If you find that a small business phone system is important for your business then it’s wise to get one. But before you actually buy a small business phone, it is important that you do your own research and explorations. It is better you get yourself accustomed with the small business phone system before you start using one. Though most of the service providers share quite a few common features of a small business phone yet there can be some significant differences as well. So do your research and familiarize yourself before you invest in a small business phone:

Cost Efficient
A virtual small business phone system does not need to be installed with any particular telephone connection. It can, in fact, work with any telephone connection. It also does not need any hardware or software. So it is capable to save considerable amount of dollars for any business. But this is especially important for a small business, start-up or home based business that works in limited financial boundaries. Nevertheless, it saves money for big firms as well and is equally pertinent for all businesses during turbulent economic times.  Moreover, most of the virtual small business phone service providers offer flexible service levels. There’s no contract to be signed and most of the plans include considerable number of free minutes.

Makes You Available All the Time
The auto attendant of a virtual small business phone system completely eliminates the need for an office receptionist. This is an automated receptionist that is capable of receiving any number of calls. You can record the message that the auto attendant will play as soon as a customer calls you. Hiring a professional for recording your auto attendant is not a bad idea. The auto attendant greets your customers and routes him to the right person or department. It works 24 hours a day forwarding and transferring calls to the right person or department. So you are never far from your customers and prospects.

A Few Features
You get all the features and benefits of a traditional phone system in a virtual small business phone system.  You can transfer calls to your employees and colleagues located in the same office or may be across the country. You can also forward calls to your personal cell phone, residential phone or office phone.  If you are unable to answer your customer’s call he/she can leave a message in your voicemail box and you can reply them back at your convenience. Moreover, it allows these voice messages to be read in emails. So you do not lose out any time checking your voicemail box and your email separately.

A Few Extra Features
A virtual small business phone system also offers certain extra features over a traditional phone system. For example, you can send and receive fax online using your small business phone. This is the most modern way of sending and receiving fax without a fax machine and paper. You can also program your phone system in a way that you set days of the week and even hours when you are available on each number and the auto attendant will forward calls accordingly. You can also use a toll free number with this phone system. Toll free numbers are especially known for its success in attracting customers and influencing the sales of a business.

Have you recently started a home-based business and are curious about the different options available to you? Perhaps you have been running a small home-based business and your current communications solution is seriously lacking. In either case, a virtual small business phone service may be just the solution you are looking for.

Distinguish Between Call Types
Many home-based business owners make the mistake of assuming that they can cut costs by making use of their current landline telephone for business calls. Although this may seem like a fantastic option at first, it will inevitably cause some serious problems. First of all, even with caller ID, it is difficult for family members to distinguish a business call from a personal call; it is important for each business call to be answered with a uniform greeting in order to promote professionalism and credibility. Instead of opting for a distinguished ring for a second number on the landline, it is cheaper to use a virtual small business phone service—and it comes with more business features, as well.

Better Features
Most home-based businesses only have one employee—the homeowner. This makes it difficult to be available for every single business call around-the-clock. Thankfully, a small business phone service makes it easy to ensure that every call is answered promptly and that callers get the information they need. By combining the auto attendant feature with an information hotline and perhaps even virtual voicemail, callers will be able to get the information they need 24 hours a day, whether or not the business owner is available to take the call. Should the caller decide to place an order or make an appointment for services, they can choose to ring through to the business owner or the voicemail service.

Affordability
Since cost is often one of the primary concerns when business owners consider small business phone service for their home phones, it is important to note that a virtual phone system is surprisingly affordable—often even more affordable than adding a business feature package to an existing landline. If an entirely new second line is desired, this can become expensive with landline service. Jacks or splitters must be installed and the monthly cost may be exorbitant. Basic virtual system packages, which are often all that is needed for home based businesses, can cost as little as $10 per month. Even feature-packed systems are as little as $30 per month, which is much less than the cost of a second line.

Better Customer Service
All of the features that are found with a virtual telephone (http://www.itelecenter.com/Virtual-Phone-System.aspx) system make it easier for home based business owners to provide the best customer service possible. Professional greetings, better organization and the ability to forward calls to mobile phones when away from home are all imperative for the overall success of a business. As call volume increases and additional employees are hired, more extensions can be added to the same account for use in other homes or offices.

Running a home-based business can be a successful endeavor provided that the business owner is able to give their customers the best experience possible. With the help of a small business phone service—particularly of the virtual nature—this can be painless and inexpensive.

