March 8th, 2012
Having access to high quality, low cost service providers can help move any business forward. Our new app gives you a simple and cost-effective way to connect with the best business services for your needs.
The VendorFind app features all of InsideUp’s 20 business service provider categories, including VoIP, call center, payroll, human resources, business internet, web development, credit card processing, collection agencies, business cash advance and many more.
Are you looking for business VOIP services? VendorFind will let you tap into InsideUp’s comprehensive knowledge base to learn about business VOIP services before you make your decision and choose a vendor.
You’ll also have access to tools such as informative videos, wikis, vendor ratings and “Quick Guide” overviews of each category including business VOIP. Easily link to our Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and LinkedIn pages for additional information and special deals from select vendors.
Once you’ve found the service you need, simply submit a quick survey to be instantly matched with vendors that fit your criteria–and receive custom, competitive quotes from multiple providers. Have additional questions about business services? Simply click on our phone number displayed on the app to speak to a representative.
Finding qualified service providers has never been easier! Say you’re meeting your business partner to discuss your new business VOIP campaign. Simply access the business VOIP category on your mobile phone to start receiving quotes from pre-screened VOIP agencies. You could realistically save up to 60% on business VOIP services for your next campaign. And that’s just one example; with VendorFind at your fingertips, you can be sure you never pay too much for the business services you need.
The VendorFind app is a real time-saver for businesses that don’t want to advertise for a service provider and then face the ordeal of researching each provider to find the one that best matches their needs and budget.
Download the free VendorFind app today and see how easy it is to connect with the business services that will help your company grow.
Tags: business internet phone, Business Phone Line, business phone service, business telephones, call center service, call centers service, Commercial Phone Line, data storage business, data storage management, hosted pbx, question answering service, server backup service, virtual pbx system
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January 30th, 2012
Most business internet phone lines available today are available as virtual PBX systems. Companies no longer need to deploy the bulky equipment associated with traditional PBX systems. With a hosted PBX managing all exchange services, businesses can their save time and resources to focus on other necessary activities.
Let’s look at a few useful features of a virtual PBX system.
Auto Attendant Service
Virtual PBX systems are capable of greeting incoming calls with prerecorded messages. The auto attendant also routes the call to appropriate extensions, groups, mail boxes or groups. The feature is one of the strongest reasons why VoIP based business phone lines have become so popular. The virtual PBX system acts as a virtual receptionist that not only greets people but redirects the call automatically to the relevant department. The extensions may be connected to a cell phone or a home phone. The auto attendant can also route the incoming calls to ACD (Automatic Call Distribution) queues.
Voicemail
Virtual PBX systems also have a voice mail feature. Now your business phone line can also record messages and send you voice mail, which you can listen to on your phone or on your computer.
Remote Connectivity
With traditional PBX systems, it was a dream to be able to connect with departments that were located in remote offices. Physical wire connections made it impossible to reach remote locations. Thanks to VoIP, it is now possible to connect to different departments, no matter how far away they are located. A company can now connect to its branch offices or call agents or retail outlets using a single toll-free number. So an incoming call on the company’s toll free number will be received by the hosted PBX system and the auto attendant will automatically route the call to the appropriate extension.
This feature also opens doors to voice and video conferencing between remote employees and agents. Companies do not need to make any additional investments for such a setup as they are offered as part of the hosted services.
Loads of Call Management Features
A virtual PBX system offers a number of call management features for your business phone line. With a hosted PBX, you will never miss your calls, so you can make good on your promise of 24/7 availability.
Integrated Fax services
If you have hosted PBX installed on site, you do not need to have a separate fax machine. All fax messages will be received by the virtual PBX system, which can be easily viewed on a computer. You can also send or organize messages directly from your computer.
A virtual PBX system has become the standard for today’s enterprises. It’s an investment that will definitely be returned manifold, resulting both from an increase in your company’s efficiency as well as sales.
