Content Marketing – Jenny Working Copy
This is an installment in the How a Hosted VoIP Phone System can help small businesses increase profits, boost productivity and improve customer satisfaction
Your Phone System Is An Important Business Tool
Telephones have been an integral part of our lives for the past 70+ years. Other than fire or the invention of the wheel, the invention of the telephone is one of the single most transformative inventions known to man.
Don’t Forget About Your Phone System
Even today with all of the new communications tools like e-mail, Twitter & Facebook, the the telephone is still the most widely used form of communication. Most companies could survive without Twitter & Facebook, but there aren’t many companies that could operate without a telephone system. So why do so many businesses continue to use the phone as if it was just invented?
Improving Your Phone System Improves Profits
Many companies spend a lot of time, money and energy on the latest and greatest technologies and ignore the single most important communications tool used by all of their customers and employees, their company’s phone system.
If your phone system does not allow for efficient interactions between your customers and your sales or support staff, you are probably loosing sales and possibly damaging your company’s reputation. Most of our contact with companies today is over the telephone, when a customer has a poor phone experience with your company, most likely, they will also form a poor opinion of your company reducing the likelyhood of purchasing your product or serivice. To make matters worse, they will probably tell several of their friends and co-workers about the experience they had with your company.
VoIP Has Leveled They Playing Field For Small Businesses
Like most forms of technology, telecommunications has undergone a radical transformation over the past decade. Voice over IP or VoIP is a technology that has leveled the playing field for small businesses. Before VoIP, small businesses had to settle for a basic telephone system because a phone system that had more functionality was prohibitively expensive.
As we discussed earlier, it is extremely expensive to purchase a traditional phone system that has the features you need to create a first class phone experience for your customers. With a Business VoIP phone system, even small businesses can have a phone system with the same features and functions as those used by fortune 500 companies.
I Need Basic Transportation, I Don’t Need A Ferrari!
Most people would drive a Ferrari if they could afford it. Most people say I need basic transportation because they don’t want to admit they can’t afford a Ferrari.
The good news is, a business VoIP phone system is a Ferrari that any business can afford.
Just because you are driving a Ferrari does not mean you are going to win the Indy 500. In order to take full advantage of your new Business VoIP Ferrari, you need to either be an expert in VoIP technology or work with a Business VoIP Provider who can help you take advantage of all the tools in your new VoIP Ferrari.
Otherwise you might as well stick with your old car.
AVAD Technologies is a Business VoIP provider that specializes in helping small business maximize the the benefits of AVAD’s Business VoIP Phone Service.
Prevent Bad VoIP Service Before You Start
When failure is not an option
If you are like most businesses, your phone system is a critical component of your business. Before you decide to use the services of a particular Hosted VoIP Company you need to do your research.
Not all Hosted Providers are the same nor are the conditions that exist at each customer location identical. This however does not excuse implementing a Hosted VoIP phone system that delivers poor performance. It is the responsibility of the Hosted VoIP Provider to ensure that each installation has the proper conditions in place to ensure maximum results.
If a customer wants Hosted VoIP primarily to save money, and at the same time the customer is not willing to pay for the proper equipment to ensure quality of service, the Hosted Provider is asking for problems if they agree to work with that customer. You can’t expect to get business quality voice running over a crappy router supplied by an ISP with a $19.95/month DSL connection and try to run 25 users on that system. This is guaranteed to fail.
On the other hand, if the Hosted VoIP Provider works with the prospective customer and explains what is required and what it costs to install a business grade Hosted VoIP solution and prospective customer actually follows the VoIP Providers recommendations, the chances of delivering a successfull VoIP phone system greatly increase.
The ideal Hosted VoIP solution has the following components;
- T-1 connection dedicated to Voice
- VoIP router from manufacturers like Edgewater Networks or Cisco
- IP Phones from Polycom or Cisco
- Hosted VoIP Service from a quality provider
- Hosted VoIP Provider can prove they have redundant facilities.
- Hosted VoIP Provider offers superior customer service
It comes down to the simple but time honored saying “Do your home work first” and “if it sounds to good to be true, it probably is”.
Your phone system is a critical component of your company, it does not make sense to cut corners on one of the most important parts of your business. This is why sky divers don’t choose the cheapest parachute. Failure is not an option.
Key factors when selecting a Hosted VoIP Provider
Posted By AVAD Technologies Hosted VoIP Provider Business Editor on 11-4-2009
If your primary motivation is to reduce your telephone expense, this article is not for you.
On the other hand, if you want to learn about the factors that should be evaluated when selecting a Hosted VoIP Provider for your small business, then you should continue reading the rest of this article.
Hosted VoIP Provider – Its not only about price
Price is only one of many factors that should be evaluated when selecting a Hosted VoIP Provider. When you consider that your company’s phone system is the primary means by which employees and customers, communicate with your company, then choosing a phone system solely on the basis of price is short sighted at best.
Why businesses should consider VoIP
Hosted VoIP PBX – Small Business VoIP Provider
Posted By: AVAD Technologies, VoIP Provider, Small Business Editor on 11-4-2009
The following is an excerpt from well written article about how to find a Business VoIP Service Provider.
