Important Things to be Considered while Choosing a Hosted PBX Service

VoIP technology and Hosted PBX services have a critical role in moulding the business communication strategies. To enjoy and exploit the full features and benefits of the hosted PBX system, a proper service provider should be chosen. Nowadays a number of VoIP service providers are available. In this competitive market, it is very hard to choose a right one that serves your business in the desired way. Hence it is not easy and simple to select a right service provider. Considering some factors will help you to select an appropriate hosted PBX service for your business.

There are many things to be noted or kept in mind for choosing the most appropriate hosted PBX service.

  1. Coverage Efficiency

A major thing to be considered is whether the service provider has coverage in your area. That is, find out whether the service provider can port your business telephone number to their service. If they couldn’t provide service in your area, then you cannot use their service. Some of the Canadian hosted PBX service providers deliver their service only to restricted local area. Hence it is crucial to make sure that the service provider you choose has service coverage in your area. It is better to be with a service provider who has a wide coverage area to support expansion plans.

  2. Satisfies the business requirements

Another important thing to be checked is whether the service provider is capable of satisfying your business and communication requirements. For this, first identify your business needs. The needs can be broadly classified into two; business features and call control features.

       Business features include the following;

The business phone system should support you in branding businesses and operations such as multiple phone numbers for marketing purposes, Possible to keep analytics of your call data, Call recording feature for ensuring customer service and also for further training, and additional features such as Multi-party Conferencing, Dashboard Application to control and modify your system, Call analytics, etc.

       Call Control Features consist of the following;

       Features like Call Forwarding, Call Holding, Call Transferring or  Diverting,Caller ID, etc are important nowadays. It is more efficient if the service provider could extend its services to incorporate big business features such as Call Queue’s, Ring Groups, or Apps for advanced phones.

  3. Infrastructure Facility

The Hosted PBX service provider should review your current network infrastructure for flexibility and compatibility. For example, many businesses lack PoE (Power over Ethernet) which transmits power to the devices plugged into the switch. This can be a phone, camera, wireless access-point or other similar IP device. If you don’t have a compatible switch, then collect one or more from the service provider to support the quantity of phones.

  4.  Security

Security is always a major concern hence ensure that the voice network is secure. There are chances of various hazards such as hacking one of your devices or providers devices and using to launch an international calling blitz can, external interruptions or crosstalk, signal failure, etc. therefore high security should be provided for voice transmission. So choose a hosted PBX service provider who can ensure the safety of communications.

  5.  Quality of Service

The most important factor that determines a best hosted PBX provider is the quality of service. A reliable internet connection and network are essential to support VoIP traffic. The key measures of quality are jitter, latency and packet loss.Jitter is defined as a variation in the delay of received packets. Congestion in IP packets causes jitter. The congestion can occur either at the router interfaces or in a provider or carrier network if the circuit has not been provisioned correctly.

Latency refers to a delay in a VoIP call that is, the time it takes for your voice traffic to go from one spot to another. Most companies recommend that the entire voice path, the Internet, the service provider and your own network should have a combined latency of less than 150 ms.

Packet loss is a dangerous thing and it affects VoIP networks very drastically. Even a 1 percentage of packet loss is intolerable.The good hosted PBX provider will have a fair balance of these three metrics. So choose a service provider who efficiently uplifts quality of service by reducing these measures.Selection criteria of a good hosted PBX service provider include many more factors. Taking into account of these factors will help you to get a fully compatible hosted PBX service for your business. 

How Hosted PBX Simplified Company Stress during the Holiday Season

Many businesses quickly realized exactly how hosted PBX phone systems simplified the stress of doing business, during the holiday season. The hosted PBX system provided the company the opportunity to use a single phone number that could be easily answered at a variety of locations, unbeknownst to their customers and clients.

During the holiday season, companies often experience a lack of employee resources, as many take additional time off to be with their loved ones. Using a hosted PBX system, their communication lines were simply rerouted to available employees on their landline phones, cell phones, smartphones or nearly any remote location.

Having the ability to offer a single point of contact, with one single phone number to represent the entire organization, was the easiest way for the businesses to operate their communication systems. It allowed each business to function completely without the need of a traditional main office. This could happen because the hosted PBX telephone system instantly linked employee personnel to the business, with complete functionality of all of the communication system’s features.

Relieving Holiday Business Stress

Offering an extensive multi-modal contact, each employee quickly gained access to the entire company network through a whole host of telecommunication devices including landlines, ISDN, cell phone and VoIP. The hosted PBX telephony system instantly provided phone extension ringing to a single location in succession, or to multiple locations at the same time. This allowed instant 24-hour phone support seven days a week, and relieved stress on the company by always providing an employee or employees to handle any situation, even during hectic seasonal times.

Lowering Costs

Because there is no need to purchase PBX equipment when using a hosted PBX service, these companies were provided an effective call routing service at no additional cost. All unanswered incoming calls for the business were managed automatically by the PBX system by providing numerous features including voicemail, call records, faxing, automated messages, and conference calls, along with call routing touchtone menus.

Without the need of any excess additional cost for expensive software or hardware, and no cost for upgrades to change existing phone hardware, hosted PBX telephone systems offer viable solutions for many small, medium, large businesses.

These companies saw the advantage of using a hosted PBX system through the holiday season as their business increased. It gave them the ability to expand lines, without additional phone numbers. With the added flexibility and reduced cost of 24-hour client phone support along with never missing a call throughout the holidays, the hosted PBX systems offer each a viable telephony alternative.