So, you've decided it's time for an upgrade of your old business phone service. Perhaps the machines are dated and worn, or your company has outgrown your current system. Whatever the reason, you may want to consider a hosted small business phone service to meet your company's growing needs.

Solutions for Common Small Business Hurdles

It can be difficult for people who work from home to set up a simple and professional system to keep in touch with clients. With multiple phones and different plans for each, keeping them all straight can be a nightmare. Similarly, office based businesses who have employees working in the field have to deal with the muddle of office systems and mobile systems. With a hosted phone service, land and mobile phones can become a part of your communications system with the click of a mouse, making it easier to reach anyone anywhere without a bunch of extra devices.

Increased Professionalism with Hosted Phone Tools

Small businesses need to work harder to appear professional, since they don't always have the resources of a larger company. Hiring a secretary to direct calls and recording quality, sophisticated messages for after hour’s inquiries can do a lot to boost the positive impressions of prospective customers, but such frills are usually too expensive for a small business to handle. Many hosted small business phone service providers have these things covered, and include these tools along with many more in their basic packages.

Plans to Accommodate Growing Businesses

As a business grows, it cannot afford to be locked into long term contracts that provide less service than they need, nor can they afford to pay for services they do not use. With traditional phone companies, the matter of upgrading can be arduous, involving fees and new equipment. With a hosted small business phone service, upgrading is usually as simple as a phone call to your provider, or a visit to their website. In general, hosted phone service is less restrictive and more adaptable to small business needs than old style phone companies.

Hosting Means No Tech Background Needed

It may seem attractive to have an on-site telephone or PBX at first, but there are many hidden problems to consider. Most people do not have the abilities or learning necessary to keep communications equipment maintained, and wouldn't know how to fix it if it broke. Creating space to store the equipment and keeping trained professionals on call is a logistics nightmare. There is no equipment associated with a hosted service – you simply receive and make calls via your existing landline or mobile phone. Managing your service is the only business virtual phone providers are involved in which makes a huge difference in the quality of service you get.

Easily Train New Employees

Most new employees today have grown up around computers, and an old style PBX system can seem labyrinthine and confusing. Hosted services have user interfaces specifically designed for increased user friendliness, and the comfortable setting of configuring its call forwarding settings from a computer screen can be a huge comfort to a new employee. Especially since the old style phones tend to have confusing command keys that younger employees can find baffling. For both of these reasons, virtual small business phone services are easier to learn and easier to teach.

You want this upgrade to go as smoothly as possible. Signing up for hosted phone service is quick and easy, and because of the flexible plans available, it's certain your next upgrade will be just as easy as this one.

Communications are key for small businesses, but establishing a proper system to make communicating with employees hassle-free can be one of the largest expenditures new businesses have to face.  With so many options available, why choose a virtual small business phone service over its traditional counterpart?

Traditional PBX
The letters PBX are an abbreviation of the phrase "Private Branch Exchange". A Private branch exchange is a kind of phone service that allows businesses to communicate more easily within their offices. When a company has many employees and different departments that need to be easily reached, a PBX system allows them to assign shorter numbers to certain phones, allowing for easier communication. A PBX acts as a smaller phone system that serves one building, so to reach a certain phone, you need only remember its extension, rather than an entire new number.

The Advantages of a Virtual System
Times have changed since the arrival of traditional PBX systems. For a small business phone service, the costs and responsibilities of a regular PBX can be prohibitive. They require special phones with different keys to perform all of the necessary functions of a PBX, whereas a virtual system is compatible with any phone. Sometimes, when changes to a traditional PBX system need to be made, it is necessary to call a technician to physically alter the phones or connections in a traditional system. This can result in a lot of cost and down time that a small business simply cannot afford.

Extra Features
While many PBX systems have plenty of nice features such as call waiting, call forwarding and hold music, virtual systems are capable of much more. Without the restraints of hardware to hold them back, virtual PBX systems are able to make more changes and keep up with a growing market simply by altering their software. Follow me features, inter-office faxes and user-friendly interfaces make virtual services superior in most respects to old fashioned phone systems. Virtual phone companies are faster to change, and are developing new features all the time.

Lower Cost
Traditional systems can cost as much as $100 a month, plus all the fees for new equipment and setup, which can run up to an astounding $5,000. With small business phone service through a virtual phone company, the upfront cost is very much reduced- usually in the area of $10 to $20 for set up fees- since any phone works with the system. Monthly fees can be much cheaper as well. With a virtual system, there are typically more options and various packages available. Many virtual providers allow a pick and choose approach to allow businesses to tailor the service to fit their needs.

