Now, there is no need to rush to the stores after work to get what you need, you can simply go home, hop on the internet and find everything that you have been looking for, plus much more; in addition more often than not you find it for a discounted price! Anything from Anti-itch cream to ordering tickets to the zoo is at your fingertips and waiting on you to click the Proceed to Check-Out button.

The one thing that I have found utterly amazing is the fact that you can buy any Cellular Phone from just about any Carrier including: Cingular, Sprint PCS, Verizon, T-mobile, Nextel, Alltel, etc for the price of your monthly plan! No costly phone price’s, no activation fee’s, and no hidden fee’s either, when I came across this I was stunned. I couldn’t understand how you could get a phone that would cost you approximately $250 in the store but online it was FREE? Then I started to take into consideration that there were no overhead costs for these websites. They had no monthly rent bills, no electric bills, no water bills, nothing. It all started to make sense, so I decided to look further into this and found that there were no gimmicks at all. It was true. You could literally walk away with a new phone, at only the price of your monthly contract.

So, I decided to not only get me a new cell phone but also to find more information out about this cool new way to buy and sell all sorts of electronics. I found information out about how you can purchase Alarm Systems Online, for only the cost of the monthly monitoring fee. Then someone in your area will come and install your system for free! The same goes for Satellite Dish providers; you purchase it for only the cost of the monthly subscription fee, you can get up to four receivers in your home for as little as $19.95 per month. Then someone will come out and install all of the equipment free of charge. That’s a deal!

So before you go out and spend hundreds of your hard earned dollars, grab a computer, do a little surfing, compare some prices and get what you want for a price that you can afford! there are websites out there for anything that you are looking for, so take advantage of there amazing deals, you won’t regret it! I guarantee it. Thanks for reading and God Bless.

I was at a lecture about natural disasters recently. The point that was driven through my head was – Before disaster strikes make a plan with your family on how to communicate with each other and keep the phone lines open.

Use the family or friends you have in other areas or states. Each family member has the phone number to various relatives. The next step would be to pick one or two to use as a communication base if disaster did strike. This person becomes your Designated Phone Contact.

With each family member instructed as to this procedure ahead of time it can save lives, mass confusion, relieve stress and leave the phone lines open.

When a disaster does hit the phone lines become a feeding frenzy which makes it almost impossible to contact any of your family members. You will be well ahead of the game if you call and check in with your Designated Phone Contact. This will lead to less confusion and your family and friends will be relieved to know you are okay.

Thank you for reading my article. Please feel free to read any of the numerous articles I have written on various subjects.

Copyright Linda E. Meckler 2007

With the ever increasing competition, several different types of office phone systems are available and thus, there are some significant factors which you need to consider when deciding on the best phone system which is perfectly suited to the size of your business and scale of the operations. Before choosing the phone system for your business, you must keep in mind that the best phone system is the one which can offer extra help to your employees to enhance their performance and productivity. For this you need to know about different types of phone systems available to you.

• KSU less system- This phone system is the most perfect option for the small businesses with less than ten employees. KSU less system involves less initial investment, as you just need to buy the phones only. This kind of system is temporarily wired in the office and this makes it quite easy and convenient to shift to some new location. The only drawback of such a system is that the system is not expandable.
• Key system- KSU or key system unit is typically used for businesses with ten to forty employees. The key system comes with the phone cabinet which accommodates routing software and makes use of landline system for routing calls.
• Private Branch Exchange or PBX system- This phone system is best suited for the midsize organizations with forty or more employees. This kind of system is highly customizable and would give an enterprise advanced functionality. This is quite an expensive system and you can easily buy the complete system and get it installed in your office space. Alternately, one can also consider the use of hosted PBX system where the equipment is managed and owned by the service providers. This option would cut down the system costs significantly, yet offering excellent functionality, which most of the businesses require from the PBX system.
• VoIP or Voice over IP- A VoIP phone system can offer considerable cost savings with many useful and advanced features. VoIP system runs over the internet and routes calls over the data network. These systems are available in various varieties- hosted VoIP, IP-PBX, virtual PBX and many other options. This system makes use of a combination of landline and internet connections for routing calls. The major drawback of using this kind of system is that you are completely dependent on the internet connection to place and receive calls and can experience limited bandwidth or network outrages, which can impede the phone services.

Phone systems, nowadays offer several advantages and it is very important to choose an efficient office phone system which is best suited to your business needs and requirements.