Two telecommunications companies, Avaya and Nortel, have established a partnership that will allow them to provide new software and telephone services to the customers left stranded with old systems in the wake of Nortel Networks’ disintegration in 2009.
The deal mostly affects customers using the Avaya Communications servers known as the CS-2100 and the SL-2100. For years, these customers have only been given limited updates to their services because Nortel was no longer providing such updates.
With the deal in place, customers will have the opportunity to take advantage of Genband’s advanced technology. There are already upgrades planned that will be offered to these customers.
This will be a major improvement upon the situation since Nortel’s departure from the telecommunications market. Since then, customers using servers based on Nortel’s technology could only receive customer service from Avaya. There were no upgrades and no new products offered to them, however.
That innovation vacuum will now be filled by Genband, which supplies software, hardware, and servers to telecommunications companies like Avaya. Some of the services that CS-2100 and SL-100 users will now have access to include VoIP on mobile phones, video collaborating, and instant messaging.
The first of these new capabilities will be rolled out early next year, in the first quarter of 2013. Avaya said that during that update, customers could expect to get upgraded VoIP, and that after that arrives, there will be a series of other new products and capabilities added as well.
The terms of the agreement between Avaya and Genband stipulate that Genband will become wholly responsible for both systems, the CS-2100 and the SL-100. These phone systems are typically utilized by major clients, with large, complicated phone systems and zero tolerance for downtime. Frequent users of the phone systems include hospitals, financial firms, and critical government departments.
For its part, Avaya will give Genband access to parts of its intellectual property. Spokesmen for the companies said that the result will be that Genband’s products will be more enterprise-enabled, which is Avaya’s strength, and that Avaya products will be more resistant to downtime, which is one of Genband’s specialties.
The companies doubt the integration of their respective code bases should cause any great difficulty or take more than a few months. The software used to run Genband and Avaya products is largely similar, and combining the two is only expected to require adding some small bits of proprietary code from each.

Jason Stephen Ali
Social Media Director
BroadConnect.ca | BroadConnectUSA.com | About.me/BroadConnect.com

Understanding VoIP Protocols

Nearly any device ever designed to transmit video and audio packets between computers that communicate with one another, uses Real-Time Protocol (RTP). After the can serve as became evident that people communicating online has the potential for ease dropping on their communication, RTP (Real-Time Protocol) was enhanced to us more secure level. The secure RTP was developed for authentication, encryption and integrity of the video and audio packets that were transmitted online to communicating devices.

Part of the process of transmitting video and audio media between computers is the employment of various protocols. One such protocol locates the remote device to negotiate exactly how the media will transfer flow between each device. These types of protocols are known as call-signaling protocols, with the most popular being SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) and H.323. Each protocol relies on static provisioning and other protocols as a way to locate a variety of users.

First originated 1995, both SIP and H.323 were developed to solve the initial communication between two computers as a way to effectively exchange video and audio media streams. H323 experienced commercial success while SIP progressed at a slower level before being recognized as a standard in 1999.

Both protocols have the ability to perform the same action: to establish a multimedia level of communication including video, audio and other communications. However, there are designed significantly different with SIP being ASCII-based and H.323 being built on the foundation of binary protocol and legacy communication systems.

Although the jury is still out on whether SIP or H.323 can be held as the true standard for media transfer functionality, no one disputes the fact that both perform well. However, H.323 appears to be superior in a variety of ways including offering better support for videos, optimal interoperability with PSTN, premium interoperability of legacy video systems a more dependable out of band transport of DTMF.

Alternatively, SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) was never designed to work as a solution for the problems handled by H.323. Additionally, it gained its popularity by misinformation of being “easy to debug and implement”. Built as a complex communication system, they both perform identical amounts of work using to different approaches.

Of the two, SIP implementation is far easier to troubleshoot or develop. Likewise, H.323 is still the protocol to use in bulk VoIP deployments, especially when transmitting voice calls globally. Additionally, H.323 is the protocol most used for room-based videoconferencing and serves as the #1 protocol for nearly all IP-based video systems.

Visit us at Avaya Evolutions Toronto, November 20, 2012 for a chance to win two tickets to the already sold-out Grey Cup Championship game!

Avaya Evolutions, a unique one-day event taking place at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, provides you an opportunity to engage, interact and collaborate with telecommunications executives, peers and industry leaders. Visit us any time on November 20^th at Booth 8 to learn more about what real-time advanced business communications can do for your enterprise. Attend our breakout session from 9:00 – 10:00 am for a chance to win two Grey Cup championship game tickets.
Breakout Session:

“VoPI™ vs VoIP: Two Letters Make All of the Difference”

Session Abstract:

As data connectivity becomes increasingly cost effective for reliable dedicated speeds, learn how BroadConnect’s VoPI™ (Voice over Private Internet) model allows you to leverage bandwidth to support Voice and Video on existing and future deployments. We will explore the gains of stabilizing your SIP rollouts by having greater control over the first and last mile of service thus making deployments both predictable and seamless. Join us and discover how SIP Trunking & Radvision’s Video Conferencing solutions, using BroadConnect’s VoPI™ can help your current and future Voice, Data and Video Conferencing requirements.

Ask us about VoPI™! 

Simply post a question below with your name, company name, and job title, and we will answer them at our session on November 20.

OR

Post a tweet with the hashtag #BCTevolutions.

