All too often phone companies are willing to offer overkill business phone services. They will claim that your basic small business phone system doesn't provide the features you need and they happily offer a add-on to fix the problem. Services range from voicemail, extended voicemail, rollovers, call forwarding, etc. The question then becomes is your phone system limited? When evaluating a small business phone system, consider what you need now and then peer into the future growth of your business and plan in advance.
The most common features you will need include:
Voicemail - Does your system have enough voicemail extensions so you won't end up needing to add telephone company voicemail and adding a hefty bump in your phone budget.
Call Forwarding - You need this feature to stay in touch with your customers and employees when you have to be out of the office. This keeps you from having to give everyone your cell or home phone number and helps to protect your privacy.
Easy Installation / Configuration - While shopping for a system, look for the ability to easily install and configure it on your own. Installation can cost a pretty penny, and the more user configurable systems allow you to program your phone system without having to pay the manufacturer or a third-party technician to do it for you. The best of the new small business phone systems are user friendly and enable you to do it yourself.
Expandability - Be sure the system you buy today can grow to accommodate the future needs of your company. With Voice over IP technology and new advanced Internet telephony services, your phone system needs to be ready to connect to the IP network while keeping your connections to the traditional telephone network. Buy a hybrid systems that is built with SIP standards to ensure compatibility and avoid having to bury your business phone system before it's time.
Small business phone systems don't have to be limited. There are numerous choice available to the consumer to take care of all your phone system needs. You just need to shop carefully and make a wise choice.
One of the hottest choices on the market today is the TalkSwitch system by Centrepoint Technologies. TalkSwitch, a hybrid phone system that offers IP and traditional telephony, is specifically designed for businesses with as few as one and as many as 32 phone users. The compact, user-friendly TalkSwitch is a great example of the newer systems that provide the features of a PBX at prices that most small businesses can justify.
Ambit Energy - Cost savings, more choice, new plants and new jobs all prove it
A little more than four years have passed since competition was introduced into the retail market for electricity. Although the process of opening electric markets to competition has faced challenges in some states, Texas has avoided the most serious of these kinds of problems. SB 7 was passed by the Texas Legislature in 1999. It authorized electric competition in the retail segment beginning on Jan. 1, 2002. Recently, my colleagues and I at The Perryman Group analyzed the economic benefits resulting from this transition. We found a lot of positives for the Lone Star State.
Ambit Energy Announces Jim McFelea as Senior Vice President, Operations
Ambit Energy today named Jim McFelea as its new Senior Vice President, Operations. He will join Ambit on November 1, 2006. Mr. McFelea will also serve as a member of Ambit’s executive management team.
Ambit Energy - Scott Lawrence Named Vice President, Field Development
Ambit Energy today named Scott Lawrence as its Vice President, Field Development. Mr. Lawrence will be responsible for the development, training and support of Ambit Energy’s independent sales organization