“Good business sense tells you to make the most of every opportunity that comes along. Whether that’s an opportunity to expand your business on an international stage or to save money on something as fundamental as your monthly phone bill, every business opportunity has to be grabbed with both hands to make your company a success. So a system that can potentially do both for you is an opportunity not to be missed.”
VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) is just such an opportunity. For business users, the advent of this new technology opens up new possibilities and new ways to save a considerable amount of money at the same time….
Read the rest of this article “Finding a Good Small Business Provider“
Popular Open Source VoIP Software Vulnerable to Attacks
Posted By AVAD Technologies Business Editor on 2009-28-10
IDG News Service – Cybercriminals have found a new launching pad for their scams: the phone systems of small and medium-sized businesses across the U.S.
In recent weeks, they have hacked into dozens of Open-Source Premise Based VoIP telephone systems across the country, using them as a way to contact unsuspecting bank customers and trick them into divulging their bank account numbers and passwords.
Attacks on Premises based open source VoIP systems built on the Asterisk have been targets of attacks for the past year.
Hosted VoIP Levels the Small Business Playing Field
Posted By AVAD Technologies Business Editor on 2009-19-09
Hosted VoIP PBX phone systems enhance small business telecommunications
Hosted (VoIP) Voice over IP phone systems gives companies of any size a state-of-the-art telecommunications system that has low a initial investment and provides Advanced PBX features and Voice over IP Calling Features.
Benefits of a Hosted Voice over IP (VoIP) PBX – Pay-as-you-grow
Pay-as-you-grow means that you only pay for the Voice over IP services your business currently uses. A traditional PBX phone system requires you to purchase the telephone equipment that is based on your organizations future growth plans, not on what you need today. The upfront expense is what has forced many small business to settle for a phone system that does not really meet their corporate objectives. Any changes to a traditional system usually requires an additional investment in telecommunications equipment.
Hosted VoIP PBX Reduces Costs & Increases Productivity
Hosted VoIP PBX – VoIP Provider News
Posted By: AVAD Technologies, VoIP Provider, Small Business Editor on 2009-06-05
Prior to the introduction of Hosted VoIP PBX, businesses had few choices and were paying too much for phone service. In addition, many businesses were also not convinced that a VoIP system would perform reliably,” stated Neal Gilbert of AVAD Technologies. “VoIP technology has matured to the point that allows us to deliver a comprehensive package of Hosted VoIP PBX features at a price even small businesses can afford.
Studies have shown that many business owners are not aware of the capabilities of a Business VoIP phone system. The study also revealed that many small and medium sized companies believed a VoIP telecommunications system would be too costly to purchase and mantain.
FCC: Telco's Must Port Phone Numbers in 1 Day
Hosted VoIP Legislation News
Posted By: AVAD Technologies, VoIP Provider, Small Business Editor on 2009-06-03
A new mandate from the FCC requires landline, wireless and most Voice over IP (VoIP Providers) transfer or port phone numbers to new carriers within 1 day, if requested by the customer.
The current rule gives carriers up to 4 days to complete this task. However, smaller carriers will still have up to 15-months.
Broadsoft and CounterPath Announce Soft Phone for Broadworks
Hosted VoIP PBX Industry News
Posted By AVAD Technologies Business Editor on 2009-06-01
With the deal that Broadsoft has struck with CounterPath (maker of the Eyebeam soft phone), it looks like Broadsoft has finally accepted that the soft phone they have developed to work with their platform was not that good.
We at AVAD Technologies, a Hosted VoIP PBX VoIP Provider, that uses the Broadsoft VoIP platform are extremely happy that CounterPath’s Bria Soft phone now interoperates seamlessly with the Broadworks Hosted VoIP PBX platform.
Many of our customers have expressed an interest in a functional softphone that works with our platform, and now we have it. You can purchase the Bria for Broadworks directly from Counterpath’s on-line store. The price for the Bria Soft phone is $49.95.
For those of you that are interested, here is a link to the Broadsoft/CounterPath announcement.
Hosted VoIP for the small business owner
Posted By AVAD Technologies Hosted VoIP Provider Business Editor on 2009-5-27
Prior to Hosted VoIP, businesses rarely had more than one option for phone service, the local phone company. This lack of competition had a two fold effect. First, businesses paid too much for phone service. Second, customer service suffered.
Hosted VoIP PBX Levels The Playing field for the Small Business
Many business owners are not convinced that a Hosted VoIP PBX phone system can perform reliably. VoIP technology has matured to the point that allows us to deliver a comprehensive and reliable solution of Hosted VoIP PBX features at a price even a small business can afford.
Hosted VoIP PBX is Within Reach of Small Businesses
Studies have shown that managers at many small and medium businesses are unaware of the capabilities and reliability of a Hosted VoIP PBX phone system. The study also revealed that many small and medium businesses believe a Hosted VoIP PBX system would cost too much to purchase and manage.
AVAD Business VoIP 