In order to operate as a Premium Rate Service operator in the UK you need a registration with ICSTIS. At the time of registration the service providers must provide certain information to the regulatory body. After verifying the details an ICSTIS premium rate number is offered to the service provider.

The service provider must provide some minimum details to ICSTIS for getting a license. Some of these details are the telephone number ranges with which it wants to offer services, any website address that the service provider may need to link as part of the service, and the contact details of the directors. Once the registration is done the service provider is given a Service Provider Registration Number (SPN).

The important point to note here is that you need to register only once as a service provider. The charge that a service operator can charge for premium rate numbers is up to £1.50 per minute.The service providers should take care of any relevant legal and regulatory conditions before embarking on the service. There are some areas of Premium Rate Number services which are outside the purview of ICSTIS. These are legal, technical, commercial and matters related to services that do not charge via premium rate.

Phone networks planning to offer premium rate services should also register with ICSTIS before they can start their services. This applies to communication providers who wish to start originating services and terminating services for premium rate numbers.

If you start your services without registration then ICSTIS has the rights to initiate investigation against your firm. Also you have to pay a levy on the revenues that you generate to the regulatory body.

ICSTIS also takes initiative to ensure that people using the premium rate services are not taken for a ride by the service providers and the network companies. It has given a mandate to the service providers to offer precise and accurate pricing information, genuine advertising and service content. ICSTIS has certain powers to bar companies from operating Premium Rate Services if they breach the code of conduct of operations. It takes around 30 days to get a clearance from ICSTIS and start services. The investment for a service provider can be from nil to £50.

Once you have a service provider license from ICSTIS you can start any premium rate service such as weather forecasts, adult entertainment services or technical support services for hardware. ICSTIS plays the role of a father figure in the Premium Rate Number industry. ICSTIS is offering relentless service for the benefit of consumers, providers and operators. Without its presence we could have been in a jungle that is Premium Rate service numbers.

Despite the all too frequent uneducated decision making process in the business world…..there are some advantages to VoIP over the standard alternatives.

For example site-to-site IP links can save a bundle over point to point T1′s. With an IP pbx you can (depending on who makes it) offer interactive services to your customers and deploy other similar features that are far more costly with old analog PBXs. Videoconferencing is as simple as buying worksites video IP phones or videochat software (expensive or impossible with a standard PBX). Expansion is also quite easy. But possibly the biggest selling point is that the best is yet to come- sure we don’t have dial by name or anything like that yet, but wait a few years…

Where many businesses differ is in their view on the benefit of Open Standards and the cost savings this will bring. While Open standards can yield big dollar savings in the right situation….that shouldn’t be pursued blindly without regard to all potential ramifications.

Some businesses view the dollar savings as holy mantra in their decision making process. Often to the detriment of common sense, technical application, and overall business impact.

While those businesses who follow a well informed and well thought out approach to an educated decision tend to take the position…..”When I buy a solution for my business, I want reliablility, accountabillity and stability.

For this reason they prefer to buy from a major vendor with a track record, and are reluctant to use an Open source product like Asterix, because they do not know who to shout at when it needs fixing, as it surely will sometime during its life.

Other advantages such as mobility and branch office IP trunking make VOIP a winner for many. The ability to design custom integration apps for instance gives HUGE productivity gains. IP phones are every bit as reliable as other digital phones when they are placed on a properly designed network. Properly designing such a network does not cost a fortune, but it does require a little common sense and planning. Regardless of the technology, a phone system is only as good as the connection between the box and the station.

A hybrid is having your systems still rely on tried and true POTS and T1/PRI trunks for your PSTN connectivity at your offices. It works, so why change it, in my opinion (but thanks VOIP for bringing down Bell prices). You then can use VOIP for expanding your capabilities and saving money (IF it isn’t at the expense of reliability/stability) rather than trying to be “bleeding edge” just for bragging rights. The “bleeding edge” pursuit can definitely prove a costly one.

Overall the best advice for a business considering a VoIP solution for their telecommunication needs is that one must keep a number of things in mind. At the moment, there’s little reason to tear out a perfectly good analog PBX and replace it totally with VoIP unless you are rewiring your building, have expanded beyond its capacity, or require VoIP style features. But at the same time, for a business buying or doing a full upgrade, purchasing analog gear isn’t really a good investment.

In the end make a smart informed business decision. To VoIP or not to VoIP….that is the question. The answer may be yes….no….or even maybe.