Tags: business internet phone, Business Phone Line, business phone service, business telephones, call center service, call centers service, Commercial Phone Line, data storage business, data storage management, hosted pbx, question answering service, server backup service, virtual pbx system
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January 23rd, 2012
In order to maintain healthy customer relationships and enhance brand popularity, businesses should look closely at their business communication systems. While the internet has greatly minimized the communication gap between businesses and consumers, a vast majority of customers and clients still rely heavily on the telephone system. Without proper business communication systems, your company could face the loss of such clients—and a considerable amount of revenue along with them.
One very important aspect that many merchants overlook when considering a business communication system is to look for a business communication solution which is suitable for the specific needs of their organization.
The very first thing to consider, for example, is whether you require a premise-based or network-based communication system. A premise-based telephone system may require hiring additional technical staff to maintain, while a network-based, or hosted, communication system is managed by the service provider. There are a number of other variables that go into the premise based vs. hosted VoIP decision, so it’s important to educate yourself about the differences in order to make the best decision for your business.
Generally speaking, hosted VoIP communication solutions are now considered more efficient, especially for smaller companies. A hosted solution typically requires lower operating costs and resources as compared to a premise-based phone system.
You will find there is a major difference in terms of features when comparing VoIP to traditional phone systems. VoIP offers countless useful features including video conferencing, call recording, call forwarding, voice mail, etc.
When shopping for a business communication system, make sure you are getting all the necessary features, including on-hold messaging and voice mail. It is best to assess your needs and requirements beforehand. For instance, businesses which communicate solely with customers have different communication system requirements than businesses that also have to deal with B2B communication.
There are a number of business phone service providers. Each of them may be offering a different set of features for different price. A comprehensive comparison of rates, features and benefits is extremely important before making the final decision. In order to find a suitable business communication system, make sure you have carried out your research and comparison using a reliable resource.
Tags: business communication services, business communication solutions, business communication systems, business internet phone, Business Phone Line, business phone service, business telephones, Commercial Phone Line, communications for business, hosted pbx, office phone service, office telephone service, virtual pbx system
Posted in Choosing VoIP Service, Uncategorized, Voip Issues, VoIP News, VoIP Tips | No Comments »
January 11th, 2012
Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) has rapidly become the communications system of choice for businesses, owing to its affordable cost and manifold benefits.
Unlike traditional business telephone systems, this advanced form of telecommunication utilizes the internet as a source of cost-efficient calls. Outsourcing VoIP service can also save you a great deal in operating and infrastructure costs.
InsideUp makes the confusing and time consuming task of selecting a reliable, top quality VoIP outsourcing solution much easier with a comprehensive guide on business phone line services. It will help you compare the services of top vendors to select the most suitable and affordable provider pertaining to your specific business needs.
Business internet phone services via VoIP can be of various types; most offer easy set-up and provide a scalable phone line system. Selecting the ideal vendor based on your inbound and outbound call requirements is one of the most important decisions you will make for your business.
Depending on your project requirements and budget, InsideUp provides a guide to comparing top vendors to assure satisfaction in selecting an affordable outsourcing solution. You can opt for a hosted PBX or virtual PBX system based on your business needs. InsideUp also keeps you up to date with informative blogs to help you find reliable VoIP services.
Internet telephony is being adopted by businesses worldwide due to its more cost-effective approach and enhanced services as compared to traditional telephones. Business phone service with VoIP is the new face of advanced technology, providing the same telecommunication services, but at affordable rates. It facilitates new communication platforms such as messaging, conference calling, voice-messaging and more, in addition to traditional simple calls.
Business phone line services are in great demand among businesses of various spheres, both small and large, as it fulfills their aim of saving money with smart VoIP utilities. It is creating an unprecedented revolution in the world of advanced telecommunication.
