Tag Archives for " VoIP phone system "

6 Reasons Going VoIP Can Save You Time and Money

 “Time is money.” Never has that old adage been truer than the modern day. At a time when a matter of minutes can mean the difference between making a deal and missing an opportunity, instant connectivity matters more now than ever. Fortunately, business VoIP phone service is helping small business owners remain competitive, not just in cost savings but also in redeeming and reclaiming time. Let’s look at a few other ways your company can save and benefit by switching to business VoIP phone service.

1. Save Commute Times with Remote Access

In the days of landlines, you had to be physically in the office to take a call or return a call. (How many business opportunities were lost because business owners couldn’t be in two places at once?) With business VoIP phone service, remote access is a breeze, meaning you can answer important phone calls anywhere you have Internet access, whether at your home office or on your smartphone while you’re on the road. The simple ability to take or return a call now can add up to many hours of saved productive time—not to mention possibly thousands of dollars in sales.

2. Save Employee Productivity with Instant Connectivity

Digium compiled some interesting numbers regarding employee productivity and VoIP service as part of a unified communications (UC) strategy. According to its data, the average employee saves 40 minutes per day by having one interface for email, voicemail and fax, as well as 30 minutes a day by having remote access to communications. In fact, all told, the average company of 100 employees can reclaim nearly 50,000 work hours per year just by using integrated cloud-based communications services like VoIP business phone services.

3. Save Downtime on Maintenance, Servicing and Upgrades

With landline service, almost any phone trouble, maintenance need or change in configuration requires a visit from a phone technician, often resulting in hours of downtime while changes are made. With business VoIP phone service, configurations are virtual and upgrades are software-based, meaning an IT professional can make changes in minutes.

4. Long-Distance Fees Reduced or Eliminated

Conventional phone carriers must typically charge long distance or interstate fees for out-of-area calls, and even more for international long distance. With VoIP services, there are typically no long distance fees for calls in the U.S., and international calls cost a fraction of what they would via landlines. If your company transacts a lot of business overseas, you can easily save thousands of dollars per year by replacing wired phone service with VoIP phone system.

5. Save on Hardware Costs and Maintenance

Setting up a conventional business telephone usually means installing and maintaining expensive PBX boxes configured to the company’s phone and fax needs. With Internet-based business VoIP phone systems, these costs are essentially eliminated because your PBX is handled virtually. Instead of installing separate hardware systems for Internet and phone networks, your phone and Internet are integrated into one setup, potentially cutting your network maintenance costs by half or more.

6. Save on Upgrades

Anytime a landline phone system requires servicing or upgrades, you must pay for a technician to come on site to repair or replace hardware and reconfigure your system. With cloud-based business VoIP phone service, these upgrades are typically software-based and can be handled virtually, at little or no cost to you.

In today’s digital age, many small businesses need VoIP phone service in order to remain competitive—and given the ways VoIP Phone Service can save you time and money in the process, you have ever fewer reasons not to make the switch. To learn how we can set you up with high quality, reliable business VoIP phone service, call 1-877-NetServ today.

All You Need to Know About Security for VoIP Small Business Phone Systems (Part 2)

The question of VoIP phone service security is a natural concern for Orange, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Bernardino, Riverside, and Inland Empire County small business owners considering using VoIP. However, just as with your IT network, there are practical steps you can take to make sure your VoIP business phone system is secure. Having already discussed the various possible security risks with VoIP (e.g., cyberattacks, toll fraud, viruses, etc.), let’s talk about ways to bolster your own VoIP security.

Use VoIP Encryption

The first and most important safeguard to have in place is to run VoIP on an encrypted system that resists hacking. Most VoIP business phone providers now provide encryption automatically, but ask them to be sure. (Additional safety tip: If you’re using VoIP on wi-fi, make sure your wi-fi is encrypted as well.)

Don’t Use VoIP on Shared Wi-Fi

Shared wi-fi systems (e.g., coffee shops and other public places) often have inconsistent security features, especially if they’re not password-protected. If you have to make VoIP calls on shared wi-fi, run it through a VPN (virtual personal network) for added security.

Enable Network Address Translation (NAT) on Your Router

Most internet routers have a NAT feature that creates a separate, private IP address for your VoIP system, one that is only visible from inside the network itself so it’s hidden from potential hackers. (They can’t hack an IP address they can’t see.)

Run Updates Regularly

When developers release updates for your software and system, these updates typically include security updates against the latest detected viruses, malware, etc. Always make sure to run these updates across your entire system, including your VoIP phone system, to maintain high VoIP security.

Educate Your Team on Security Protocols

The biggest cybersecurity risk is human error, not your system itself. Make sure your team knows the basic best practices of internet and VoIP security, including using strong passwords, how to detect phishing/vishing scams and suspicious callers, running antivirus programs, etc.

Along with cybersecurity, VoIP security should always be a priority for Orange County small business owners. However, by being vigilant and proactive, you can use your VoIP system with confidence knowing your system and information are safe. For more information on VoIP security best practices and the latest safeguards available, call 1-877-NetServ today.

Troubleshooting the Most Common Small Business VoIP Issues (part 2)

When they work correctly, VoIP systems can greatly enhance your Orange County small business’s productivity and communication. But when they start producing inconsistent quality calls or simply don’t work right, they can be downright distracting. Most of the common VoIP issues can be easily remedied, though. Let’s continue discussing some of the typical VoIP problems you may encounter and how to troubleshoot them.

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VOIP provider in orange county for small business

Working Remotely: Best Practices for Orange County Small Businesses (part 2)

As companies continue to incorporate working from home during the ongoing pandemic—and with renewed stay-at-home orders a definite possibility in the event of a “second wave” of COVID-19—now is an excellent time for Orange County small business owners to optimize their work-from-home configurations and processes. Let’s discuss a few more “best practices” for businesses seeking to establish a safe and productive system for helping employees work remotely.

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Work from Home Solutions with VoIP (Part 2)

If there’s a silver lining to weathering a pandemic in 2020, it’s that modern technology enables Orange County small businesses to carry on their work seamlessly from home even in the midst of quarantine. We’ve previously discussed some of the ways VoIP technology can help you stay connected to your clients and teammates. Let’s now turn our attention to a few specific work from home solutions and features that are available with a VoIP virtual office phone system.

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VOIP provider in orange county for small business

A Guide to Accounting Firm Internet Phone Options

Many accounting firms and accounting professionals nowadays are making the choice to switch from traditional land lines to Internet phone service (VoIP). Aside from the cost savings, VoIP also offers an abundance of features that are either expensive or impossible to replicate with a wired phone system. Some of these features come standard, and some are add-ons, depending on which service provider you use. But which features are particularly helpful to accounting firms, and which are more extraneous? The following guide of helpful accounting firm Internet phone options should help you make an informed decision about which features are right for your company.

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VoIP Features that Can Really Help Small Businesses

Perhaps you’ve switched to a VoIP phone system for your small business, and you’re already benefiting from the lower costs and greater flexibility. But if you’re like many small business owners, chances are you’ve stopped short of maximizing the value of the new toolbox you’ve just received.

Since VoIP operates over the Internet, it opens up a whole world of cheap or free features that were once unattainable to companies with limited budgets—including some features you can’t even get on a traditional PBX phone system. While whole books could be written on the advantages of VoIP, let’s explore just a few key features that could help your business compete on a greater level.

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