For any business that simply cannot afford the cost associated with a large scale implementation of a PBX system but needs to be communicating more effectively right now, virtual phone systems can solve all of those problems. Virtual small business phone service is a growing market with more and more providers willing to cater to small business needs. A virtual PBX system may be a good solution to small business communication hurdles.

iTeleCenter sees an increase in companies using its small business phone service to gain greater mobility. In today’s mobile age, even CEOs are stepping out of the board room and taking their calls on the go.

When asked the reason for using a cloud based phone system, most clients list mobility as their number one response. A large percentage of these small businesses are forgoing the traditional business landline and employing a virtual phone system like iTeleCenter.

The service comes with a choice of local and/or toll free numbers that a company advertises as its business number. When calls come in, the auto attendant (a customized greeting) professionally guides the caller to the proper channel. The caller hears a welcome message and a choice of options to get to the person or department they want to reach. The system then seamlessly forwards the caller directly to the designated mobile or landline number.

Scalability is built in. For smaller companies with a sole proprietor, the system can bypass the auto attendant and forward directly to a designated number. Larger businesses can use the system as a virtual PBX without the added cost of equipment and maintenance. Each employee or department can be assigned their own extensions – with the same call forwarding and voicemail functionality present on the main number.
Privacy is of utmost importance. The last thing the president of a company wants is to publicize his mobile number. Although calls are routed to personal cell phones or home numbers, these numbers remain private – the caller never knows the number where the call terminates. Outgoing calls placed through the system display the local or toll free number associated with the service – never the personal number of the phone used to place the call.

This system fulfills the complete communications needs of any small business. Voicemail alerts send message content as readable text in an email along with a WAV file attachment. Faxes can be sent and received online through the service – again maintaining the privacy of all personal numbers.

About iTeleCenter
iTeleCenter was founded in 1992 by entrepreneur Paul Champaneria who wanted to build a company that catered to the needs of virtual companies, direct salespeople, affiliate marketers, real estate professionals, and all forms of home-based or small businesses. iTeleCenter is a virtual phone system that provides individuals with the ability to utilize toll free phone numbers, locally based numbers, or vanity numbers, with call forwarding and voicemail that make professional life a little easier. With the best in customer care and service, along with the latest and most innovative features, it’s a must have for professionals who want to compete on a regional or national level, whether it’s a one-man operation or a million-dollar corporation.

Article Source : http://www.prweb.com/releases/2012/8/prweb9830779.htm

An important part of running a successful business is having an effective solution for communications. There are several options for small business phone services and these can range from standard landline service to VoIP— or Voice over Internet Protocol service.

Landline Service
With a typical landline telephone service for a small business, voice and fax communications are handled via the use of copper telephone wires and standard telephone jacks. While one line of service may be enough for a very small business, more lines may be added as the business grows and individual departments are added. Features like caller ID, call forwarding and others are available at an additional charge, though they may be included in a bundle for even more savings. In most instances, landline telephone service is only economical when there is a single telephone line. For more complicated communications systems, there are options that are more affordable and practical.

VoIP Service
VoIP stands for Voice over Internet Protocol, and these small business phone services are great choices for businesses that are growing and expanding. While landline service is a great option for single lines, multiple lines can quickly become expensive. VoIP services offer packages that include multiple lines, all of the best features and even some extras that landline service providers do not. For the end users, VoIP service provides crystal clear call quality and even the ability to manage telephone calls and voicemails from their computer desktops. This improves production and allows employees to better manage their time and resources.

Consider the Necessities
When the time comes to select small business virtual phone system , the first thing that should be considered is the types of features that the business will need. Some of the features available include video conferencing, softphone capabilities, automated attendants, unified messaging and more. These features are not necessary for every business, but they can certainly help to keep employees in-the-know at all times and provide them with everything they need to do their jobs. Computers are a very important part of most businesses, and being able to integrate computers with telephones makes things easier.

Staying Connected
The final thing that business owners should consider when choosing their small business phone service is the extent to which the employees need to remain in contact with customers—and with each other. There are plenty of ways to ensure that everyone receives the telephone calls that were meant for their department, even when they are not in the office or at their desks. By combining features like call forwarding and auto attendants, business owners can easily ensure that there is always someone available to take telephone calls and that these calls are routed properly each and every time. This improves customer satisfaction and adds to the overall business image.

A very small business may be able to get by with a single landline telephone, but the odds are that the business will grow and expand at some point. When this is the case, business owners should consider the options for small business phone services available to them and choose the features that will benefit them the most.

