Using the Internet to carry voice raises alot of questions. Below are many of these questions along with detailed, easy to understand answers. If you have other questions, please don't hesitate to call us at 1-888-364-4209.
Q: What is VoIP?
VoIP stands for Voice over Internet Protocol. It allows you to make phone
calls over a data network, such as your office LAN or the internet. VoIP streams your voice
signal from your telephone over the internet to another telephone. It handles all the conversions
at both ends so that you can speak with anyone with a regular phone.
An essential part of VoIP is a broadband connection, also knows as a high
speed internet connection. This is required for anyone who is using VoIP.
This connection can be found through a cable modem, DSL or a T1.
Also required for business VoIP is one or more IP Telephone. An IP Telephone is like a regular telephone except that it plugs into an ethernet network wire rather than a telephone instead of a telephone wire. An ethernet wire looks like a telephone wire but is fatter.
A softphone is another type of IP telephone except it runs as software in your computer. With Ablevoice, you can install a softphone on your laptop and take it with you on business trips. If your destination has Internet, you can make and receive calls as if you were in the office.
The final piece of hardware is the PBX. The PBX is the complex system that handles the call processing. It answers the phone and plays your greeting, manages call queues and ring groups, and forwards calls to extensions. It is really the brains behind a corporate phone service. Traditionally, these systems cost over $10k and require special skillsets to deploy and manage.
Also required for business VoIP is one or more IP Telephone. An IP Telephone is like a regular telephone except that it plugs into an ethernet network wire rather than a telephone instead of a telephone wire. An ethernet wire looks like a telephone wire but is fatter.
A softphone is another type of IP telephone except it runs as software in your computer. With Ablevoice, you can install a softphone on your laptop and take it with you on business trips. If your destination has Internet, you can make and receive calls as if you were in the office.
The final piece of hardware is the PBX. The PBX is the complex system that handles the call processing. It answers the phone and plays your greeting, manages call queues and ring groups, and forwards calls to extensions. It is really the brains behind a corporate phone service. Traditionally, these systems cost over $10k and require special skillsets to deploy and manage.
Hosted service means that although the IP Telephones are at
your locations, the PBX is located in the Ablevoice data center
facilities. This ensures that even if your broadband connection
goes down, the calls will go to your cellphone. If you don't
know what an IP telephone and a PBX are, read the previous
question in this FAQ.
Onsite service means that both the IP Telephones and the PBX are located at your premises. With Ablevoice the service is still managed, but with this model you can choose to use regular telephone lines to carry your calls out of the office.
Onsite service means that both the IP Telephones and the PBX are located at your premises. With Ablevoice the service is still managed, but with this model you can choose to use regular telephone lines to carry your calls out of the office.
Q: What are the main advantages of Business VoIP phone services?
One of the advantages of Business VoIP phone service is the addition
of new features that a traditional phone is not equipped to
offer or offers with an additional fee. One example is the ability to integrate a phone system
with a customer database so that relevant information is available in your browser
when you answer the phone. This type of functionality used to only be available
in big call-centers, but with VoIP its available to everyone.
A second advantage to broadband phone service is that you can talk to colleagues around the world for as long as you want if they have an Internet connection and an IP Telephone.
A third advantage to switching to a broadband phone provider is it may significantly decrease the cost of your phone bill.
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A second advantage to broadband phone service is that you can talk to colleagues around the world for as long as you want if they have an Internet connection and an IP Telephone.
A third advantage to switching to a broadband phone provider is it may significantly decrease the cost of your phone bill.
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Q: Can I use multiple phones with my Business VoIP service?
Yes you can use multiple phones with your service. You can create an extension for
every person in your organization and then they can be part of call queues and ring groups.
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Q: Can I keep my existing phone number?
Yes. Your phone number can be transfered from your old phone company to Ablevoice.
The transfer usually takes about 20 days to process.
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Q: Will the VoIP phone line sound the same as my normal Phone Number?
Yes. Most internet customers are not able to tell the different between
their old phone lines and their new VoIP phone lines. Occasionally you may
experience some difficultly with your internet line because it is based on
your internet connection. To address this, Ablevoice includes remote management and
monitoring of your broadband link to provide maximum visibility into your configuration.
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Q: Will VoIP save me money?
Yes! You may save a considerable amount of money over your traditional phone
service. Generally, VoIP is much cheaper than conventional phone services.
As technology continues to grow and become more conventional, prices are expected to fall.
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Case Studies
Realty Office
Constraints:
B&B Realty had 5 desks and 12 agents. 2 of the desks had permanent employees while the other 3 were used by the other agents when they needed to come in.
Requirements:
- They wanted to channel all calls through the main number
- They wanted a professional sounding auto-attendant to welcome callers and direct them
- No call should go to voicemail unless the person trying to be reached was unavailable
- They wanted everyone to be able to take calls whether they were in the office or not
- Whenever a person was working in the office they should be able to use one of the deskphones for that time
Solution:
- Install 3 IP telephones in the office.
- Configure a digital receptionist to answer when the main number rings.
- Use Ablevoice studio voice talent to record a greeting and present the options.
- Have the default behavior be to ring all the phones in the office simultaneously for 15 seconds and then forward the call to the president's cell phone.
- Configure extensions for each agent
How it works:
When agents arrive at the office to work, they configure their mailbox to forward calls to the office phone at their desk. If they are there when a call comes in, the desk phone rings and they answer it. If they are not at the office, the calls goes to their cellphone or voicemail.
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Mobile businesses
Constraints:
Junk removal company starting out as one guy with a truck.
Requirements:
- They wanted callers to think they were bigger
- All calls had to end up at his cellphone
- Callers should hear hold music while his cellphone is ringing
Solution:
- Create an extension to forward all calls to the cellphone,
- configure a call queue to ring his extension but play music-on-hold
How it works:
Callers listen to the digital receptionist who presents them with choices. No matter which choice they select, the caller is added to the call-queue. This call queue plays music while the call is forwarded to the cellphone.
By using queues, they can easily add more cellphones or office-based phones.
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Office with home-based workers
Constraints:
One office with 8 workers in 3 states. Each worker needs their own local-access number
Requirements:
- Free calls between workers
- Consecutive direct access numbers for each person
Solution:
- Provide a physical phone for each person
- Assign extensions to thier phones
- Assign standard phone numbers to each extension
How it works:
Whether people are next door or in different states, their phones behave as if they were in the same office.
Ablevoice TEAMUP! will route incoming calls to the local-access numbers to the appropriate extension.
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Business with Branch Offices
Constraints:
Offices in Boston, LA and London
Requirements:
- Free calls between Offices
- Local access numbers for each office
- Outbound calls from any office should use the cheapest local service (e.g. When the Boston office calls a London number, it's a local call from the London office)
Solution: Toll Bypass
- Provide a physical phone for each person
- Assign extensions to thier phones
- For each office, assign local phone numbers to the digital receptionist
- Configure call routing module to use local calling plan
How it works:
Whether people are next door or in different states, their phones behave as if they were in the same office.
When outbound calls are made, Ablevoice TEAMUP! examines the number and routes the call through the least costly path.
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