Contest Details:

The Contest « Win a Pair (2) of 2012 Grey Cup Tickets» will start on October 23rd, 2012 at 12:00 AM (EST) and will end on November 20th, 2012 at 11:59:59 PM (EST). (Here after the «Contest»).
Eligibility
The Contest is open to everyone who has reached the legal age of its respective province at the time of entering the contest. Employees of BroadConnect Telecom or their immediate family members and people living with them cannot enter the contest.
How to enter:
No purchase necessary. Contestants simply have to respect the eligibility requirements. The start of the Contest will be announced Via Email and Social Media outlets (Google+, Twitter, Facebook) and winner will be showcased on the BroadConnect Telecom website and BroadConnect Social Media Networks. All existing and non-existing BroadConnect Telecom customers will be invited to ask questions regarding “Ask us about VoPI™!”  for entry to the contest. Contestants simply have to post a question on blog.broadconnect.ca, facebook.com/broadconnect or twitter.com/broad_connect with your name, company name, and job title. Only one ballot per person will be allowed. Further terms and conditions of this specific contest will be posted on BroadConnect Telecom’s website.
Winner:
The winners will be picked from all the valid formatted questions received on BroadConnect Telecom servers during the Contest valid time frame. The winner will be picked on November 20^th , 2012 at 11:59:59 PM (EST) at 11:01 PM (EST), in BroadConnect Telecom offices. Prize will be given to the winner if all mentioned rules and regulation are fulfilled.
Prizes Description:
A Pair (2) of 2012 Grey Cup Tickets: Section 109B Row 7 (Double Blue)
Everything not mentioned as included in the prize will be to the charge of the winner. BroadConnect Telecom has the right to replace the Prize for another one of the same value or to give the same value in money for any given reason as mentioned in the general rules section.

VoPI™ vs. VoIP: (Yeah, It’s a real acronym)

Some competitors (You know who you are) are trying to discredit VoPI as unreliable, unsecure and not suitable for mobile workers. They also want you to believe that due to the dedicated private lines, it FORCES our customers to be locked in to lengthy contracts. This is simply NOT the case and couldn’t be further from the truth!

Let me break it down for you:

All VoPI is VoIP but not all VoIP is VoPI. Why does this matter, you ask? It matters because VoPI isn’t just one specific product or technology; in fact, it has been conceived and achieved over a multitude of different criteria.
When we use the term VoPI, we refer to Voice over IP service that meets certain standards:

• A connection that is not shared with other subscribers
• Provided by an ISP (internet service provider) who controls the voice service, as well as the internet backbone upon which the service rests
• A process which employs multiple SBC’s (Session Based Controllers)

Privacy implies security (which is abundantly important) but what VoPI really does is provide great stability. It’s a platform you can actually have faith in; as it rarely goes down.  Most importantly, it’s fully managed by us, the provider. Why does it matter if it’s fully managed? Well, because that means, in the event of a service outage (on the network side) we can take full responsibility. We can actually pin point and fix virtually any problems you may incur because it’s happening on our network!

**WE GUARANTEE 99.9% UPTIME! Who else has the “you know what” to offer that???**

Here are some excerpts from the competitor’s blog (I’ll let our web-savvy readers find the source):

“Recently we’ve come across competitors using the term “VOPI”, or Voice over Private Internet. It’s their way of trying to confuse and complicate, [...] to convince you that their technology is superior. Dive into the details and you’ll see that VOPI is actually a Hosted Voice providers’ way of selling you inferior connectivity in the guise of increased security.”
By no means does our voice solution operate over “inferior connectivity”! IT’S JUST AS GOOD as any other connectivity! What we do to deploy VoPI is first determine the best type of internet connection for our customers, and then create private connections to ensure that voice quality is never compromised.

Another excerpt:

“Companies will tell you that a private connection is more secure because your telephone calls do not traverse the public internet. [...] If you are in an industry where security is paramount to you or eavesdropping is a common occurrence, then absolutely you should investigate the private option.
If that is the case, I’m sure you are quite familiar with this device, the STU-III, which is an analog telephone encryption device that you *must have* used up to this point to secure your calls. What? You mean you were using analog lines without them being private [...] or without encryption in any form?”

The writer then goes on to suggest that distributed workforces, operating over the public internet somehow negates any perceived benefits of a private enterprise platform, VoPI™. South Park fans may be familiar with the term “Chewbacca Defence”, that is: making an argument soooo nonsensical that the reader’s brain shuts down and is forced into a receptive position. The fact of the matter is, unless you work for the US Military or National Security Agency, you will have never heard of the STU-III. It is proprietary and expensive technology that never experienced mainstream use.  The attractiveness of VoPI™ is that it does not cost more; it just requires that you pair with a thoughtful provider that operates a privately-owned and managed broadband network. Similarly, off-net users who connect to your office phone system via the public internet are not damaging, or defeating the purpose of your private connection. They’re just the public extensions of a very strong private network.

I don’t only say this because I work for BCT and they pay my bills. I say this because day in and day out I hear the horror stories of disgruntled end users YEARNING TO BE RELEASED FROM THEIR CONTRACTS and switch to our far superior service. It’s no fluke that Bradconnect Telecom has become one of the largest hosted providers in Canada. We revolutionized the industry back in 2005 as Canada’s first hosted provider and strive to be the pinnacle hosted provider across North America! (Btw, did I happen to mention we opened up shop in the States? Here’s the link, www.broadconnectusa.com , check it out.) None of our Canadian counter parts can say that… #JustSayin!

The Many Advantages of a Fiber Broadband Network

The Internet is quickly changing and today’s businesses need to keep up with technology in order to stay current. In order to stay competitive and to keep your employees productive it is essential to provide connectivity to the Internet using a technology such as a fiber connection. Fiber Internet connections offer an effective way to connect to the Internet using a more technologically advanced method.  A fiber connection is an advanced way to connect and is much more sophisticated than a simple copper connection. Fiber Internet offers many advantages over other types of connections.

A fiber broadband connection is an efficient way to provide connectivity. The fiber Internet connection provides some advantages over other types of connections. Some of these advantages include fiber connection speed, fiber broadband reliability, and fiber Internet capacity. The fiber connection is able to provide faster speeds than other types of connections allowing your employees improved productivity. A fiber connection is an ideal way to improve the abilities of your system.

The use of fiber broadband is certainly going to increase in the coming decade. The need for increased speed to accommodate additional available services will be one driving factor adding to the need for fiber Internet. Businesses can now enjoy FTTP (fiber to thepremises). FTTP offers faster and more reliable Internet services than ever before. Fiber Internet offers higher speeds than other types of connections. This allows businesses to use new technology that requires increased bandwidth that can be done easily using fiber broadband.