Tags: business internet phone, Business Phone Line, business phone service, business telephones, call center service, call centers service, Commercial Phone Line, data storage business, data storage management, hosted pbx, question answering service, server backup service, virtual pbx system
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November 3rd, 2011
There is no shortage of Business VoIP service providers. That’s why you need a clear set of parameters that will help you identify a suitable provider. Remember that just because a Business VoIP service provider is delivering excellent service for a certain organization does not mean it will necessarily work out just as well for you. Several factors can and should inform your eventual decision. But four probably stand out the most – reliability, flexibility, mobility and scalability.
- Reliability – What is the point of signing up for a sophisticated business VoIP service that does not work when you need it the most? Unreliable, inconsistent service is probably the gravest danger that a VoIP product can pose to your business. For all its merits, email still trails voice as the primary means of remote business communication. You can determine reliability of a business VoIP service in two ways – the service provider’s redundant infrastructure and references from current clients.
- Flexibility – Does the service only work with one IP phone brand or model? It is understandable that some business VoIP services will lock their infrastructure to work with only their hardware including their own headsets. But if the hardware is either, too expensive, unserviceable or difficult to find in stores in your country, then you may find yourself with a VoIP system that grinds to a halt at the slightest hardware problem. Pick a VoIP service that can, at least to a reasonable extent, work with hardware from other VoIP manufacturers.
- Mobility – The rapid adoption of cloud computing technology and the exponential growth of smart phone, tablet PC and netbook sales all point to one thing – pressure from customers is pushing businesses to ensure their staff are quickly accessible wherever they are. Check that the business VoIP services you intend to sign up for will allow you to register several different mobile phones to the same extension. That way, your staff can connect to your voice network irrespective of where they are on the planet.
- Scalability – What are your growth plans? Do you anticipate more staff in the short, medium or long term? Get a business VoIP service that can easily expand as your business grows. Ideally, adding new extensions to your network should be something you or your in-house IT staff can do without the need to engage the service provider’s field staff.
Tags: business internet phone, Business Phone Line, business phone service, business telephones, call center service, call centers service, Commercial Phone Line, data storage business, data storage management, hosted pbx, question answering service, server backup service, virtual pbx system
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November 3rd, 2011
Have you ever contacted a company inquiring on a certain service but were inundated with so much jargon that you ended up even less informed by the end of the conversation? Unfortunately, the IT industry is notorious for this.
You can expect the same thing to a certain degree when you get in touch with some business VoIP service providers. Jargon will probably come no bigger than the constant references to ‘hosted’, ‘premise-based’ or ‘managed’ VoIP as the best setup – all depending on what the service provider is good at or what the provider expects to make the biggest margin from.
Before you pick up your phone to get in touch with a business VoIP service, it would help to become familiar with the three main types of VoIP installations.
- On-Premise – This is the traditional approach to VoIP installation. You purchase the PBX (Private Branch Exchange) servers, routers, cables and the VoIP phones. The cost of an on-premise PBX may be pocket-change for large corporations. However, the cost (which varies from a couple of thousands to well over a $20,000) may be unaffordable for small and medium sized enterprises. This is not even counting the cost of maintenance, regular update and patching to make sure the system is running as desired. Save for extraordinary technical problems, all aspects of an on-premise VoIP system are handled by your in-house IT staff.
- Hosted – Hosted PBX VoIP costs the least and has the fastest turnaround time from payment to full installation. Just plug in the IP phone to your corporate internet connection and you are ready to go after minimal configuration. The service is ‘hosted’ by a third service and this means you need not purchase the expensive infrastructure that goes with an on-premise business VoIP system. Since a hosted VoIP service wholly runs off the internet, the major drawback is you will be unreachable whenever your internet is down.
- Managed – Managed services are to some extent a compromise between an on-premise VoIP system and a hosted service. Managed VoIP services provide the hardware, software, technical expertise, maintenance and real time monitoring at a set price. In other words, the systems may be on your premises but they are effectively run by the service provider.
Tags: business internet phone, Business Phone Line, business phone service, business telephones, call center service, call centers service, Commercial Phone Line, data storage business, data storage management, hosted pbx, question answering service, server backup service, virtual pbx system
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August 25th, 2011
Improvements in reliability and sound quality and a substantial cost advantage over traditional phone systems have made VoIP the communications system of choice for many businesses.
