Inherent in your business VoIP phone system and service are many cool features. However, good hosted digital phone service providers can consult with you on many accessories that best integrate a robust feature set into your business operations. Below are just a few features that will fully accessorize your VoIP phone system:
Paging Options – Depending upon the phones deployed by your vendor, you can have a variety of paging options deployed using the phones. For example, the Cisco 500 series phones allow for direct one to one or multicast paging to all phones. They can be programmed to not interrupt an active conversation, or putting an active conversation on hold. Many find the latter option to be intrusive, but some need to have that capability. Additionally, using a special adapter, your voice system can attach to an overhead paging system. This is great for warehouse or environments where people are highly mobile around the office.
Ringers / Strobes – Loud or large warehouse or manufacturing environments need to have some method to better hear the ringing of the phone in their area. There are specially designed loud ringers with strobe lights that will put no doubt in people’s minds that the phone is ringing! VoIP phone system and service providers who specialize in the type of customization required in such designs can integrate these ringers into the ring patterns for the area. They are relatively inexpensive, but they do require power and Ethernet to the area they will be deployed.
Mobile Employee Phone Deployment – One of the biggest challenges in any phone system deployment is enabling the highly mobile facility employee who is an important receiver of phone calls with the technology to make them most effective. There are many devices to make this possible, and your VoIP phone service provider should be able to consult with you on the cost/benefit or advantages/disadvantages of each. There are good VoIP WiFi phones, but these tend to be expensive and are subject to a good WiFi environment in the facility. You can also integrate various types of traditional cordless phones or engage cell phones into the call flow for the business.
Park – One of the features of a VoIP system that fits well in environments mentioned above is an easy to operate Park feature. Calls should be able to be parked and picked up with one touch process from any phone on the network.
Softphones – Your business telephone no longer has to be tied down to your desk! You can deploy softphones on your laptop, iPad/tablet, or cell phone that function just like your desk phone. You can deploy these in conjunction with your desk phone (rings both devices) or they can replace your desk phone all together. Very cool!
Desktop Faxing - Faxing is an old technolgy that continues to hang on in business enviorments. So, why not pull it into this century by deploying faxing to and from your desktop? Additionally, this option helps eliminate paper and creates a great opportunity for electronic storage of your data. Cool AND great for the environment too!
There are many exciting features in a VoIP phone system/service. You will find that you can build a system that optimizes your business’ communication pattern at a very affordable price. Contact a VoIP phone service company today to find out more.
About the author: Mark Greim is the Vice President of Sales and Marketing at sipVine, a provider of a variety of digital phone solutions and services. Mark has extensive experience working for start-up or entrepreneurial organizations and a passion for affordable, reliable, and purposeful technology solutions in those environments.