For example, 3D video and videoconferencing require more bandwidth in order to work properly and can easily be completed using fiber Internet. The increased bandwidth of Fiber broadband allows you to easily use these types of demanding services with ease. With more advanced features becoming available, businesses will need to improve their connectivity by utilizing fiber Internet.

It is important to note that businesses can use fiber connections for both voice and data needs. Using a fiber broadband connection allows you to incorporate telephones and other streaming communication over the same fiber connection. You won’t be able to do nearly enough with your communication if you don’t upgrade to a fiber connection. An FTTP connection is an ideal way to add more speed to your communications. This added speed from a fiber connection will accommodate many types of applications as they become available.

Adding a fiber Internet connection to your business will position your company towards future growth. Outdated connection services won’t be able to handle the type of digital communications necessary to keep your company moving forward. The fiber broadband connection allows your company to handle current needs with ease and to be poised for upcoming needs as well. By combining the various communication needs of your company into one fiber connection you’ll be able to save money while increasing productivity.

Businesses looking to improve their services should consider adding fiber Internet services to their company. FTTP services are available through reliable providers such as BroadConnect Telecom. They offer a wide variety of communication options for businesses including FTTP services.

Do You Need An IP Phone When You Migrate to VoIP?

(Originally posted by at Ian Gomm http://citelblogs.com/2012/07/10/do-you-need-an-ip-phone-when-you-migrate-to-voip.aspx)

There is so much talk about using Tablets and Smartphones in the office environment and how to incorporate employees’ own personal devices into the IT equation.  There are so many options out there as to how to make a phone call that it is difficult to know which way to turn. While some companies are riding the bring-your-own-device (BYOD) to the office many are not. What to do!

No matter how you handle the BYOD issue, offerings such as Microsoft Lync are promoting soft phones that do away with the need for all desk phones in the office. Of course there are times when a softphone will not suffice (difficult to use on an elevator for example). But there is also the issue of people not being comfortable talking on a headset, an ear piece or even a smartphone (just try holding a smartphone or tablet to your ear and let me know if that is better than a standard desk phone). The younger generation is used to new technology but there are still many of us out there who grew up with desk phones and would prefer to use them even if just out of habit.

“Rip and replace” solutions incorporating IP phones cater to this need. Most IP telephony platforms have a softphone capability and the ability to coordinate with smartphones, etc. When I am travelling I frequently utilize Bria on my tablet so I can use my “office” phone” when I am in a hotel, at the airport or at a conference. So why the plethora of IP phones? The fact is, people like a desk phones. Even if more and more people are using softphones, tablets, smartphones, some kind of desk phone is still required. Well if that is the case, why throw out your legacy handsets only to replace them, at great cost frequently, with another phone that is likely to be obsolete before too long or not even used by the user. As much as I hate to admit it, I don’t expect to have a desk phone five years from now.

That is where Citel comes into play. Citel’sPortico TVA lets you continue with your existing handsets,  SIP enabling them to be used on your IP telephony platform. The latest IP phones can be very expensive and if you go with a cheap replacement it is likely to require replacement before you are ready to go to a softphone, smartphone combination. Your legacy handsets have served you well. Why not incorporate them into your VoIP migration and save yourself time, money and unnecessary change. Your customers and / or employees will soon be using softphones of their own devices so why go through the expense of a full blown rip and replace migration when for a lot less money and time, you can make the transition so much easier using a TVA.

Next time I will discuss the cost to the company and the environment of replacing your legacy handsets.

Migrating to VoIP – Keeping Upfront Costs Down

(Originally posted by Ian Gomm at http://citelblogs.com/2012/06/21/migrating-to-voip--keeping-upfront-costs-down.aspx)

Last week, I wrote about some of the hesitations that arise when companies look at VoIP migration (see Blog dated June 14, 2012). This week I want to continue in that vein and discuss how Citel can help keep the cost of migrating as low as possible.

As I stated previously, cost and reliability remain major considerations for companies when they are looking at their telephone systems. There are a lot of costs involved with operating a PBX and those costs are one of the reason companies are looking at their alternatives. One company with whom we are working has a large installed DMS100 (Centrex) base in the Tropics and is faced with exceedingly high cooling costs for the buildings where their switch units were installed. Their operating cost concerns are more than just monthly service charges, charges per call and the cost per service.

Additionally, many companies are being forced to make decisions sooner than they would like about new telephone systems as more and more of the older PBXs out there are being End of Lifed by their manufacturers. A number of those companies are looking at more expensive hybrid systems (with both digital and IP capabilities) to keep their existing telephone infrastructure in place until they are ready to venture into the IP telephony marketplace. This is certainly an option but with associated maintenance contracts, support, etc., that can be a very expensive solution that is unnecessary.  

Many sellers in the marketplace are promoting a “rip and replace“ solution.  Those companies exhort the benefits of moving to VoIP but at what upfront cost to the end user. If a premise based solution is recommended, there is the cost of the IP PBX, IP phones, Category 5/6 cabling to be installed and Power over Ethernet (PoE) switches to be installed to power the IP phones. There are also the intangible costs of work interruption in terms of down time when the system is being put in place and the training required to use the new phones. If multiple buildings are involved, the whole migration process can take years rather than months. If hosted services are being proffered, even if these costs are built in to the monthly per port price, these same costs have to be paid if only through a higher than necessary monthly rate.  It is to deal with these issues that many companies look at Citel’s Portico TVA.  Why go through the cost of a “rip and replace” solution and the time delays involved when with the TVA you can migrate all of a customer’s end users to VoIP literally overnight.

