VoIP PBX Solutions For Businesses....What To Look For

Business communications has always been a challenging arena for management....subject to cost, function, reliability, and other pressures and concerns. The emergence of VoIP technology....and specificly application to PBX systems via IP based protocols....has provided an enormous opportunity for companies to reap many benefits.
Many companies today have multiple office locations around the country or around the world. Currently, each office uses its own PBX system and inter-office phone calls are routed through the PSTN and charged long distance and international rates by carriers. Most companies also employ workers on a part time basis who work from their homes. Those workers get reimbursed for telecommunication expenses they incur while performing their duties. It just makes business sense for companies to explore alternatives to consolidate their telecommunication systems and reduce costs.
The answer.....purchase a Voice-over-IP enabled PBX system and deploy it in a Virtual Office setup.
Voice-over-IP (VoIP) is a fairly new technology for transporting voice calls over the Internet which allows users to realize substantial cost savings on long distance and international calls. Besides cost effectiveness, VoIP enabled PBX systems (or IP PBX) offer easy integration with existing telecommunications systems and are characterized with low operating costs as their upgrade is done through software updates rather than more expensive hardware replacement. Additionally, the technology simplifies the communication infrastructure (no need for separate voice and data cables) while offering high scalability.
Virtual Office models are used by companies that want to consolidate their communications, reduce costs and achieve more cohesive corporate images. To implement the model, a company has to install a single IP PBX system in its headquarters and distribute to employees IP phones or regular phones with VoIP adapters. Employees can make intra-office and inter-office phone calls through dialing PBX extensions. Such calls are routed through the Internet and are practically free. Company customers, on the other side, can dial a single inbound number plus extensions in order to reach the company s employees. The latter receive the calls on their IP/Regular Phones at any location in the world with Internet connectivity.
So what kind of a VoIP PBX solution does your business need? - a turnkey Virtual Office solution that could be customized to meet your company specific needs.
My recommendation for this solution is the highly acclaimed package from Packet8. Recently 8X8, Inc s Packet8 Virtual Office Solution for small and medium sized businesses received Network Computing magazine s Editor s Choice award over competitive offerings from Covad Communications and Velocity Networks. That s some pretty stiff competition....and says a lot about Packet8 s performance. The Packet8 Virtual Office solution received the highest overall rating for its rich feature set, call management tools and low subscription price.
The Packet8 Virtual Office is a cost-effective, easy-to-use alternative to traditional PBX systems that allows users anywhere in the world to be part of a VoIP-hosted virtual phone system that includes auto attendants, conference bridges, extension-to-extension dialing, business class voicemail and ring groups, in addition to a rich variety of other business telephone features normally found on high-end, premise based PBX systems. Their Virtual Office reduces an organization s telecommunications total cost of ownership (TCO) with a minimal initial investment combined with unlimited local and long distance business calling throughout the United States and Canada and Packet8 s low international rates.
Now.....here s an overview of what to look for when making the business case for investment in VoIP technology for a VoIP PBX solution:
* Ways to save money for corporations.....
- Eliminate or reduce intra-office toll charges
- Avoiding service and support contracts on existing PBX hardware
- Eliminate the need for on-going Centrex services -- and charges
- Reduce expansion costs via lower costs for adds, moves and changes; lower user hardware costs
- Reduce the on-going costs for separate voice messaging systems
- Provide productivity benefits for remote and traveling workers who can be empowered with the same integrated capabilities as office workers
- Reduce user training and learning on phone and messaging systems
- Cost-effectively implement unified messaging
- Improve security
- Reduce systems downtime and improve performance
Additional benefits for call centers.....
- Virtualize call centers, allowing more flexibility in the center s configuration....either helping consolidation efforts, or providing enterprise capabilities to telecommuting call center workers
- Improve customer support services and reduce abandoned calls and call times
- Improve customer satisfaction and reduce customer turnover via improved call center services
Cost considerations....
- VoIP telecommunication hardware and software
- IP phone sets or soft phones
- Network upgrades for possible quality of service and performance upgrades
- Implementation labor and professional services
- On-going support and administration labor
- Support and maintenance contracts
- Increased support calls and potential user downtime losses on initial deployment
- IT Training
- User Training
- Write-off, write-down and disposal costs for existing telecommunication assets
Potential project risks......
- Quality of service/performance
- User training and adoption
- Administration and support skill levels and resources - Proprietary vs. open systems interoperability
How Does The Solution Work?
Inter/Intra office calls.......
Caller A, who is located in the corporate headquarters, wants to make a call to Caller B, who is located in the corporate headquarters or in any of the company s offices worldwide.
Caller A picks up his VoIP device (IP phone, phone with adapter or softphone) and dials Caller B s extension.
The VoIP PBX server searches its internal database and obtains call routing information about Caller B The VoIP PBX server routes the call to Caller B s VoIP device.
If the destination number is unreachable, the system forwards the call to Caller B s voicemail.
As soon as Caller B picks up his VoIP device the conversation starts.
During conversation Caller A s VoIP device convert voice to digital packets and send them to Caller B s VoIP device and vice versa.
Both A and B can use traditional PBX functionality, like call on hold, caller ID, call forward, etc. Calls are free
Outbound calls.......
Caller A, who is located in the corporate headquarters, wants to make a call to Caller B, who is a company customer.
Caller A picks up his VoIP device (IP phone, phone with adapter or softphone) and dials the customer s number.
The VoIP PBX server searches its internal database and obtains call routing information about the VoIP carrier, who should terminate calls to Caller B s area code.
The call is routed to the VoIP carrier.
The VoIP carrier terminates the call to Caller s B number over the PSTN.
During conversation, Caller A can use traditional PBX functionality, like call on hold, caller ID, call forward, etc.
Calls are charged on time basis at pre-negotiated rates with the VoIP carrier
Inbound calls.....
Caller A, who is a company customer, wants to make a call to Caller B, who is a company employee.
Caller A picks up his phone and dials the company s central access number.
The VoIP PBX server prompts the caller to enter an extension.
Caller A dials Caller B s extension.
The VoIP PBX server searches its internal database and obtains call routing information about Caller B.
The VoIP PBX server routes the call to Caller B s VoIP device.
During conversation, Caller B can use traditional PBX functionality, like call on hold, caller ID, call forward, etc.
Calls are either free if the company uses a local access number or charged on a time basis if the company uses a toll free one.
Voice over IP (VoIP) technologies carry great promise to reduce telecommunication and networking total cost of ownership while empowering businesses with new capabilities and agility. When making your decision on deploying a Virtual Office VoIP PBX solution consider the strategic and tangible benefits as well as the costs and risks outlined above. If it all seems too overwhelming seek out the assistance of an unbiased independent advisor such as Business-VoIP-Solution
Michael is the owner of FreedomFire Communications....including DS3-Bandwidth.com. Michael also authors Broadband Nation where you re always welcome to drop in and catch up on the latest BroadBand news, tips, insights, and ramblings for the masses.



