| A virtual PBX system is a software solution that | | | | extensions. |
| allows you to manage your phone number(s) and / or | | | | First off, the 800 number is the only number now that I |
| extensions. In reality a virtual PBX system does not | | | | give out to clients. Why? Because if they call during |
| even need to manage more than one number. It can | | | | "business hours" they are either greeted by a live |
| provide you with a local or 800# number that | | | | receptionist (in our case) or the client can also be |
| customers call and then forward those calls to your | | | | answered with an automated greeting directing them |
| cell phone, home office number or even directly to a | | | | to one of our extensions. For example, "Thank you for |
| voice mail box. | | | | calling XYZ Company. For a company directory, |
| The reason companies and individuals are investigating | | | | please press 109." |
| these types of solutions are manifold. Just a few short | | | | Once an extension is entered, the call is then routed to |
| years ago, PBX systems used to be expensive | | | | any one of my phone numbers. In my example, I have |
| hardware solutions that you implement "on premise." | | | | two cell phone numbers and a home office number. All |
| What this means is that an IT staff would have to | | | | of the numbers can be programmed to ring |
| take the hardware and put it into a telecom "center" in | | | | simultaneously or in sequential order. This is a |
| your office, load up software, code the system to | | | | tremendous idea because then clients don't need to |
| physical phones in your office, and maintain and | | | | know your personal phone numbers, nor even know |
| troubleshoot any problems that come up. | | | | that they are not calling you at a physical office. |
| Virtual PBX systems essentially rid you of the worry | | | | Another really cool feature of a virtual PBX system is |
| of cost, installation, maintenance and support. There | | | | its outbound caller ID feature. You can essentially dial |
| are a number of companies out there offering these | | | | out to a client where the caller id shows your "office |
| types of solutions. Not all of them, though, deliver on | | | | number", not the actual number you are calling from. |
| the promise of installation ease, set up and use... let | | | | Why would you want to do this? Again, to give the |
| alone the cost of ownership. | | | | illusion that you are calling from a physical office, not |
| One product in particular, a virtual PBX system, is | | | | your home or cell phone number. The tip to doing this |
| extremely easy to set up and costs a fraction of an | | | | with the virtual PBX system is to call your assigned |
| "on premise" solution. In fact, there's no comparison. | | | | 800 number, press *, enter your code, press 3 to dial |
| Let me explain what this virtual PBX system does and | | | | out, enter the person's phone and press #. Looks |
| I think you'll get the point. My small business uses the | | | | complicated, but it's very simple - 800#, *, code, |
| $49.99 version for unlimited minutes. What I get is a | | | | 212-555-1212, #. That's it! |
| dedicated 800 number, a dedicated fax number, and 10 | | | | |