Your Questions About Internet Business Phone Service
Chris asks…
Do I need be paying for phone service to run a landline credit machine?
We are thinking about switching our main business phone to a cell phone to lower cost. We have a landline credit card machine. Will I still be able to run cards if I get rid of my business phone service? I assuming probably, but didn’t know for sure
Jere answers:
No, but they make internet enabled terminals, or a Square or Paypal smartphone solution. Check with your credit card processor to see if they will let you trade up to a newer terminal, or you may have one that is already internet ready. I think the Verifone VX570 can be dual compatible, but I don’t know if you can field upgrade it to internet.
Http://www.creditcardterminal.com/Equipment/TerminalsandPrinters/terminal1.htm
Sandy asks…
What are some good services for my business?
I need cheap services like internet and phone services.
Jere answers:
The quality of internet services differs from area to area. So, I am not sure which internet provider will be best for you but I can of course help you with your business phone service. Most of the business firms today are using Hosted PBX systems clubbed with VOIP for their business. I have also been using this service from The Real PBX for my business and I have observed positive changes in my business image since this system was last implemented. You can check out their services with http://www.therealpbx.com/
Nancy asks…
How can I forward my business phone to my cell phone from my cell phone?
I think it’s pretty self explanatory. If not, I want to be able to control my business phone‘s options remotely from my cell. (Also Verizon) For example, I’m out on a job and there is no one in the office. I want to forward the office line to my cell using my cell to do so.
Jere answers:
I have been using VOIP service from The Real PBX and I use the entire interface on my cell phone. You just need to have an internet connection on your phone and you can access the link of the switch provided and manage business operations from there. You can login and customize follow me option so that when your business phone rings during absence from office, the calls can be directed to your cell phone and can also be managed from there. For further reference, you can check out with http://www.therealpbx.com/
Ruth asks…
How do I set my home phone as my business phone and get calls to my cell at the same time?
I am starting a home based business and I want to use our home phone as the business phone. Can I also forward those calls to my cell if I am away. Is there a way to do that?
Jere answers:
Your best bet is to subscribe to a Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) service. With VOIP, you can set the line to ring both your land-line and cell phone locations at the same time, ring the land-line then rollover to the cell after a certain number of rings or simply forward all call to the cell phone even though the caller is dialing the landline phone number. If you have a standard phone line, and don’t want to change your number, you can even “port” that number to your VOIP service should you decide to subscribe to one. The VOIP service I use is 8×8 and it offers those features with their standard residential service. I’m sure other VOIP providers offer the same. Just shop around for pricing an features.
Donna asks…
What are the Pros and Cons of Vonage home phone service?
I was thinking about switching my phone service to Vonage and I was hoping people that have or have had Vonage could leave me some feedback so I can make my final decision.
Thanks!
Jere answers:
Pros:
– The audio quality of Vonage’s VoIP service is very good, if you have a good internet connection. You should measure your jitter and packet loss here: http://www.pingtest.net/
– Vonage’s uptime is admirable. Rarely are there reports about Vonage being “down”.
– If you move or go traveling, just take your Vonage device with you and plug it in.
– Vonage is probably cheaper than your phone company and may offer better packages and features.
Cons:
– If your internet connection stops working, so does your phone.
– If you want Vonage to work for all the phones in your house, you have to set it up yourself. See http://michigantelephone.workbench.net/ for good instructions about how to do that.
– Vonage has lots of hidden fees. The price you see on their website is not the price you pay. Expect $5.00-$10.00 more per month than they advertise, depending on where you live. This makes Vonage more expensive than many competing VoIP providers.
– Vonage isn’t known for being an upstanding citizen. For example, they were recently the subject of a 32-state investigation into their business practices.
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