By incorporating the Portico TVA into the VoIP migration process, you can unplug your handsets (digital, analog or P-Phones) from their PBX, plug them into the Portico TVA, then run them directly or via a router to your on-premise or cloud based IP PBX. The system utilizes the existing cabling and as the phones remain line powered there is no need for PoE switches. There is no disruption of the work place as most of the time the configuration of the units can be done prior to installation (or via a simple Web GUI if done remotely after the fact) with most back end change-overs being done after hours. There is also no retraining for the end-user except as new services are introduced. How much simpler can it get? If you are looking at your options for your telephone system, give Citel a call. We work with many cloud based and premise based IP PBX’s and softswitches and would be pleased to work with you.

Siemens. The Phone of the Modern Era

Looking back at Charles Darwins explorations, it is safe to say that most of his principles apply to the modern world as well. To survive, you must adapt and evolve with ever changing trends and patterns. The same holds true for the world of communication on so many different levels. Take a Siemens Phone for example. Compare any modern-day Siemens Phone to its decade-old predecessors and you will know just what we are talking about. Siemens has adapted to all the modern day expectations people have from their phones. Be it mobile phones, cordless phones or conference/video phone solutions, Siemens are dedicated to producing the phone of the modern era.

Let’s get to their range of cordless phones first. These cordless handsets are equipped with some of the most exciting features and facilities. If state-of-the-art technology is what you demand from your cordless phone, a Siemens Phone is sure to meet all your requirements. The high quality material used in these phones with galvanized keypads and other swank features make these instruments truly irresistible. These phones are also equipped with TFT color display units and futuristic interfaces. In fact, some of these phones have features such as mini-USB slots, headset jacks, easy-to-use volume controls and lots more that truly make it much more than a cordless phone.

This, however, is not the end of the features you can expect with a Siemens Phone. You can also opt for cordless phones that can use VoIP services without having to turn on your PC. These phones allow the user to switch between fixed-lines and the internet for calling. So you can easily switch to VoIP for making international calls at nominal rates. HDSP technology used in these phones allows you to use top quality VoIP services without having to switch your PC. Again, since these phones are multi-line, you can register with 6 SIP or other accounts in a single hand set. This allows the user to make three simultaneous calls which includes a single fixed-line call and two VoIP calls.

The best thing about a Siemens Phone is that it offers all traditional features while also adding some modern-day features previously unimaginable in an ordinary phone. These phones allow the user to gain access to certain features that can only be deemed to be next generation. This will include some cool features such as weather updates, RSS feeds, online phonebooks and lots more.

Other normal features such as built-in answering machines, hands-free features etc. all make your Siemens Phone experience that much more exciting. Siemens has been in the business of making phones since donkey’s years. Their longevity is a testimonial to quality in itself. On the other hand, you do not need to trust them blindly. Pick up any Siemens Phone and you will see just what the hype is all about. However, when you purchase a product, make sure you go through all available brochures and reviews. The Siemens range of products is wide and exhaustive. It is always better to read up before you pick up a phone.

For more information on our phone products, please visit our website.

Hosted PBX Adoption Expected to Rapidly Increase

Modern-day advances in digital communications have strengthened the position that Hosted PBX providers, like BroadConnect Telecom, hold over traditional telecommunications providers. Such advances have enabled end users everywhere to reap the advantages of a full service digital platform, while enabling them a unified communications platform to keep costs low.

This report concludes that enhanced Voice over IP (VoIP) services have far surpassed the capabilities of historic telephony services. Thanks to future-proof communications, this can now be considered a viable means of incorporating a full-service unified communications solution designed specifically to meet the unique challenges of the SME market. Recent studies would suggest that SME demand for quantifiable unified communications hosted services coupled with the industry preference for high quality VoIP service would present a competitive risk to the already unstable conventional telephony model.
Avaya Hosted PBX

Findings indicate that while small businesses have not been entirely smitten by the idea of leaving their old phone carrier behind, the Hosted PBX market is expected to rapidly increase over the next 3 years. In fact, it is estimated that the hosted services market will reach record highs at $1.2 billion by 2015; up from one-half billion dollars in today’s market. This substantial increase will come as a direct result of an accelerate adoption rate as more and more small business owners realize the immense benefits of Hosted PBX services.

From a businessman’s perspective, Hosted PBX delivers results that the conventional telephony carrier simply cannot. For example, smaller businesses can now take comfort in knowing that they have access to a high level of business-enhancing features, performance and service without the hassles and costly expense of doing business with the telephone company.

Furthermore, Hosted PBX services, from a reputable service provider like BroadConnect, delivers substantially lower operating costs and provides an efficient alternative to enterprise-owned, proprietary, and infrastructure-based phone systems.

For more information, please visit our website.

Breakdown on the Tppes of Business Phone Systems

All E businesses, irrespective of their sizes, need such phone systems that can increase and improve their dealing services with customers. These systems can assist a business to maintain proper communication with their customers with the help of various amazing communication services. Planning and installation are the two most critical parts of any phone system. If you are looking for a phone system for business, then you will definitely require a professional expert; who can help you get the best cabling plan and install the system in your office in a way that can make the entire communication process simpler for you as well as your clients. When searching for the ideal phone system, you will come across various types of phone systems that operate on internet protocol networks. These phone systems not only help you to connect with clients but also with your workers.

If you are running a business, you’re probably aware of the fact that a phone system can make or break your business. Owning the right phone system is extremely important. Selecting the right phone system can make the difference between facing problems to satisfy end users and having a successful business. Before choosing a phone system for your business, there are various things that have to be taken into consideration. A business owner needs a phone system that is future-oriented, scalable and flexible. While choosing a phone system, it is best to select wisely. The final decision would critically depend on the company size and the number of phone lines needed.

There are basically three main types of phone systems that are available in the market. These three kinds of phone systems are KSU-less mobile phone, Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) and Private branch exchange system (PBX). The very first type of phone system is KSU, which stands for Key System Unit. This type of phone system can support up to ten telephone line extensions. However, it is not permanently wired into the company phone line and can be moved to different places. This type of phone system is normally ideal for small scale businesses. This phone system for business is extremely cost effective too, with its prices ranging from $130 to $225 for each telephone unit. Most of the business owners choose this phone system since it is very reasonable and cheap. Individual users are required to personally buy, fix, plan and maintain this type of phone system themselves.