One of the most common misconceptions about small business phone service is that it is more expensive than the typical phone services used in homes all around the country. In fact, business phone service is surprisingly affordable and may actually save business owners money in the long run.

The Cost of Traditional Phone Services
On average, the monthly cost of a single traditional landline with no long distance and bare-minimum features hovers somewhere around $30.00 after taxes and fees. Businesses that want to add on features like toll free numbers, additional lines and the ability to send faxes can expect to pay much, much more. In fact, most telephone companies charge around $100.00 to install a single telephone jack in an office and even more to repair an existing jack that has been damaged in some way. Traditional telephone service may be a great option for homeowners, but there are better choices when it comes to running a business.

The Cost of Virtual Phone Services
Due to the already high cost of landline telephone service, most business owners feel that small business phone service must be incredibly expensive and attempt to make do with their single line of service. Virtual service is actually very inexpensive and most of the small business packages start at less than $25.00 a month; some even include unlimited extensions. For this price, businesses will receive nationwide long distance, internet fax services and features like caller ID and call forwarding. Additional features are also available and business owners can customize their packages to suit the needs of their customers and their employees.

Get More for the Money
Essentially, business owners can enjoy the convenience of small business service for the same price as a single line of standard phone service. This is made possible due to the wonders of the internet. Most small business phone services are VoIP-based and are therefore simple to maintain. Since there are no costs for maintaining wires, poles and switchboards for the telephone companies, these savings can be passed along to the end users. The service is incredibly reliable and provides crystal-clear call quality that cannot be duplicated by any copper wire. For less than the price of a typical landline with unlimited long distance calls, users can enjoy all of the features that will help the business thrive.

Instant Scalability
All businesses hope to grow as they gain new clients and customers, and the growth of the business will undoubtedly lead to the addition of new employees. Depending upon their roles in the company, these employees may need to be provided with their own telephone extensions in order to maintain productivity. While adding a line to typical phone service can be a lengthy and expensive process, this is not so with a virtual phone system. The service is completely scalable, meaning that extensions can be added and removed almost instantaneously.

Telephone service is a very important part of any small business. It is the primary method of communication between employees and customers and should never be second-rate. As a result, a small business phone service is always the best option as it provides all of the features necessary for staying connected at a rate that anyone can afford.

When a small business opens its doors, it is likely that there will be a certain volume of telephone calls on a daily basis. By choosing to use a small business phone service, a company can improve its professional image with a myriad of features.

Residential vs. Business Phone Service
A small business with only a few employees may not receive as many telephone calls as a huge corporation, but that does not mean that a company should neglect its communications systems. A business that opens its doors with only a single landline meant for residential use will undoubtedly find that communications are mediocre, at best. Business employees should be available during business hours—and sometimes even around the clock—to handle customer calls and address any issues that may arise. A small business phone service is designed to do exactly that, and it is often more affordable than adding lines and features to typical residential landline service.

Business-Related Features
While standard phone lines may come with useful features like call waiting, caller ID and call forwarding, many of the features that a business could use to promote their image are not available. These include multiple extensions, advanced voicemail capabilities, automated attendants, call capture, call screening and even the ability to send and receive faxes directly from a computer desktop via the internet. These features are more than just convenient for the business owner; they make handling customer calls and ensuring satisfaction a breeze. Small business phone service includes all of these and more, creating a professional atmosphere for both the customers and the employees.

Improve Customer Satisfaction
The sole purpose of a business is to provide products and services that are in demand to the consumers who want and need them. If consumers are not satisfied with the service they receive from one business, they will simply take their money somewhere else. Callers who frequently experience busy signals or whose calls go unanswered will often become frustrated and look for alternative ways to procure the products and services they need. By effectively answering and handling every single call, businesses will develop a good reputation for customer relations and will make more money as a result. As such, business phone service is a must as it is designed to make these calls simpler for everyone involved.

Friendly Greetings and Seamless Transfers
When a customer calls a business for any reason, first impressions are everything. By using an automated assistant—a feature available with a small business phone service—each and every call is answered with a friendly greeting. The callers can then listen to the options available to them and select the one that best suits their reasons for calling. In fact, the entire process is very quick and most callers will agree that the ability to be transferred to the designated person or department without delay is important to them. After all, there is a reason behind the call and that reason should be addressed immediately by the person best suited to do so.

Improving the image of any business starts with providing an excellent product and ends with providing the best customer service in the industry. With the help of a small business phone service, ensuring customer satisfaction is simple and affordable.