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Tips For Remodeling A Bathroom

Many of us put up with dingy bathroom that may have leaky fixtures, peeling paint, stained floors, or poor lighting because it all still works and no one sees it but us anyway. That doesn t have to be the case. Just because it works should be no excuse to leave it alone when you really don t like the way it looks. It may work to keep a worn out but comfy pair of jeans, but you still would not wear them out to an important function. Your bathroom may be making a statement to your guests that you would rather not be saying. If you can t do the work yourself, hire a professional that has good recommendations from people you know.
Decide what you would like in your remodeled bathroom. Everyone seems to be enjoying larger bathrooms recently. If the budget and surrounding area allows it, you could enlarge the bathroom by a few feet. In the past bathrooms were purely functional with just enough space to take care of business. Now, we have such busy lives that we like to escape in the luxury of a large bathroom to relax in a bubble bath.
You may decide to add light, whether natural or artificial. You could enlarge or add a window for more sunlight. You could also add a variety of lighting for different uses. Dim lighting would be nice for a relaxing bath, but bright lights will be needed for shaving. More light will also make the bathroom seem larger if you could not expand the room as much as you would like.
Consider refurbishing your old cabinets. If they are in good shape, you could just refinish them. Using a lighter color will add to that spacious look. You could also add a new top to replace stained, out dated counter top. Marble can add a beautiful look to your bathroom that will have guests saying, "Wow!".
A really nice comfort to add is radiant heat. With the heat under the flooring, you never have to worry about stepping barefooted onto a cold floor first thing in the morning. This is a costly addition, but radiant heating is efficient and can save money after the initial sticker shock.
If you are now motivated to remodel that old bathroom, you are ready to start comparison-shopping at various home improvement stores. They may have displays that will give you an idea of looks that appeal to you and those that are not so appealing. You can also check out a few decorating and home improvement magazines to find more ideas. After doing your homework, you will have in mind exactly what you want to make it easier for your contractor to satisfy you.



