A Virtual Phone System Helps You to Nurture Your Small Business

As a small business owner, you have to wear many hats and so it might not be possible for you to answer all your customers at all times.  This is why voice-mail is an important tool for your business. It helps to keep you connected with your customers even when you are not available to answer their call. It takes the responsibility of connecting your customers when you are pre-occupied in some other work. So you do not have to drop a task mid-term in fear of losing a client. But to use a voice mail service for your business, you need to have a fully fledged phone system, which might not be possible for you. The only solution to this challenge is to sign up for a virtual phone system.

No Missed Businesses

With a virtual phone system you can use all the features of an advanced phone system within your small budget. You cannot regulate your customers to call you within fixed hours. So they can call you after your business hours or even during weekends. The auto attendant of your virtual phone receives your call and forwards it to your voice mail box. Your caller can leave a message for you in the voice mail box and you can call him back at your convenience. A virtual phone system also reduces your chances of losing important voice mails because it sends out alerts to your emails and on your cell phone as soon as a new voice mail arrives. You can either read or listen to your voice mail through your email. Moreover, a virtual phone also uses caller ID to capture call information. So you can also get to know the details of a missed call, like the phone number, time of call etc. So missed calls no longer necessarily mean a missed business opportunity.

Better Flow of Information

A virtual phone system also allows to you create multiple extensions. You can use a local number or a toll free number  to create dedicated extension for every department or for every employee. This not only helps your customers to remember your extension and reach you easily but it also ensures easy flow of information across the organization. Your employees can also better communicate among themselves. Moreover, these extensions can also be used to forward calls to more than one phone number. The advanced call forwarding feature of a virtual telephone keeps you connected to your customers after business hours, when you are out of office and even when you are traveling or enjoying your vacation.

Helps You Get More Business

A virtual phone system helps you project an image of professionalism and credibility. Like any other reputed organization, a professional will answer all your calls when you use a virtual phone.  It routes your caller to the right person/department and can also forward calls to more than one phone numbers of your choice. As a small business owner, you understand the importance of looking big and professional. It makes your business look credible and your customers will prefer you for their business because they feel assured of your capability to doing the business well.

A virtual phone together with its advanced features like call forwarding, auto attendant, voice-mail, etc. helps you to create an impression of professionalism that definitely gives you an edge over your competitors.

A Virtual Phone System – an Effective Strategy for Escalating Ones Organization

A virtual phone system is your answer to all your business communication needs. There are occasions when you cannot respond to a client’s call nor cannot follow-up on a call or you actually find yourself impossible to attend to a really important phone call – a virtual phone is your answer in all these cases. So what is a virtual phone and how it can help you deal with some of the common communication problems of your business?

Convenient to Use

A virtual phone system needs no hardware, software, expensive installations and no trained staff and thus has no maintenance cost. The entire service is hosted on the provider’s system offsite but you can manage your extensions, voicemail box, call rerouting options and others.  It helps you save your time, money and energy. Now isn’t that wonderful? Your business can enjoy all the advanced features like call transfer, call forwarding, voicemail box and others without the need to maintain a complex phone system.

Cost Effective

A virtual phone system does not need any hardware, software or expensive installation. It also does not need a dedicated telephone connection. A virtual phone can be used with any of your existing connections. You do not need to sign any contract for using a virtual phone. Believe it, it’s that easy! You can terminate your service any time you are not happy with your service provider. It is very affordable and is ideal for small businesses that operate in strict financial margins.

Flexible

You obviously want your business to grow. In fact that is one of the reasons for using a virtual phone system. A virtual phone can actually grow with your business. So you can go on adding extensions for employees or departments as and when there’s a requirement. You can also use features like voicemail box, virtual fax and others.

Lots of Features

A virtual phone system has all the features of a traditional phone system and some advanced features in addition to that. If you are using a virtual phone your business can benefit by using an auto attendant, call forward and call transfer, voicemail box and virtual fax. A virtual phone can receive more than one call simultaneously and your customers will never hear the busy tone.

Though you are busy and cannot answer your customer’s call you need not worry about it. The auto attendant of a virtual phone system answers your customer’s call and routes him to the right person or department. The auto attendant forwards the call to your personal cell phone, residential phone, office phone or to any other phone number of your choice. You can also set the day and time when you want to receive calls on a particular number. Your customer can also leave a message in your voicemail box so they can expect a call back from you. Your voice messages can also be read in emails so that you can manage all your business communications from one place. Moreover, a virtual phone uses caller ID to capture all the information of the caller. 