~Don’t miss out: Come and visit us on stand F609 at UC EXPO and discover Open Source ~

Discover open source. visit us at stand F609 on the 5th of March at UC EXPO, London Olympia.

Learn about the benefits of Open Source:

>> Open Architecture

>> Scalability

>> Lower TCO

>> Unrestricted Licensing

With 12 years of successful IP communications Foehn has the expertise for the open source advantage. We are the leading providers for contact centres, IP Phone Systems and Hosted Telephony and are Europe’s No.1 Asterisk providers and have an impressive portfolio of happy clients and continued system maintenance.

Also, don’t forget the seminar, ‘Open Source Advantage’  at the Voice and Visual theatre on Tuesday 5th of March at UC EXPO from 3:10-3:40pm. Gary Muchmore, Operations Director at Foehn will be speaking about:

>> Challenges of using Open Source

>> Benefits of Open Source

>> Redefined Price Paradigms with Open Source

Click here to Register for the event www.foehn.co.uk/uc-expo

www.foehn.co.uk

~Foehn goes above and beyond with new phone system for high school~
Parrs Wood High school in Manchester is thriving with students and previously has been able to deal with its IT infrastructure in-house with a team of internal technicians responsible for the schools VoIP system.
When it came to changing and upgrading the system later last year the school quickly realised it would not be possible to do in-house due to the level of complexity the system required. Not only this, but the school was also under pressure to get the new system in place before the August examination results, with countless calls from parents and universities.
Claire Wright, Deputy Head and Parrs Wood explained ‘we had just a week to sort the situation out. As if that wasn’t stressful enough, I was also on holiday in the Lake District with a patchy mobile reception and my job was to try and get a fully functioning new telephone system by the end of the week!’
So the search began to find a company that will be able to supply the school with their specific requirements, and came across Managed Communications Provider Foehn. ‘From the moment I called them, they were excellent’ explained Claire. Despite their confidence Foehn had their work cut out as they were required to capture all the data from the old no longer active system, and only mere 4 days later Foehn had 90% of the system in place with very little direction from Claire needed.
Foehn had completed a ‘mission impossible’ task and were still able to offer a solution that was competitively priced. The new system is based on Asterisk, an open source framework for building communications applications, turning an ordinary computer into a communications server that powers IP PBX systems.
www.foehn.co.uk/asterisk

An inherent flaw in the analogy at the time was that telephones, once installed, caused much less trouble to nonprofit executives than the typical IT infrastructure. 

As we flash forward to 2013, with a culture in which smart phones are not only prevalent but offer functions previously associated with information systems, it’s interesting to reflect on how well the telephone analogy has stood the test of time. 

So many of us, inside and outside of the nonprofit sector, devote an inordinate amount of time looking forward to upgrading our phones, and that’s a shocking change. 

One thing that hasn’t changed enough is the failure of many nonprofit organizations to think through the budgetary and operational implications of acquiring new technologies.

Fri 11 Feb 2005 10:52 AM EST

Are you a nonprofit/philanthropic professional who is having trouble making the case that your organization needs to bring its technology infrastructure into the 21st century – or at least into the 1990s?

Please allow me to acquaint you with the telephone analogy.*

First of all, can you think of a functioning nonprofit/philanthropic organization whose board, chief executive officer, or chief financial officer would ever say…

• “… we don’t need to find or raise the money to install telephones or pay our monthly phone bill.”
• “…we don’t need to dedicate staff time to answering the phone or returning phone calls.”
• “…we don’t need to orient staff and volunteers about personal use of the phones, about what statements they can make on our behalf to members of the media and the public who call our organization, or about how queries that come into the main switchboard are routed to various departments, or about how swiftly high-priority phone calls are returned.”
• “…we don’t need to make sure that when donors, stakeholders, constituents, and clients call our main number they can navigate the automated menu of choices.”
• “…we don’t need to show staff members how to put callers on hold, transfer calls, or check voice-mail now that we have an entirely new phone system.”

Apparently, most mission-based organizations have resigned themselves to the fact that telephone systems are an operational necessity.  Somehow, the leadership finds the money, time, and motivation to meet the organization’s telephony needs.

If only we could get the same kind of tacit assumption in place for every mission-based organization’s technology infrastructure!

