Tag Archives for " VoIP "

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.

Training Your Team on Best VoIP/Telecom Practices for Your Orange County Business (Part 1)

If you’re like many Orange County business owners, you’ve already begun to appreciate the value of VoIP technology and related communications solutions for your business—especially in times that require your workforce to be more mobile and agile. You understand how to leverage these tools to your company’s best advantage—but that doesn’t mean your team does. The one thing that can make your current VoIP and IT setup more effective is to make sure your team members know how to utilize it well. This is especially important in times when you’re not in immediate contact with your team—for example, when working from home or on vacation. Let’s discuss some practical strategies for training your team to optimize their use of your VoIP and telecom systems.

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Telecom/VoIP Solutions to Give Your Small Business a Competitive Advantage in 2021 (part 1)

The new year is upon us, and after a challenging 2020, chances are you’re looking forward to a better year ahead for your Orange County small business. The new challenge for 2021 is that most small businesses are in the same situation you’re in: after muddling through unprecedented circumstances over most of last year, they are now crowding the starting gate, anxious to make up for lost time. What can you do to gain a competitive advantage in the marketplace this year?

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Top Small Business Telecom/VoIP News Stories of 2020 (part 1)

No matter how you slice it, 2020 has been a remarkable year—one full of twists, turns, setbacks, and in many cases, pain. The global COVID-19 pandemic has caused many Orange County small businesses to think on their feet, coming up with creative ways to survive during what is now likely to be repeat shutdowns. Indeed, the impacts of coronavirus on business have dominated news headlines this past year, and one of the critical factors is the role of IT and VoIP technologies. Let’s take a look back at some of the key news stories of 2020 related to small business telecom.

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VOIP provider in orange county for small business

VoIP Features That Can Enhance Your Productivity (Even During Lockdowns)

As an Orange County small business owner, you might feel like your company is staying in a place of limbo as America continues to struggle with the ongoing Coronavirus crisis. Will your business be allowed to reopen (or stay open)? Will there be more lockdowns? VoIP technology has enabled many businesses like yours to stay functional remotely during this time, but VoIP has many features that many businesses don’t use or don’t know about—features that can enable growth and productivity during these times. Let’s explore a few little-known VoIP features that could help your business be more successful during these uncertain times.

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How the Pandemic Has Changed VoIP

To say the ongoing pandemic has changed life and business as we know it would be an understatement. Thankfully, the technology exists nowadays for many Orange County businesses to remain in operation even during lockdowns and quarantines. In particular, Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) has found a new place of importance among businesses today as so many of us rely on its features to keep us connected and productive. Let’s talk about a few of the ways the pandemic has changed how businesses view VoIP and how they’re using it to stay functional.

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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

Work from Home Solutions with VoIP (Part 1)

If yours is among the thousands of Orange County businesses impacted with the recent stay-at-home orders during the COVID-19 pandemic, chances are you found yourself scrambling to figure out how to stay in business without having to go to the office. Many business owners had to quickly find ways to navigate the telecommuting landscape so they and their employees could keep working from home. Thankfully, modern technology in general—and Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) in particular—makes working from home much easier and more seamless than it once was. If you’re still trying to figure things out, or if your workflow is still clunky, let’s discuss how VoIP can simplify the process of working from home, then talk about some specific solutions you might look at.

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