Using a Toll Free Number

Using a toll free number with your virtual phone system helps to make your business look credible and professional almost instantly. Since a toll free number is always associated with reputed organizations, it immediately puts you on the same standing as any large and reputed enterprise.

Successful Real Estate Professionals Depend on a Virtual Phone System

A virtual phone system perhaps becomes most relevant for a real estate professional.  A real estate professional cannot remain tied to his desk and he has to move out of the office for his business needs.  A virtual phone provides all the features you expect from an enterprise phone system but without the hefty price tag. A virtual phone is, in fact, the secret to many real estate agents who are successful in producing a continuous stream of business. 

The real estate market is highly competitive. You cannot afford to miss even a single call because a missed call means a missed business opportunity. If your customer cannot find you during the time of his need, he will go to another real estate agent, which means you lose out on a valuable deal. A virtual phone system can keep you connected with your customers all the time. No matter if you are within the office or out of the office a virtual phone will keep you close to your customers all the time.

No Lost Opportunity
Time plays an important role in the closing of any real estate deal. A missed call or an unanswered voicemail can be pricey for your business. A virtual phone system allows you to keep your existing phone number and forward calls either to your personal cell phone or to your residential phone. So, there’s no chance of losing out on any valuable business because of a missed call or an unattended voicemail.

Call Routing and Call Capture
Using a virtual phone system a real estate agent can screen a call and answer it immediately only if he feels it’s important or can also route it to his voicemail box to answer it in an appropriate time.  The call capture of a virtual phone provides you fool-proof information of the caller just at a glance. So now there’s no chance of missed calls. This phone system helps you to answer all the calls without disturbing any scheduled meeting or an important appointment.

Toll Free Number
Using a toll free number on a virtual phone system can be particularly helpful for real estate professionals. You can put the toll free number and extension on your direct mails, hangers, classifieds, lawn signs or sign riders and when people call in they can listen to hear about the features of a property – how many rooms, the yard, how old it is, any newly added features, etc. Then they can leave a message to have someone call them back. Also, since the system captures the caller ID of the caller, the real estate agent can call anyone who listened to the information about a specific property. You can use your toll free number on all your business communications and your customers will call you in that number. So you enjoy en effective communication with your customers without disclosing your personal number.

Using the Auto Attendant
You can use the auto attendant of your virtual phone system as an effective marketing tool. You can record and play information about properties over the phone lines while the inbound caller is waiting to be forwarded. This is a great opportunity for your business to disseminate information (such as location of the property, the number of rooms and yards or the condition of the property) to all the callers who is dialing your number.

A Virtual Phone System for New Businesses

Starting a new business carries many expenses, some of which might not show significant return over the years. A phone system is one of those investments. Traditionally, a phone system has been an unavoidable cost for companies but with the advent of virtual phone system new businesses have discovered a new and cheaper way of using a great phone system. A virtual phone system does not have any physical existence. It does not need a dedicated telephone connection or any other expensive hardware, software or installation.  It can be used with any phone connection – your cell phone, residence phone or office phone.

A Virtual Phone
A virtual phone system is actually hosted by your service provider, which is much like your website.  You enjoy all the benefits of a traditional phone system and many more with this phone system. You can also use a toll free number with your virtual phone. A toll free number increases the credibility of your business and at the same time makes you look and sound more professional. A virtual phone has all the features of a traditional phone system like: call transfer, call forward, voicemail box and a few more like: auto attendant, online fax and others.

Flexible Service Level
Unlike any other phone service, you do not need to sign any agreement with your virtual phone system service provider.  So you can cancel it anytime if you are not happy with the service. A virtual phone provider usually has multiple plans to meet the demand of all types of business. Most plans are based on the number of minutes you are using.

No matter which plans you are opting for, you enjoy all the features of a virtual phone with all the plans. Each plan includes a certain number of free minutes and you pay only for the overage minutes.  You can pay your provider on month-to-month basis.  Also the provider does not charge you anything extra for using any feature. Yes, it is that easy and affordable! The number of extensions you use with your phone system depends on the type of plan you are opting for.

Few Special Features
Though all the features of a virtual phone system are important for your business yet we will concentrate on some of the special features that make a virtual phone indispensable for any business:

Call forwarding: The call forwarding feature of a virtual phone can forward call at up to three numbers of your choice. You can set days of the week and even hours when you are available on each number and can customize exactly where and how you want your customers to reach you. You can also program the system in such a way that it prevents calls on one particular number during a fixed time of a day or any particular day of a week.  If you are busy you can use its “Do Not Disturb” feature.