I propose two possible strategies, either of which would of course need to be tailored your organization’s culture:

• Encourage your board, CEO, and CFO to see your technology infrastructure as analogous to your telephone system.
• Persuade them that your telephone system is an information and communication technology system – and then encourage them to regard other components of the system (such as computers, networks, and web sites) with the same kind of tacit support and acceptance.

I look forward to hearing from anyone who has tried this strategy – or developed one that is even more persuasive.

* N.B.:  I need to warn you in advance that all analogies eventually break down, but this is a pretty useful one, especially since a telephone these days really is the front end of an information and communications technology system.

Some clients have been able to offset the new technology costs with the monthly savings gained by deploying new SIP trunk services, while others are justifying the new gear with gains in efficiency & productivity.  And there are some that are benefiting from the ability to easily support remote employees.  So it’s inspiring to see the positive impact of new technology and the momentum building towards a brighter future.

Lessons From The Field

Here are a few examples where a little firsthand experience can save you a lot of time and frustration.  Our intent is to share with you some common scenarios so that you can gain a better understanding of how a Voice Over IP solution can best fit into your organization.

1. Wiring: What’s the best way to deploy a new voice over IP solution from a wiring perspective?  Ideally, you need category 5e or 6 rated wire to support VoIP phones; however, that’s not always as easy as it sounds.  There are times when rewiring is simply not possible (for a number of reasons).  So what should you do?  First, survey to see if you have a spare data cable at each location where you intend to install a new phone.  Some vendors will recommend sharing one wire for both voice & data.  We completely disagree with this approach; well at least 99% of the time.  There are too many potential pitfalls involved when you share the same wire, which could be the cause of some “unpredictable results” if you do.

So if rewiring is not an option for you, don’t worry.  We have a viable solution.  Phybridge makes an appliance that will optimize and VoIP-enable your existing voice wiring so it can be re-used with your new VoIP server.  It’s a reliable and cost-effective alternative to rewiring, and provides an added bonus – Power Over Ethernet (PoE) to your new VoIP phones.

2. SIP Trunks: SIP trunks are the rage, and they’re here to stay.  Say goodbye to your old “copper” Verizon POTS lines – they need to be replaced.  When you combine SIP trunks with your new IP-PBX, you’re in for a real treat.  SIP trunks offer tremendous benefits & flexibility.  Here are just a few:

• ­Caller ID inbound and outbound with unlimited domestic US calling plans.  And you can easily add direct inward dialing (DID’s) at $0.50 per number.  DID’s can be used for private lines, departmental hunt groups, or for applications that include an internal conference bridge.

• ­Number portability allows you to keep your phone number when you move, regardless of where you move.  In the past you would have to set up a remote call forward.  That’s not necessary anymore with SIP trunks.  You can also establish a local presence with DID’s in areas that you do business but don’t necessarily have a local office.

• ­Automatic failover to another office, to your cell phone (or any 10-digit phone number), to an answering service, or to a cloud-based auto attendant / voice mailbox.  This built-in disaster recovery protects your company and clients during an extended power outage or inclement weather emergency.

There is also the rare occasion that you can lose call quality while you’re on a SIP call, which is simply based on the nature of TCP/IP technology.  So what can you do?

a) Don’t always assume that the problem is on your end.  Take note of what occurred and ask to call the person back.

b) Make a note of it.  Include call example information including the date, time, phone number of the other party, and a brief description of the issue including any specific details that you feel are relevant.

c) Send us an email with the call example information requested above.

d) You can also reset power to your phone by unplugging it.  If you’re using Power Over Ethernet (PoE), simply unplug your patch cord under the phone and then plug it back in.  By the way, resetting power is great advice for any technology related equipment including your cell phone, laptop / desktop computer, iPad, Wi-Fi router, printers, servers, copiers, etc…  If you’re ever dealing with technology and experiencing a strange problem, reset power.

3. Firewalls & VoIP: Firewalls are primarily in place to protect your network and keep it secure.  At a very basic level, your firewall will allow access to authorized users, and block traffic to unauthorized users or applications or websites.  This is all fine and is not going to necessarily change anytime soon.  However, there are times where your firewall can be a nemesis to your VoIP network, and visa versa.  If it occurs, it typically becomes evident during the initial setup of your new VoIP server.  It can also occur if you change or update your firewall; or if you’re sharing one wire with your phone and computer, and a new network application is added that conflicts with ports that are used by your VoIP network.  This is rare but it can happen.

