Telephone Systems for Small Business

A Telephone Systems for Small Business will try to sell his costliest phone system to you but look at features and decide if it will add value to your business or not.

Basic Features

Here are some of the common features that are available and should have on Telephone Systems for Small Business

• Phone solutions for small business offer conferencing which allows two or more extensions to share in a conversation. Normally, the default is two. If you require more than two, ask what the maximum number of participants is. Some systems only allow internal extensions to be conference. If you need external conference calls, ask about that, too.
• Automated Directory allows callers to lookup an employee’s extension by entering the first few letters of their name.
• Voice Mail allows messages to be left for employees that are unavailable or on the phone. Some systems can forward voicemail messages to an employee’s email and allow separate third-party voice mail equipment to interface with their computer. Depending upon pricing, this could save you money.
• Call Hold is the ability to put a call on hold while the user attends to other matters. They are usually included with the system.
• Call Forwarding gives the user the ability to forward all calls to another extension or voicemail temporarily.
• Speed Dial saves frequently used phone numbers and allows the user to dial it with a button push or two. It is a useful time-saver for commonly called numbers.
• Redial allows the last number called to be redialed with the touch of a button.
• Paging allows a user to speak over a public address system to call for an employee or give announcements.
• Music on Hold gives your callers something to listen to while they are on hold. It can be music or prerecorded messages advertising your company.
• Backup Power will provide an alternate source of electricity for 10 to 60 minutes in case of a power outage.

Advanced Features

• Advanced features will add significant cost to the total system and will add an ongoing value over the life of the system. However, this could be offset by reduced customer service and time-saving advantages they bring.
• Remote Location feature allows simple connections to off-site employees or small remote offices by merely dialing an internal extension.
• Find Me / Follow Me permits users to forward their phone on demand to another telephone, cell phone, home phone, secretary, etc.
• Computer Telephone Integration (CTI) allows the office phone system for small businesses to interact with a computer system. The phone systems such as Panasonic Phone system have the ability for a user to click on a telephone number on the screen or the passing of a customer’s phone number to a computer when they call in order to pull up the customer’s account and display it on the screen for the employee before answering the phone. This option is very pricey.

How Should be the setup?

The question you have to answer is where you want the setup to be installed. The following list identifies familiar places you will want to locate a phone extension:

• At reception
• Near Fax Terminal
• Conference room
• Office floor
• Public areas

Next, you will have to determine how many phone calls will be coming into and leaving the office.

Finding a Phone System Dealer

Finding a dealer is not hard. The best way is to search online. Telenet Solutions provides the best telephone system for small businesses at an affordable price in Los Angles, San Francisco, and Sacramento.

Making the Final Decision

The final decision rests upon your shoulders. To get the best price for the effective phone system you want, make a list of your requirements to several companies and choose the best. Make sure you get a detailed proposal for your requirements. Lastly, compare the plans and select the one that meets your needs, allows for growth and, most importantly, you feel most comfortable with.