According to Forbes.com, “small- and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) have perhaps the most to gain from the explosion of new VOIP services. In one move, businesses can outsource their communications, doing away with clunky, on-site PBX equipment and reduce their monthly phone bills.”
Some of the newer VOIP features for smaller businesses include tools like “unified messaging” (converged voicemail and e-mail) that can actually improve productivity.
Because there are so many business phone service providers, it can be difficult to research and choose a vendor. Do a Google search about your potential VoIP service providers to see what others are saying. Below are a few other factors to help you in your search.
VoIP vendors offer a wide variety of features ranging from voice mail, faxing, and toll free lines to conversion of voice mail messages to emails or text messages. Many VoIP services allow you to integrate your voice traffic with SalesForce and other CRM solutions for easier access to customer data during sales and customer service calls.
The price for VoIP service varies a great deal depending on the number of phones a business uses, the features desired, and the vendor itself. Pricing can start as low as $20 per month. It’s a good idea to decide in advance how much you will be willing to pay for your service.
Should you go with a hosted VoIP service or purchase a premise-based system? A hosted VoIP system is owned and hosted by someone else, and is usually the best choice for smaller businesses. The telephones themselves are the only equipment you will need to buy. Service is provided by the hosting company, as are any upgrades.
A hosted PBX or virtual PBX VoIP system comes with all the features of a standard premise based phone system including voice mail, call attendant, call forwarding and faxing and you can usually choose from a variety of additional feature packages.
Tags: business internet phone, Business Phone Line, business phone service, business telephones, call center service, call centers service, Commercial Phone Line, data storage business, data storage management, hosted pbx, question answering service, server backup service, virtual pbx system
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August 18th, 2011
Hosted PBX services are a real support for small to medium-sized business with the desire to augment their business identity. This service allows advanced call management features, such as automatic call distribution, call forwarding, auto attendant, voice to email, call conferencing, music on hold, fax to email and much more. Similar to a virtual PBX system, it too works for a commercial phone line and is a necessary business phone service.
With VoIP hosted PBX services you have professional call answering services. This allows for call management throughout business hours and after. An automobile attendant within the system greets callers with suitable reception messages and gives a long list of options including dial-by-name, dial-by-extension, etc. A computer effortlessly manages multiple incoming calls and accomplishes call transfer without broadcasting ‘line engaged’ signals.
VoIP hosted PBX voice services offer more locations at no extra costs. Calls can be made between several locations using business internet phones or simple four-digit extension numbers, at no extra expense. This feature is a wide advantage for businesses looking to reduce telephone bills.
Tags: business internet phone, Business Phone Line, business phone service, business telephones, call center service, call centers service, Commercial Phone Line, data storage business, data storage management, hosted pbx, question answering service, server backup service, virtual pbx system
Posted in Choosing VoIP Service, Uncategorized | 2 Comments »
July 14th, 2011
Reliability – Early business internet phone systems had a reputation for dropped calls and unreliable sound quality. Most VoIP providers have made significant improvements in these areas. However, testing out a VoIP vendor before you sign a contract will ensure you’ve made the best choice.
Features – VoIP vendors offer a wide variety of useful features in addition to voice mail, faxing, and toll free lines. The features you choose will be packaged as part of your monthly subscription for hosted service. If you are purchasing a premise-based solution you will have access to all available features, including those you may not need.
Price – The price for VoIP service varies depending on the number of phones a business uses, the features desired, and the vendor itself. Determine your budget at the outset, keeping in mind that most international and long-distance phone calls are free when using VoIP. Choosing a hosted or premise based system will also affect how much you pay.
Equipment – Some VoIP systems can be used directly through a computer while other services are available through an IP, or VoIP equipped telephone.
Reputation – Make sure the provider you choose has a favorable listing with the Better Business Bureau. You can also do a Google search to find out what others are saying about the vendors you’re considering. InsideUp can simplify your search by providing custom quotes from pre-screened vendors who match your requirements.