So in summary, there are tremendous benefits that accompany the new VoIP systems and VoIP services.  However, in order to get the most out of your new technology investment, you need a competent and experienced professional to help you.  One that’s dependable & trustworthy, that can help you accomplish the results you expect.

Time is at a premium in your business. However, 50% of your employees’ time can be consumed with non-job related tasks.  Today, many employees need to use multiple different applications for their daily business. For example:

• Collaboration across sites is often done by exchanging a lot emails, or having multiple phone calls with different people, because it is difficult to get everyone together.

• In order to communicate with a customer or fellow employee, workers must go to a personal address book, find the phone number and type in the phone number into a desk phone – only to find out that the person is busy.

Help your employees collaborate better, to get more done.

Our solution offers deep integration in Microsoft Outlook, the Most innovative and complete user experience, Easy to access and use collaboration solution, and The broadest set of phones and clients supporting office and mobile environments.

Amplify collective effort.  Dramatically improve performance.

• Collaboration across sites with just one click. Bring your users together across different sites to communicate and collaborate as one – with presence federation, chat, drag & drop conferencing and web-collaboration tools including video.

• Time is premium – get more done with a single User Interface. No more switching between applications through Unified Communication integration into Groupware solutions like MS Outlook. Instant information if your contact can be reached. Result: Things get done more quickly.

http://

Get more from tools you use everyday

If you like the simplicity of working with Microsoft Outlook, watch our You Tube video to find out how the Outlook integration option adds all OpenScape Office UC functionality in a familiar, easy-to-use Outlook toolbar.

Download the brochure here – Accelerate OpenScape Office

Siemens Enterprise Communications offers easy to use, secure and integrated Unified Communication solutions which are manageable with less effort, streamline your communications and help to make everyone more productive. Speak to our Unified Communications specialists today – 0845 676 1000

~Are we faced with a rocky 2013?~

As everyone is aware along with the prospects of a ‘new year, new me’, the financial crisis is ever looming and as a result businesses will have little choice but to adapt new methods, like that of John Lewis; to stay ahead.

2013 is also set for a number of changes in the tech world, with standalone PC’s taking a back seat and the level of advances in networking and the internet, have allowed things like enterprise mobility and virtual collaboration to become the driving methods of the way businesses now work.

Another buzz word to look out for this year, is the likes of BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) giving you the freedom to bring your own smart phone to work and connect to the network.

2013 is also set to be big on FMC (Fixed Mobile Convergence) – this allows employees freedom to replace their desk phone with a mobile phone, transmitting VoIP calls through their smart phone.

Research has shown that the companies embracing change and following in the path of Enterprise Mobility and Virtual Collaboration are the ones to expect the biggest payback. 2013 is one to watch for IT Directors as well as finance directors.

www.foehn.co.uk

Phil Coley, a director at DuoCall Communications, on why choosing the right system is vital for your business. 

Unanswered phone calls can not only be a frustrating experience for clients but also bad for business. A recent report by telecoms giant Siemens looked at the impact of missed calls on small and medium sized businesses and concluded that many businesses were missing many new business opportunities, simply because calls were left unanswered on daily basis.

It’s perhaps difficult to quantify the actual impact of the missed calls on every business, but if – as the report suggests – that on average small businesses miss ten calls a year, then during the course of a year more than 2500 business calls are left unanswered during the course of a year.

Until relatively recently, the only way businesses could guarantee that every call received was answered required employing an army of receptionists and administrators, a difficult expenditure for any business to justify. However, recent developments in telecoms technology now means missed calls can be avoided without incurring additional overheads.

Using contact-centre technology, the latest generation of telephone systems allow calls to be managed by distributing calls across different users. Even if the receptionist is busy handling face-to-face enquiries, the phone will automatically divert to the next available user, ensuring that all calls are answered quickly.

Older systems were unable to detect the difference between calls made by valued existing clients, potential new business and dreaded nuisance calls. Data held within a business – typically through contacts stored on case management software and contact details held within the email server can be read by the telephone system, enabling calls to be managed and prioritised.

Data is continuously updated and synchronised, allowing calls to be handled accordingly. For example, client calls can be automatically directed to the solicitor/ department handling their enquiries, or alternatively important business contacts can be automatically prioritised – meaning that they effectively can jump the queue or be transferred immediately to a relevant department. At the same time, known nuisance calls can be automatically blocked, while new business enquiries and existing clients are able to be managed using different priority queues.