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Tax Tips for the Home-based Business Owner

Tax season is one of the most nerve-wracking times of the year. From putting together all of the necessary tax documents to finding the right accountant, taxes can be time-consuming, frustrating, and a major challenge. Add in a home-based business and taxes can be downright overwhelming. However, there are some things you can do to make your tax season a breeze.
Choose your accountant wisely
One of the most important decisions you ll make as a business owner is who you will choose to help you with your bookkeeping and accounting needs. Research accountants in your area and look for one that specializes in small business taxes. Ask if they will prepare both corporate and personal returns if needed. Make sure your accountant is clear on how they charge for their time especially for questions over the phone.
I once worked with accountants who worked with large corporations. They were used to having very little contact with their clients, however with a new corporation I had many questions about how things worked. Needless to say it didn t go well. Our current accountant specializes in small businesses and is available by phone or email if I have a question.
Set up your business accounts properly
I was told early in my business career that I must make sure to keep my business accounts and personal accounts separate. When I first began running my own business I simply added a second checking account to use for business purposes. There was no cost to do so I was able to set my income aside in this separate account.
I also set up a savings account to set aside my taxes each month. This was a big help at the end of the year knowing that all of my taxes were set aside and I could relax instead of scrambling to come up with the money.
Keep good records
Another way to keep tax season stress-free is to keep business receipts throughout the year. I keep a separate file in the filing cabinet next to my desk just for this purpose. This way I have everything in one place when tax season arrives. If you don t have room for a filing cabinet, consider an expandable folder categorized A Z. That way you can still divide up the taxes by topic, and won t have to do that come tax season.
Keep records of your business expenses throughout the year. Request a list of items from your accountant or tax professional, so that you will know what items to track. Be sure to ask what counts as business expenses. There are certain deductions that you can take for your home, car, and utilities. Consult your tax professional about these deductions.
Know Your Tax Facts
It s important to know the date that your taxes are due. Many S corporations are surprised when they discover that some of their tax forms need to be filed by March 15th and not April 15th. Another surprise to some home-based businesses is that if you pay subcontractors over $600.00 a year, you need to send them a 1099 by the end of January.
There are many places online to find more information about taxes. One great place to find more information is the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) website at http://www.irs.gov. They have sections with helpful information on both personal and business taxes. They also list contact information for local IRS offices where you can also find help.
Don t ignore the taxes involved with running a home-based business and hope it will all work itself out. It takes planning and effort to be prepared for tax season. Do your homework when it comes to taxes and find an accountant that you trust to guide you through the tax maze. With the right preparation and help your tax season can be stress-free.



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Mortgage Home Loans In Florida

The mortgages are the easiest way to the property as security for payment of your existing debts. L & 39; introduction of the concept of mortgage & 39;, of its meaning. Initially, the notion of & 39; mortgage was used to access the legal certainty of ownership of & 39; device, but it is & 39; aujourd hui, by the grace of debt & l 39; mortgage, & 39; mortgage loan.
In many countries, laws and regulations, the system was legalized site purchases will be financed by a mortgage. People in & 39; nationals of a particular country can no longer make mortgages more numerous options to choose. So it tells you what you want, opt. Although all options for mortgages are usually very lucrative and attractive, but it must have & 39; of proper maintenance for each type of financial catastrophe, if not handled correctly. Thereafter, loans, you should stay away:
Interest only mortgages, this type of mortgage, just east of pay & 39; interest on your mortgage, and not every month the principal payments. L & 39; basic idea is the provision of this institution, it is the owners to buy very expensive. This means that your monthly payments may not change significantly, and especially in a very short notice.
Multiple Choice Mortgage-If you opt for a multiple-choice d & 39; mortgage, you will receive a very low introductory rates & 39; interest and attractive. You can even choose your own interest, payment too.
Adjustable-rate Mortgages In this system, & 39; interest rates are entirely dependent on market forces. So there are opportunities for the fluctuation band rates & 39; interest payments from time to time. Adjustable mortgage rates depending on interest rates & 39; and modify its mortgage rates. However, this type of system can be sometimes risky than during the recession, it is happy to pay, while the low market improved, you must pay high instantly.
If They are staying in Florida, Florida mortgage, you can view home mortgage attractive for the ideal solution for your troubles.
About Author: Webmaster Myself http://www.castlemortgagegroup.com mortgages, Florida, Georgia mortgages, mortgage Florida, Florida home loans, Georgia home loans, home loans Alabama. Business & Technologies.com



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