on technology O
john kamm, ctp
Phone Services Go High-Tech NO ONE WOULD DENY that our op-
business phone numbers and will re-
tions for communicating with clients
ceive the calls and route them to the
and vendors have increased, but our
appropriate employee.
phone is still the go-to gadget for get-
for all you XXX-8687s out there. You will probably want to buy new VoIP devices (phones) to take full advantage of the hosted PBX services.
ting the deal done. Many businesses are
OPTIONS TO CONSIDER
There is a device standard known as
still using technology not far removed
Plans vary by vendor, but services you
SIP, Session Initiation Protocol, which
from the device that Alex Bell used to
should look for include: voicemail with
will enable you to use your new phones
reach out to Tom Watson, and hey, it
the ability to forward the voicemail as
on a number of vendor networks. SIP
works. Bell’s wax cylinder gramophone
an audio file to your email address. Call
VoIP phones vary in price, features and
worked, too, but we’ve moved on.
waiting, caller ID, caller ID masking,
complexity, and they are available from
There are sound reasons to move ahead
music on hold, 411 (directory assis-
a number of sources.
with newer phone technologies.
tance) and 911 are all pretty standard.
Meet VoIP, the abbreviation for “voice over Internet protocol,” which translates into big savings for your business phone services. The calls come and go on your Internet connection, which means you don’t need dedicated
More info? Google “hosted PBX”
You don’t have to be a Fortune 500 company to profit from the new phone technologies.
phone lines (or their monthly bill) nor do you pay the phone company for
“Follow me” lets you program a se-
long distance charges. Check out
quence of numbers so that if you are not
news.com/. As you explore your op-
www.voipreview.org or Google “voip
at your desk, the system will try other
tions, do take time to speak with reps
plans.”
or check out http://www.voip-
extensions or your cell phone before
from the hosted PBX services. you will
Unless the device sitting on your
going to voicemail. Staff members who
find them very helpful. While these
desk has a little wheel that you spin
work outside the office or are traveling
services have many features in com-
around in a circle as you dial, you prob-
can be included in the company’s net-
mon, there are differences and the reps
ably aren’t thinking, “I need to get a
work so callers can be seamlessly con-
can help craft a package of services that
new phone.” More likely, when you
nected to them no matter where they
fits your business needs best.
can’t get a line out or miss messages as
are. Call routing rules can be changed
you travel you are thinking in terms of
quickly and easily as the need arises.
a new phone system.
Most hosted PBX plans charge by
So, next time you call me, am I at my desk, am I in line at the airport or am I in that charming cafe in Mar-
You don’t need to be a Fortune 500
the extension; monthly fees vary de-
seilles? Only my hosted PBX call log knows for sure.
company to profit from the new phone
pending on features selected and the
technologies. Known as “hosted PBXs,”
amount of calling time
these services link your VoIP devices
included. Toll-free num-
(phone extensions) through a central
bers are available, and
computerized service. The extensions
you can have most exist-
can be located anywhere. The only re-
ing numbers “ported”
quirement is a robust Internet connec-
over (transferred from
tion; a dial-up modem won’t cut it. The
your land line to the
hosted PBX is programmed with your
new service), good news
14 April 2009
John Kamm is a former tour operator and CEO of TourTech Systems, Inc., developers of TourTools®, the most popular tour reservations solution in North America. Visit www.tourtools.com for more information.
LeisureGroupTravel.com
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