An additional feature of the system allows the telephone exchange to monitor staff availability. Diary information is stored, allowing the call handler to instantly check whether an individual is available, in a meeting (and when this is due to end) or alternatively out of the office. The call handler is able to share this information with the client and either refer the call to a colleague or simply take a message.

Similarly, if the receptionist is busy handling face-to-face enquiries, a button can be pressed and the phones will be re-directed to another member of the admin team allowing calls to continue to be answered – and the entire company phone system can be accessed and managed via a company mobile phone, ensuring that important calls are never missed.

Using different types of queuing systems can also be applied to other areas of communications in the business, meaning that emails sent to generic addresses, and faxes are automatically sent to the next available operator, resulting in reduced response times.

Choosing the right system to suit your business needs can not only provide added flexibility and ensure that important calls are not missed, but it can also help to make cost savings.

A common problem facing many companies is choosing the right telecoms system – something that without comprehensive industry knowledge can be filled with hidden costs and charges. It’s worth remembering that there are quite literally thousands of different call and data packages offered by a multitude of suppliers which continue to change and evolve on an almost monthly basis.

Working with a telecoms specialist can help to ensure that your business is not only benefitting from the best available tariffs available on the market, but technical support and assistance is available every step of the way. At DuoCall our results speak for themselves – not only have we helped to save businesses in South Yorkshire more than £2.5m million on their telecoms expenditure over the past three years. Why not contact us today and find out how we can help you? – 0845 676 1000

Originally Published in – Issue 12, January 2013 – The Legal / a The Sheffield & District Law Society Publication – available digitally HERE

The service centers are very near to you and there will be no delay in replacing your instruments. In your telephone system, you can install additional services, as per your requirements. Voice recorder could be added and also caller indicator. High speed internet connection is the most required product, from this company. In addition, you can have round the clock service and you do not have to worry about the time.

The professional technicians would visit your spot, even at the most awkward night hours. However, you may not the service, since your products from the company would work for many years, without any repairs. You cannot take chances in buying your communication products, since entire business is based on the communication system. You may need software tools, when you are dealing with computerized system.

Further, you can also install VoIP system for the development of your business. Apart from these products, you can view and buy many other effective products, which are related to communication service. In all aspects, oklahoma city telephone systems is the best shop for you to purchase your needed products, for your exclusive communication.

For More Information about oklahoma city telephone systems  open the following  links :- http://www.oklahomacityphonesystems.com/faq/

~The American school in London getting the most bang for their buck~

The American School in London strives on providing an outstanding American education to its students, and wanted the same for their communications and so called in Managed communications provider Foehn. Foehn implemented a modern, feature-rich and lower-cost telephony system through a VoIP set-up. They were able to serve all the needs in order to provide improved communications not only between staff members but also to aid parents and pupils; all with the added aim of lowering the schools telecommunication costs.

The schools old ISDN system has been replaced with a modern IP PBX (Private Branch Exchange) in order to deliver a mix of more traditional, cheaper calls. The new system includes 250 VoIP enabled handsets which provides the school with a host of new telephony features.

James Passingham, managing director of Foehn said: “Getting the best deal on communications is important for any organisation but even more so for schools that need to invest their money in new technologies wisely. The American School in London prides itself on its spirit of community and family and it is clear that its communication system plays an important role in keeping staff, parents and pupils connected.”

For the full article visit: bit.ly/11f8qFV 

www.foehn.co.uk

~Small Businesses Trying to Keep up with the Big Brand Labels~

The UK is filling up with small businesses that find it hard to compete with those big, well known brands. With the main focus around ‘trust’ customers go for what they know and that normally ends up being the brands with the biggest budgets.

The perception many consumers have is the smaller the company the bigger the risk. There are many services available which helps small businesses get rid of their small image, even if office location is the problem. James Passingham, Technical Director at Foehn said ‘”First impressions count. The reality facing all business owners today is that customers expect a level of professionalism and a lack of it will affect your company’s credibility. The size of the business is immaterial.”

With customers using every piece of information about you to determine what kind of company you are, he recommends a professional website, social media presence and email addresses all give a good impression. Buying a good URL isn’t costly, and neither is establishing departmental email addresses such as accounts@ and marketing@.

Beyond that, PO Boxes and IP-based telephony systems can give your small business a presence in the big brand world. While a business may be based in, say, rural Cornwall, it can still make the most of an 020 or 0131 phone number, either answering calls direct or employing a service which answers your calls.