Another type of phone system for business available in the market is VoIP (voice over internet protocol). It is one of the fastest phone systems currently available. Also known as Packet Switched Connection, VoIP helps to transfer voice, faxes and various other types of information. This technology can be used by large, medium and small scale businesses since it is very convenient and affordable.

Finally, there is the PBX phone system. The full form of PBX is private branch exchange system. If you want better services and functionality, supporting a minimum of forty phone line extensions, then it is the best idea to choose this phone system for business. This system can be easily placed on a desktop and uses advanced technology features. Most of the PBX systems are totally programmable and normally costs $800 - $1000 for each user. They are ideally suited for any company size. For more information on the various business telephone systems, please visit our website.

Is A Virtual Office Phone System Right For You?

Office phone systems are available in different varieties, each offering a diverse range of features and benefits. VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol), PBX (Private Branch Exchange) and Key System Units are some of the most popular contemporary phone systems, that are used in wide range of offices. If you want to get the most out of the money you’ve invested in your phone system, you need to choose the right one that exactly matches your targeted business requirements. You need to consider how many telephones you need to connect to the system, the budget, business applications and the existing infrastructure in your office. Only then, will you select the best performing phone system for your office.

Choosing the best office phone system that ensures the maximum uptime for your network helps to increase the overall productivity of your office too. If you opt for a virtual office telephone system, it will definitely give you more benefits than a traditional hardware based system. It will reduce your initial expenses and drastically cut your ongoing maintenance cost. All you need to have are a few basic tools that are probably already available at your disposal. A high speed internet connection and internet enabled phone sets are a typical fixture in just about any office. You also need choose one of the several convenient monthly subscription services that are available for use through a virtual phone system. This is highly beneficial, since it relieves you from investing thousands of dollars to set up a traditional office telephone system.

You can bring remote employees together by selecting the right office phone system. Sophisticated phone systems, like a virtual system, uses the internet to connect your office phone with the equipment of the service provider, enabling you to access your office phone from anywhere in the world. You can locate your employees, who can be situated in different parts of the country, and work with home employees as well. Customers placing calls to your office phone will think that your employees are sitting in the same office. As the best office telephone system can efficiently leverage the power of the internet, connecting remote employees becomes extremely simple process. You can handle call transfers and call routing in an effective manner and also allow your employees to have equal access to your phone system.

The best office phone system lets you enjoy such features, which were, at one time, available only to large corporations. You can gain full control over the system features, set up the system and make changes easily and quickly through the secure online interface that we at BroadConnect Telecom provide. The best phone system lets each employee get access to a fully customized voicemail, so they can record their own greetings and screen phone calls. When a new message is sent to them, they can be notified via email as well as text messages. The ideal phone system offers many other useful features, such as call logs and call forwarding, which help you run your business more effectively.

We offer some of the best office phone systems that give you first-class call center capability that enables you to provide seamless customer service, which is the key to attain success in any business. If a customer calls, helpful features like call logs let your office staff know all the essential information related to that customer immediately, so that providing trouble free customer service never becomes difficult. No matter whether your office is small, medium or large, our phone systems ideally meet your needs and provide you with the perfect cost effective tools and communication solutions.

Tips for choosing the best office telephone system

Most of the businesses rely on an office telephone system nowadays, in order to execute their day to day office work smoothly and effectively. In the past, only large companies required feature rich telephone systems. They were so expensive that small businesses could not afford to even consider them. Small and medium businesses relied on the conventional phone systems to send and receive communication. However, the trend has changed recently. Many phone system options are available to small and medium businesses, which help them, improve their business communication and productivity. You may be overwhelmed with the phone system options available. It is however important to choose the best system that suits your business needs and budget.

Small businesses look for cost effective office telephone systems that offers myriad of features and flexibility. Before choosing a phone system, consider the exact needs of your business. You need to consider some important things like the number of employees in your organization, the number of locations in your office that would require phone service, your current broadband connection type, lines and bandwidth, your current network load, your existing phone system details and what your budget is. Getting as much information about your current situation as possible can help you choose the right phone system.

Before choosing an office telephone system, determine whether you need or want to keep the existing lines. If you need those lines, you can go for a phone system that allows you to use your existing lines and equipment. You need to look for the important features you need in a phone system to manage your business communication effectually. For instance, if you do not have a receptionist or operator to attend phone calls, you can consider choosing a phone system that offers the auto attendant feature. You also need to decide whether you need features like caller ID, call routing, call forwarding, voice mail, live call recording and other associated features. These features are becoming more essential for all modern offices, so you can go for a phone system that helps you get most of the features at a fair price.

Office telephone system is a crucial investment decision, so you need to consider your future expansion plans before spending your money in it. Consider how fast you will grow the system and how frequently you will be making changes to the office infrastructure to accommodate the growth. You can opt for a system that is easily scalable, so that you can avoid many hassles in the future. As a small business owner, you may not be able to afford high capital expenditure. Sometimes, installing a new system unintentionally require you to purchase new equipment for maintaining compatibility. Hence, it would be in your best interests to check whether the phone system you want to choose is compatible with your existing equipment.

The best office telephone system is the one that offers great value for your money. It comes with the features that suit your unique needs. You can save a lot of time, build better customer relationship and increase your business productivity with the help of beneficial features offered by the best phone system.

For more information on Office telephone packages offered by Broadconnect, please visit our website.

What is the best performing phone system for business?

