system to save the time of your employees and also increase the output of your organization. Following are the factors that you need to consider before buying a phone system:

• Features Offered: Before you decide on a specific phone system, have a clear understanding of the features that are required by your employees. For instance, they may require voice mail, video conferencing or auto attendant features. Finalize a phone system that meets all these requirements and also suits your budget.
• Scalability: You need to determine how scalable phone system you require. It is important to know the number of phone lines required in your office. For example: you could require a phone extension at the reception, conference room, warehouse etc. In addition, you also need to consider how many phone calls you expect to make and receive at a point of time. This will also help to determine the phone extensions that you would need.
• Backup Required: Having a single network for data and voice will save you ample time and money, but it may not be beneficial in the longer run. In case there is a power failure, all your business operations will come to a standstill if you do not have a back-up connection. Therefore, keep this consideration in mind before buying a phone system for your small business.
• Flexibility: As a small business entity, you are expanding your operations every single day. Therefore, you require a phone system that does not affect employee productivity even if they are traveling for work purposes. For instance, there are certain voice and video tools that are important for interacting with your employees working from a remote office. Also, you must have a phone system that will easily adapt to your changing business needs in the future.
• Sound quality: A good quality business phone system is imperative as it not only gives a good impression to the customer but also helps in effective conversation. Superior sound quality is a pre-requisite and you must install a phone system that adheres to this prerequisite.

We, at Folkerson Communications, Ltd., provide efficient and affordable phone systems to all types of business firms in Killeen, TX. For more information, you can call us at (254) 698 – 0016.