Online fax:  With a virtual phone system faxing is no longer a complicated affair. You do not have to depend on a fax machine or bunch of paper for sending fax. With online fax you can send fax anywhere and at anytime. The recipient will receive it on his fax machine or anywhere if he is also using fax online. It is a paperless electronic communication.  It significantly reduces your time and also saves money.

A Virtual Phone System for New Entrepreneurs

A virtual phone system is one of the useful tools for the success of today’s entrepreneurs.  Owning and operating a small business in today’s global economy can be challenging. Entrepreneurs have to search for opportunities that exist outside their local community. Developing a customer base with the customers that exist throughout their neighborhood and adjoining areas is no longer enough. They now have to dig the niche market and offer specialty products and services that will appeal to customers both near and far. As a small business owner you must be prepared to travel and attend trade shows and conferences to meet your prospective customers.

Right Tool for Business Communication
You also should have a sound communication system that will help your customers and prospective customers reach you easily. This can be difficult for independent firm owners and entrepreneurs who usually work with tight budgets.  A virtual phone system is just perfect for owners and entrepreneurs like this. You should have the right tools necessary for your success. It is important that you stay connected with your customers and yet do not run up a big bill. Using a phone system is inevitable for maintaining a healthy communication system with the customers and in this case it is through a virtual phone system.

No Spending on Infrastructure
A virtual phone system needs no installation or complex hardware or software. It does not even need a dedicated telephone connection and can work with any phone line. This is a huge cost saving for the new business owners and entrepreneurs. This is a huge advantage for a business that operates in limited financial boundaries.

Automated Call Attendant
The auto attendant of the virtual phone system practically eliminates the need to hire a receptionist in your office.  It is a huge cost savings for a small business since you no longer need to pay for a receptionist. An auto attendant greets your customer and routes him to the right person or department he wants to speak to.  So your customer’s queries are answered by the right person without wasting much time. Since an auto attendant works 24x7 there’s no chance of your customer’s call going unattended.

No chance of Calls Going Unattended
In case you are busy for some reason and cannot answer your customer’s call then also there’s no way your customer can feel neglected. A virtual phone system has caller ID that captures all the information of the caller. It can also forward calls to personal phone, residential phone or office phone. Your customer can also leave a message in your virtual phone system voicemail box. So they can expect a call back from you. The voice messages can also be read in emails. This helps you to manage all your business communication from one place.

Gives Your Business Instant Credibility
Another incredible benefit for the new entrepreneurs for using the virtual phone system is the use of toll free number. A toll free number can bring instant credibility to a new business. Moreover, it makes your business look and feel big than what it is actually. A toll free number is easily accessible from across the country and since your customers do not pay for the call it is quite likely that you will get more queries from your customers.

What is a Virtual Phone System?

A virtual phone system is the most effective, affordable and professional way for all your business communication. If you need business class phone system sans the hassle of installing phone lines and other expensive phone equipments, then virtual phone system is your perfect solution. 

In reality, a virtual phone system is simply a business phone system that does not physically exist in a closet of your office suite; rather it’s hosted at a service provider’s physical location. Your service provider hosts all the hardware and software from his location; all you need is a web interface to manage your account. You can use your business phone number and even your mobile number to set up the virtual phone system.  But this in no way diminishes its benefits. Rather it helps small and mid-size businesses function like a big one without any extra cost and expenditure.

When a customer dials your business phone number or your toll free number, it is automatically received by your service provider. Your customer is greeted by an auto generated greetings of your choice and is routed according to your system configuration. The electronic receptionist not only replaces the physical receptionist but also helps you save money. The present day phone systems have integrated fax abilities as well. So they can easily identify if the caller is human or a machine and directs the call accordingly.

In a normal phone system, each extension is assigned to a desk phone and you need someone to receive and answer your customers’ and clients’ queries. But now there’s no need to tie your employee to their desk waiting for a call! They can easily work from any other location and the calls with be professionally routed and answered so that no important calls are missed.

The virtual phone system helps you assign an extension to any phone anywhere in the world. You can also assign an extension to a set of numbers that will cascade through until answered and then if answered to a voice mail box. There are systems that convert voice mails to emails so that you can easily manage all your communications from one location.

This adds an extra edge to your business and especially to a small business.  It allows your business to have employees and offices located across geographies and yet easily available for your customers and clients through a single phone system. With the virtual phone system, you can also transfer calls between extensions even when the extensions are half way across the world.