Should You Choose a Premise-Based or Network-Based System?
A further decision you will face is whether to have your IP communications system hosted by a provider or have the system installed on location. Each choice comes with unique advantages.
Select the option that will suit both your current and future needs.
One of the chief advantages of choosing a hosted service is that it can be a completely managed service, reducing the IT resources you will need to deliver the solution to the end users. Some of the benefits you may find with a premised-based solution include:
- Predictable cost of acquisition
- More control over the purchase, installation and operation of the system
- Convenience of readily available in-house expertise
- Ability to incorporate future systems and to accommodate the company’s growth
Network-based VoIP solutions can offer companies greater flexibility and control over their own applications and feature usage while providing the advantage of a carrier-class service with excellent voice quality and performance. Some of the benefits you may see from a network-based solution include:
- Easier growth management
- Fewer concerns about equipment obsolescence
- May require fewer resources to operate and maintain
- More predictable operating costs
Reliability – Early VoIP systems had a reputation for dropped calls and unreliable sound quality. Most VoIp providers have made significant improvements in these areas. However, testing out a VoIP vendor before you sign a contract will ensure you’ve made the best choice.
Features – VoIP vendors offer a wide variety of useful features in addition to voice mail, faxing, and toll free lines that are packaged as part of a monthly subscription.
Price – The price for VoIP service varies depending on the number of phones a business uses, the features desired, and the vendor itself. Determine your budget at the outset, keeping in mind that most international and long-distance phone calls are free when using VoIP.
Equipment – Some VoIP systems can be used directly through a computer while other services are available through an IP, or VoIP equipped telephone.
Reputation – Make sure the provider you choose has a favorable listing with the Better Business Bureau. InsideUp can also provide custom quotes from pre-screened vendors who match your requirements.
Tags: business internet phone, Business Phone Line, business phone service, business telephones, call center service, call centers service, Commercial Phone Line, data storage business, data storage management, hosted pbx, question answering service, server backup service, virtual pbx system
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July 14th, 2011
In today’s highly competitive marketplace companies do well to observe which strategies are proving successful for their competitors. As a majority of enterprises switch to VoIp, their resulting increase in productivity and customer satisfaction will no doubt cause other companies to follow suit.
VoIP is widely recognized by businesses for the tremendous cost savings it offers. For larger businesses, this savings is the result of increased efficiency. With the ability to blend traditional PBX systems into a common platform, and utilize intuitive features to increase company productivity, enterprise VoIP systems give larger companies the ability to accomplish more with less.
Switching to a VoIP business system for enterprise communications brings multiple advantages, including:
- Increased user productivity*
- Reduced call resolution time
- Optimize payment/billing plans
- Integrate CRM
- Fewer unanswered calls
- Measurable, real-world user productivity benefits
- Greater voice messaging accessibility and efficiency
- Lower total cost of ownership (TCO)
- Immediate and long-term cost savings
- Reduced expense of telecom administrator moves, adds, and changes (MACs)
- Simplified management of servers, systems, endpoints, and network
- Greater flexibility of component selection
*In a recent study by Intel, using a VoIP system resulted in an increase in performance of between 134 to 500 percent over traditional phone system user performance. Of particular note was the increased speed (27 times faster) of scheduling a conference bridge, and also of receiving a fax, (31 times faster).
Most businesses will find it impossible to replace their entire system at once, but will need to outline a strategy to integrate your current system with the new IP solution. This process begins by identifying and prioritizing your business communication needs, and comparing them with the solutions you already have.
Due to the maturity of the phone system market, you will likely find little difference in core feature offerings of various vendors. Pay close attention, though, to how the provider implements those features, and the type of support they offer.
Tags: business internet phone, Business Phone Line, business phone service, business telephones, call center service, call centers service, Commercial Phone Line, data storage business, data storage management, hosted pbx, question answering service, server backup service, virtual pbx system
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