“People judge the capabilities of a business on factors which are, in many ways, irrelevant,” says Passingham. “If one individual answers the phone, does the work and sends out the invoices, potential customers will notice that.”

The key to a small business is belief and confidence, if you and your staff don’t believe in the business how is anyone else expected to. Having the right phone system for you is a step in the right direction to getting your business on the map and in the public eye.

www.foehn.co.uk

As we reflect on 2012, we’d like to celebrate and honor the top 3 IDeACOM vendor-partners that helped us the most in making a difference; allowing us to deliver outstanding results for our clients.  And the winners are:

AccessLine Communications.  AccessLine is a leader in providing voice over IP (VoIP) and managed voice services.  AccessLine provides SIP trunks and Hosted VoIP solutions, in addition to a number of other value-added “cloud-based” services.  AccessLine’s SIP trunks are playing a major role in the unified communications solutions we offer.  If you’re not using SIP trunks, we highly recommend that you take a look.  In addition to added functionality and flexibility compared to traditional carrier services, SIP trunks provide a significant monthly cost savings with built-in disaster recovery failover.  You can check out AccessLine at www.accessline.com for more details, or speak with your IDeACOM representative about a plan that will best meet your needs.

Zultys.  Zultys is a global provider of innovative unified communications solutions that empower businesses of all sizes to communicate & collaborate more effectively.  Zultys IP phone systems integrate voice, video, data, & mobility in a single appliance.  This “all-in-one” architecture delivers a powerful, feature-rich communications system that is easy to use, deploy and maintain.  If your phone system is ready for an update, then this system needs to be on your list.  To learn more, visit www.zultys.com, or contact your IDeACOM representative for a “day in the life” overview.

Graybar Financial Services.   GFS specializes in providing competitive equipment financing solutions in the areas of telecommunications, data communications, and Voice Over IP technology.  GFS makes financing easy, and reduces your overall cost of ownership by bundling interest-free support and maintenance protection plans.  Visit www.graybar.com/services/financing to learn more, or ask your IDeACOM representative for a detailed analysis.

On behalf of your IDeACOM team, we’d like to thank you for your continued support.  We wish you and your family a very Happy Holiday; and a safe, healthy & prosperous New Year!  Continued success in 2013…

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Technologically advanced and modern telephone systems are a crucial part of any  organization. Before the advancement of these leading-edge telephone systems, businesses had to use conventional telephones system, which was missing powerful functions and features that are presently important to current business operations. Therefore the telephone system was the original source of the contemporary channels of communication that have made the entire world small. The enhancements in the technology that work the phone systems were the forerunner that witnessed the slow and certain death of the postal structure.

Business telephones are the same as basic telephone systems besides their dimensions and range. Business telephone systems deal with only the engaged business and offer transmission channels between the business and the world at the tariff price.

Today we have advanced business telephones systems with advanced features unlike traditional telephones. The latest features help strengthen business by ways of providing an effective communication channel between with clients and associates.

Following are the most attractive and handy features, making overall communication effortless:

• Custom-menus
  

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• Fax to email
• Call conferencing
• Email to fax
• Call waiting
• Voicemail
• Inter office paging
• Automatic call distribution
• Create call queues
• Call forwarding
• Auto attendant
• Music on hold

Once the company starts dealing with the digital phone system, the possibilities are limitless as opposed to standard phone systems as latest features are often being introduced.

Business telephones service providers offer the most advanced features, which are operated over dedicated telephone networks or high speed Internet. This system benefits a lot by ways of by providing everything at the fingertips to operate an effective and successful communication system.

From a small office to a big organization, all need to communicate with each other – within the office and with the outside world where the business is spread. A proper communication channel can bring simplicity and clarity to any business and widen the scope. You can find the trustworthy and technologically advanced business telephones in the market and strengthen your communication line.

With Call Classifier, the Vertical Wave can identify calls based on a number of criteria including DID, Caller ID, Account Code, Call Notes, as well as information collected from customer input.  The information is collected by the Vertical Wave and performs a data dip from a ODBC compliant database and presents information to the employee taking the call.

By creating business rules, Call Classifier is able to intelligently route traffic to the correct contact center agent to meet the needs of your customers.  It also provides agents with more detailed information allowing them to handle calls more quickly and professionally.

There are hundreds of applications that can be addressed using Call Classifier which makes it an incredible value in any business environment.

