| Making phone calls applying a broadband Internet | | | | 4 VoIP trunks |
| connection,known as VoIP (Voice over Internet | | | | 8 local extensions |
| Protocol), is becoming so popular with corporations | | | | 8 remote extensions |
| of each size. The prospect of paying a flat fee | | | | Expandable to a 16-line, 32-extension phone |
| for unlimited long-distance phone calls is attractive | | | | system by networking |
| to each company that has struggled to balance | | | | up to four 48-CA or 48-CVA units on the LAN |
| the want to conduct business phone calls with the | | | | 9 Auto Attendants |
| cost of those calls.Many companies are finding | | | | 26 voice mailboxes |
| that installation of VoIP phones is simpler than | | | | Built-in traditional and VoIP trunks for combined |
| traditional Private Branch eXchange (PBX) | | | | network access |
| systems, since the desk sets can share the | | | | Full-featured PBX telephone system |
| Ethernet cables already in place for the desktop | | | | Customer installable and configurable via PC |
| computers. Now, I m going to review 3 most | | | | interface |
| popular Voip Services providers who offer full | | | | Works with standard analog cordless or corded |
| service products primarily aimed at the small to | | | | phones and |
| medium sized business telephone market. Such | | | | TalkSwitch TS 100 phone sets Packet8 Virtual |
| companies typically support multi-line telephone | | | | OfficePacket8 is a service provider. It will bring a |
| systems, small PBX gateways and hosted | | | | "virtual office" by means of a hosted PBX that |
| VoIP.Vonage will bring VoIP service without | | | | you are able to attach to from any broadband |
| routing calls through your PC. When you sign | | | | connection. The equipment consists of 1 DTA and |
| higher for its DigitalVoice service, the company | | | | 1 phone for every extension. Minimum |
| gives you a phone number in the area code of | | | | configuration for a Packet8 system is 3 |
| your option and sends you a free ashtray-size | | | | extensions, however there appears to be no |
| devices device known as an analog telephone | | | | upper limit to the number of extensions. Every |
| adapter or even ATA. You easily plug the adapter | | | | DTA and phone combination costs $100, and |
| into your network router and attach your phone | | | | there exists a $40 activation fee per line.Because |
| to the adapter, and you're ready to produce calls. | | | | all the extensions attach to the equivalent PBX, |
| If you like, you are able to plug the adapter to a | | | | calls to extensions and calls to outside amounts |
| wall jack, connecting each phone in the home.For | | | | are processed just as they usually are in a |
| corporations that want extensions and services | | | | corporate office. The phones have a huge LCD |
| that are even more closely identified with PBXs | | | | with soft-buttons for voicemail, don't disturb, and |
| uncovered in the corporate globe, Vonage isn't a | | | | each feature you would expect in a corporate |
| very good option. Its Microscopic Business Project | | | | PBX. I personally discovered the system |
| is built on a lone line, similar to a residential line, and | | | | elementary to utilise however as well incredibly |
| does not provide facilities for multiple extensions, | | | | flexible. Phone functions are managed applying the |
| call transfers, administrative functions, and the | | | | phone's LCD and its buttons, while extension |
| more tasks virtually all corporate users take for | | | | assignment, routing, auto-attendant, and |
| granted. 2 more vendors are better suited for | | | | system-related functions are managed through |
| the corporate environment.Vonage Features: | | | | the PBX's Web interface.Packet8's sound quality |
| Equipment required: Broadband telephone | | | | was incredibly fantastic. Calls between Packet8 |
| adapter, Motorola VT1005V | | | | VoIP lines were clear with no noticeable delay. |
| $30 activation fee. No contract. | | | | Calls between Packet8 VoIP phones and standard |
| $39.99 termination fee after 14 days Call waiting, | | | | phone lines were equally clear. The quality of the |
| caller ID and conference calling. | | | | overall system was even more than |
| 911 serviceTalkSwitch 48-CVAThe TalkSwitch | | | | acceptable.This is the kind of system that fits any |
| uses your phone company's existing phone lines | | | | virtual office whose employees require to produce |
| and phone numbers to connect to the outside | | | | lots of long-distance calls. The Packet8 system is |
| world, but uses your Internet connection to | | | | particularly well suited to today's distributed virtual |
| connect to other TalkSwitches in your company's | | | | businesses. The fact that all the extensions are |
| remote offices. This setup is simple to install and | | | | section of the equivalent system and operate as |
| lets you keep your existing phone numbers and | | | | a seamless phone system puts a consolidated |
| lines. It also lets you keep your existing phone bills, | | | | face on the distributed office.Packet8 Virtual |
| since your long-distance calls still travel over your | | | | Office Features: |
| phone-company lines.Where TalkSwitch shines is in | | | | Price: $40 per extension per month |
| its features as a PBX and its ability to connect | | | | Setup costs of $100 for equipment and $40 |
| remote offices and treat them as a single phone | | | | activation fee per line |
| system. When two or more TalkSwitches | | | | Unlimited calling within the U.S. and Canada |
| connect through the Internet, the company has a | | | | Full-featured conference bridge for up to 20 |
| virtual PBX. The offices can make calls to one | | | | participants |
| another by dialing extensions that may be in the | | | | Auto-Attendant |
| same office or at a remote office without | | | | Voicemail with message forwarding and e-mail |
| incurring long-distance charges.The same | | | | notification |
| connection can be used to make standard calls to | | | | Call transfer and automatic call forwarding |
| phone numbers that are local to the remote | | | | 3-way conferencing |
| office but long-distance from the calling office. I | | | | Music/messaging on hold |
| found this feature worked well, but it requires the | | | | Distinctive ringing for internal/external calls |
| person making the call to know whether the | | | | Caller ID and call-waiting caller ID |
| number is local to the remote office. That's | | | | Stutter tone notifications |
| something many callers won't make the effort to | | | | Call park/call pick-up Rashme Wong has been an |
| deal with.TalkSwitch 48-CVA Features: | | | | Commuciation and Network Analyst for 5 years |
| Price: $1,795 | | | | whose articles on Voip business have appeared on |
| 4 lines in | | | | many major Voip websites. |