Effective communication is the most integral aspect of any successful business, so choosing the best phone system for business can help you gain a variety of benefits. With an effective phone system, you can offer better service to your customers, increase the productivity of your employees and enhance the way you carry out your business operations. There is no single best communication solution for all businesses. A phone system that works great for one company may not be suitable for another. Therefore, you need to first determine your communication needs and the projected budget. Doing a little bit research on the popular commercial phone systems on the market can help you make an informed decision.

While looking for a phone system for business, you need to consider the volume of business that your company handles. The total number of external phone lines used by your company and extensions required for every piece of equipment within your company connecting to the phone system are the major factors to be considered. A phone system may handle your current business communication traffic effectively. However, you need to make sure whether it can accommodate the consequences of your growth in future as well. The best system is one that can be easily updated or modified in a very cost effective manner. It scales well, no matter whether you are a small, medium or large business. It does not even require the help of professionals to expand the lines. You can simply do it by following the instructions provided by the service provider.

You need to opt for a secure and reliable phone system for business, which provide you with all the essential features. Auto attendant is an important feature, especially for small businesses that cannot afford to hire a receptionist or office attendant just to attend calls. This feature is crucial in a phone system, even if you have higher volume of calls. Conferencing is another important feature to look for. Phone systems like VoIP offer teleconferencing, video conferencing and three way conferencing at extremely affordable charges. The phone system that comes with rich features helps increase your business productivity dramatically. If these features are not included in a phone system, you may need to pay separately to avail them, which makes it an unnecessarily expensive option.

Before selecting a phone system for business, ensure whether it is compatible with your existing communication equipment. Also ensure that it is easy to access. Choosing some phone systems may require you to give complete training to operate and maintain. Many employees are not willing to devote time to learn how to use a phone system, so you need to ensure that the phone system you choose is user friendly and its functions are uncomplicated and intuitive.

If your business needs to use the phone system extensively, you need to look for some advanced features like automatic call forwarding and call convergence. The phone system for business that offers these features at affordable rates is worth considering. If your business involves handling high volume of calls, choosing the right phone system that handles them effectively can help enhance your efficiency in day to day operations. It is also important to choose a business phone system dealer that offers reliable services to meet your business needs as and when they arise.

For more information please visit Broadconnect Telecoms business phone system section.

Nortel BCM Makes Life Easier

The Nortel BCM or the Nortel Business Communications Manager is the perfect solution to facilitate quicker and easier business communication with its all-in-one converged voice and data communication system. This suits small and medium business models perfectly. This system is extremely flexible and can function as fast and efficiently as communication management systems used by big business houses.

Some of the efficient features and benefits of the Nortel BCM include:

• The system is expandable with the aid of BCM 50 expansion cabinets and BCM modules

• There is voice over IP available for IP phones and IP tracking

• You can operate 4-12 phones

• Small businesses can now easily transfer themselves to an IP communication system as well as upgrade themselves in a seamless fashion.

• Despite being a Linux based phone system; this unit possesses all the VoIP features as well as the structures present in a normal phone system.

• The BCM 200, BCM 400 and the Meridian 1 Switches are some of the other IP’s with which Nortel BCM phone systems can tie up and function.

• It has a built-in system and software that can support 40 digital Norstar phones and 32 IP phones.

• It also has the unique feature of unified messaging via key code.

• Fax and voice messages can be easily transferred to your email

• Ability to support 4 analog phones

• Apt for Call center functions which are performed with the help of key codes that are built into the system.

• A caller ID log of 600

• An interactive voice response system

• Hunt groups of 30

• Can support 10 voicemail ports and 1000 Voicemail Boxes

• The Nortel BCM can get connected easily to remote IP phones and organizations

• Speed dial of 255

• It is easy to work on Outlook and other computer systems as this has Computer Telephony Integration or CTI which makes it computer friendly.

• A voicemail storage of 100 hours

The features mentioned above are just some of the many applications and features included in this amazing communication system. Those who have used this unique communication system have truly benefited from its features. Most of the reviews written by customers will give you a fair idea of how this phone system has helped to simplify business communication. Most of the customers of the Nortel BCM feel that this is definitely one of the most flexible corporate communication systems available. Apart from flexibility the function ability of this system has also attracted customers across the globe. It is by far the best system to manage your voice mails.

This system is so far the only converged voice/data solution provider. The system works like a dream for small businesses. The IP routing and data services offered by this system are highly advanced and effective. So if you are looking for a complete voice and data service manager, there can really be no competition or choice other than the Nortel BCM. Be it interactive voice response, auto attendant or even unified messaging, this system has it all and packs phenomenal punch. The best part about this system is that it is 100% cost effective and has a network structure that is easy to understand and operate, making your small or medium business network management a walk in the park.

For more information on Nortel’s BCM please visit our website Avaya Phone System.

What makes the best, VoIP Provider?

VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) is a great alternative to traditional phone systems for businesses, both small and large. A lower operational cost is one of the most important benefits of VoIP. You can gain access to many useful features like low charges for long distance and local calls, ability to get connected with your employees from any place and much more. With more and more people turning to options for VoIP technology, many VoIP providers have come up with an extensive range of services. Choosing the best VoIP provider can help improve your business productivity and reduce your operating costs significantly.

If you have decided to switch to VoIP, you need to do some research and find out the right VoIP provider who offers the features that meet your exact business needs and falls within your budget. The quality of business communication is crucial for the effective functioning of any business model. Hence, it is important to check whether the service provider takes care of delivering crystal clear voice quality. Some VoIP providers offer a trial period of service. You can make use of this offer to check the efficacy of hardware and service provided. You can also confirm that the service provider allows you to keep your existing phone numbers, so that your business communication process remains unaffected.

Cost is an important aspect to consider while choosing a VoIP provider. Compare the charges and features offered by the service provider and determine whether their charges are affordable. Ensure that you compare the same type of VoIP service and cost between various VoIP providers. Taking a decision based only on the cost may not be wise. Shop around and choose a provider who offers the most reliable service at the most affordable rates. You also need to confirm whether the service provider will offer prompt service, so that you can carry on your business operations without any interruption.