For more information about the Vertical Wave IP or Call Classifier, call us at 314-961-0557.  You find out more about the Vertical Wave at our website http://www.ideacommidwest.com/wave_ip.

Complex VOIP and IP Unified Communication solutions require highly skilled people to manage them.  Complexity contributes to costly system failures and every minute of downtime adds to lost revenue.

ShoreTel has solved this problem with a simple purpose-built voice architecture.   The ShoreTel solution is a highly reliable distributed voice service in one seamless business telephone system.  System failures are reduced.  ShoreTel delivers “five 9s” of system availability through solid state hardware.

To Learn more about ShoreTel go to our YouTube Channel at http://YouTube.com/shoretelsalesstlouis.

You can also call us at 314-961-0557 to schedule a demonstration of the ShoreTel business telephone system or check out our website at http://www.ideacommidwest.com

Voice and Data cabling is a necessity.  We can add a gratuitously pretty lady, but it’s still just cabling!

In the interest of fair trading we must point our that this picture does not represent one of ACCL’s average engineers!

When it’s working well you won’t give it a second thought, when it’s failing you are going to curse it.  In todays crazy, crazy, hectically busy world, businesses need a reliable voice and data cabling infrastructure in order to firstly function, and then to survive.

No business can genuinely continue to undercut every price in order to gain customers but in the harsh reality of recession, price will always be driving the decision maker. So other than providing cost-effective solutions that make ACCL competitive in the marketplace all they have to rely on is their customer service.

A recent discussion on linked-in provoked much further discussion in the offices of ACCL about their customer care.  It was definitely understood how important it is to ensure that customer service is not just lip service, but genuine, adding value to the Company name and bringing in more, repeat business.

The recent addition of their company page to Linked-in gave ACCL the opportunity to dip test their customers satisfaction.  Whilst they are aware that the work they undertake is always completed to the highest standards and no customer is left unhappy, this was a perfect way in which to see what lasting memory their customers retained.

Past customers were asked if they would be happy recommend the ACCL products, and services and to add any endorsements.  Knowing how busy people are these days they were well aware that this could be a big ask.  The result has made the Managing Director of ACCL, Wayne Connors, feel quite humbled.  A great response and some fantastically positive comments.

It’s good to know that you have done a job well and that a customer has the product or service that they needed.  It’s even better when you have gone the extra mile and they are over the moon with the results.  It’s fantastic to leave a lasting impression that adds value.

One of the powerful tools delivered by the Vertical Wave IP business telephone system is the ability to record conversations.  The Vertical Wave does this with Ad Hoc call recording and also system call logging.

Ad Hoc Call Recording

First, It will allow users to record calls in an ad hoc mode and then deliver the call recordings to the users voicemail box.  The recordings can then be accessed the same way that voicemail messages are checked.  They can also be accessed through Viewpoint, the Vertical Wave IP’s desktop call control interface.  From Viewpoint users can export call recordings and save them to a customer file or attached to an email.

System Call Logging

The second method and most powerful is the archive call recording feature which is similar to many of the call logging devices on the market.  With this method the Wave will record all calls in and out from the enterprise and then store them on a customer provided storage device.  The recordings are then accessed through the Archive Recording Brower.  Calls can then be sorted via several pieces of criteria.  Archive call recording can be set up system wide or on an individual extension basis.

To download the call recording brochure click here

To find out more about the Vertical Wave IP communications solution call us at 314-961-0557 or goto our website at http://www.ideacommidwest.com

Too many times businesses are forced to purchase more capacity than they really need in their business telephone system.  Business owners want flexibility in their phone equipment.  In today’s uncertain business environment, companies demand scalable business telephone systems. They need the flexibility to scale up and down easily and inexpensively.

Businesses today want the flexibility to reconfigure and conform to changes in their organizations.

ShoreTel is the only IP phone system manufacturer that provides one system flexible enough to give customers the freedom to “pay-as-you-grow” from 10 to over 10,000 users without loss to their investment.  Businesses are not forced into fork lift upgrades with the ShoreTel IP Business Telephone System.  The architecture of the system is based on switches.  Adding users is as simple as adding a switch along with the necessary licenses.

Shoretel Business Telephone System Switches

Ideacom Midwest is a ShoreTel dealer serving the St Louis Metro area.  To find out more about the ShoreTel IP telephone system or to set up a demonstration call us at (314) 961-0557.

Check out the video here