If you have branches or clients in foreign countries, you need to choose the VoIP provider who allows you to make unlimited international calls at a reasonable charge. Also check whether the calling plan you want to choose comes with emergency services, so that you can avoid many complications in business communication in future. If you are new to VoIP technology, you can go for a service provider who requires you to download nothing. You can check whether the service provider offers the right guidance to build your business communication infrastructure quickly and easily.

An established VoIP provider would offer a lot of add-on features for free, such as call waiting, call forwarding, teleconferencing, three-way calling and video conferencing. The service provider that offers impeccable customer service and technical support would need to be sought out before making a decision. They help simplify your business communication network and deliver powerful solutions that are easy to use. They also offer various scalable options, so you can increase your calling capabilities easily. Choosing a service provider who has experience and expertise in providing VoIP technology can help you get the best out of your communication system. You can also save hundreds of dollars in your phone bill.

For more information on our Hosted Services please visit BroadConnect’s Website for more information on our VoIP Services.

Top reasons to choose a VoIP Telephone System

VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) technology has rapidly turned out to be an integral component of many business models in recent times. It offers plenty of benefits to small, medium and large businesses. It brought in an important improvement in the field of telecommunications- the capability to transmit voice over a data network. VoIP telephone system plays a crucial role when expanding your business and enhancing its productivity. Improving the customer service is the key to the success of any business. With VoIP technology, you are provided with the opportunity to better your customer service radically. Switching from traditional business phone system to VoIP can help you save a significant amount of money in phone bills too.

VoIP technology integrates voice and data onto a single cohesive network. This helps you get easy access to information, advanced functionality and great flexibility. The unified infrastructure is easier and more economical to maintain. VoIP telephone lets you take the office with you, wherever you go. You can access the phone system through any device connected to the internet at any time and from anywhere. This is more beneficial, if you have home base employees. You and your employees can check voicemail and email with VoIP. They can access project data and make calls over a single network. VoIP phone system can be integrated with some other systems like Customer Relationship Management in your office. This helps increase productivity to a great extent.

VoIP telephone allows you to enjoy greater flexibility. It scales immediately to accommodate your changing business needs. You can easily make changes in the system without relying on professionals. You can install new phones or set call routing preferences on your own. Rearranging desktop is so simple that you just need to unplug and move it to another outlet. There is no need to buy any expensive equipment or rewiring for rearrangement. VoIP allows you to enjoy many features that are either unavailable or costly on traditional PBX system. These features include auto attendant, electronic messaging, advanced call forwarding and three way conferencing.

Switching to VoIP telephone can help cut your telecommunication expenses by around 30%. Unlike PBX, VoIP does not require you to make a heavy investment. There are many hosted service providers who offer affordable cost of entry. You can even go for monthly subscriptions offered by some reliable service providers. The unified infrastructure helps reduce the maintenance costs as well. It is more flexible and easy to maintain in comparison to the traditional phone lines. As calls are transmitted over the internet, the cost of long distance calls is reduced drastically.

VoIP telephone system may be the best solution for businesses that are looking for more efficient and faster business communication solutions. In today’s volatile economic scenario, businesses, especially small and medium ones are looking for ways to reduce their operational costs significantly to survive. They find it beneficial to switch to VoIP system. VoIP technology ensures that you have access to high quality, uninterrupted services at cheaper prices. There are many VoIP service providers offering a wide range of packages. Analyzing the features of each package can help you choose the right service that suits the exact needs of your business.

For more information on our services please visit http://ow.ly/8FR27

IP Phones and why you should use VoIP Phone for Business

IP Phone and VoIP phone for business help you enjoy the benefits of voice and data network convergence, while offering more convenience and user friendliness. They can help improve your productivity by meeting the exact needs of your organization. You can save a lot of money by choosing the right IP and VoIP phone solution. IP and VoIP phone system is easier to install and maintain. It is far more effective, when compared to traditional PBX systems that can be installed and managed only by professionals. You can avail of many useful features that can help boost your workforce productivity and enhance customer service.

You can go for IP phone and VoIP phone for business, if you want to avoid the hassles in managing the traditional phone systems. The web based configuration interface in VoIP phones make it effortless to manage and fine tune your phone system. It is relatively easy and extremely cost effective to make calls between your branch offices at various locations. In other words, you can connect your offices and make them act as one large office, regardless of their locations. This brings down the cost of making long distance calls significantly. You can connect your offices on your own private network as well, so that you can get functionality advantages.

If you are running a home based business or have numerous work-from-home employees, choosing IP Phone and VoIP phone for business can offer you plenty of benefits. It enables you to connect your home based employee to your office phone system via internet cable or DSL easily. IP and VoIP phone also makes it easy and cost effective to connect employees who are constantly on the go. You can connect with your employee, no matter where he/she is. IP and VoIP phone system helps you carry out your business without any interruption.

IP phone and VoIP phone for business allows you to use one cabling infrastructure to transfer voice and data simultaneously. You can therefore save a lot of money in installing separate cabling infrastructure for each network. You can also get cut costs significantly when you are setting up a new office or moving to another office. Scalability is yet another reason for why you need to choose this system for your business. Traditional PBX phone systems need additional hardware to add a new phone to the system, whereas IP phone system is easily scalable. You can add as many extensions as you need at any time you want with amazing ease.

IP phone and VoIP phone for business let you avail more features, such as auto attendant, call queuing, call forwarding and voice mail. Traditional phone systems require you to pay separately for these features. IP and VoIP phone allows you to check the current system status and calls through a web browser effortlessly. It also enables you to divert calls from anywhere in the world. Easy roaming is one of the most attractive features of IP phones that help business outfits doing international businesses save a lot of time and money. For more information on VoIP for Business, please visit http://www.broadconnect.ca/solutions/industry-solutions/