Long distance fees or confusing dialing codes can no longer restrict your customers from connecting you. Just set up a toll free number with your virtual phone system and you will receive queries from across the world. Smart communication is the hallmark of business credibility and foresight and a virtual phone system makes your communication system easy, flexible and robust. It makes your presence felt across the world-virtually.

Companies with Remote Workers Need a Virtual Phone System with Hosted PBX Extensions

Depending on a business’s type and industry, it may be more cost-effective and economical to allow some employees to work remotely. In this case, a virtual phone system with hosted PBX extensions can make communications simpler, easier and more cost effective overall.

Understanding Hosted PBX Extensions
In the same way that a virtual phone system provides businesses with a main telephone number, it can also provide businesses with multiple extensions that do not exist on-site, but are simply hosted on the service provider’s server. Essentially, these are virtual extensions that provide businesses with multiple ‘lines’ so that each department or employee can answer calls that are designated for them. This allows for better customer service in general, ensuring that callers are able to reach the person or department who can best handle their call with fewer transfers and lesser wait times.

Remote Workers and Extensions
Remote workers are the employees of a company who do not actually work within the physical confines of the business and typically work from home instead. While these workers may have landline telephone service or mobile phones, they will likely still need access to their direct extension in order to handle customer questions, participate in conference calls, and handle other business communications without providing their own personal telephone numbers. Since hosted PBX extensions only exist on the server of the provider, they can easily be forwarded to any telephone in the country—whether it is a landline, a mobile phone, or even a number hosted by VoIP service.

How it Works
When a business purchases a virtual phone system that is complete with hosted PBX extensions, each employee or department is assigned a ‘branch’ of the service that acts as their own. Thus, when a call comes through, the auto attendant who answers the call can forward it to the right location in order to provide the best customer service experience possible. If an employee is working remotely, the business owner can simply use the back office web interface to forward all of the calls going to that extension to the employee’s home telephone or mobile device. This way, although the employee may be across the country, they can communicate as if they are physically present.

The Benefits
There is a multitude of benefits associated with providing hosted PBX extensions to remote workers. First and foremost, they are able to communicate as a functioning part of the business without the need to provide their home or mobile telephone numbers—this protects their privacy. Second, it is much more cost effective to use these virtual extensions than to actually forward landline calls; many landline service providers charge by the minute for this service, and it can certainly add up quickly. Finally, remote workers who are connected to the business via their extensions are more readily available for conference calls and other business communications than those who use their private numbers.

It is easy to see why a virtual phone system and hosted PBX extensions can make a huge difference in the productivity of remote workers. They remain available to the business and its customers, and the cost effective nature of the service certainly speaks for itself.

Get a Virtual Phone System for Your Home Business

If you are considering an effective communications system for your home business, you can never go wrong with a virtual phone system. Not only is it the most affordable solution available, but it will provide you with all of the features you will need in order to ensure that your business endeavor is a success.

Affordability
New home business owners are concerned with their expenditures—and for good reason. Getting started can certainly be expensive, and without an effective means of money management, it is highly unlikely that a business will succeed. A virtual phone system is truly inexpensive when compared with the alternatives, and not just on a monthly basis. There are no jacks to install and no expensive software to purchase, making the start-up costs practically non-existent. To compare monthly costs, a landline with all of the features and unlimited long distance can cost between $75 and $100 per month while a virtual system that is loaded with features aimed toward home businesses may cost as little as $20 per month.

Landline vs. Virtual System
While landlines are still considered the most traditional form of telecommunications for homes and businesses, they are certainly not the most effective. Most landline companies do not offer discounts to homeowners who choose to install second lines, and they do not offer all of the features that a virtual phone system can provide. The virtual system will allow you to separate your telephone numbers so that one is dedicated to personal use while the other is strictly for the business—without all of the added costs associated with multiple lines of service. On the same note, most of the features you need to be successful are included in the price associated with a virtual system; you may be asked to pay extra for certain features with a landline company.

Features
One of the most prominent features associated with a virtual phone system is the ability to set up an information hotline on an extension. If you are running a home business, this can save you precious time. An information hotline is available 24 hours a day, and is essentially a recorded message for your callers who are interested in learning more about the products or services you offer.  It can also be used to record directions and hours of operation for your customers to hear.

Mobility
Almost all phone service providers will give you the ability to take your telephone number with you through the use of the call forwarding feature, but landline and mobile phone providers often charge for you to forward your calls. With a virtual phone system, you can easily forward your business telephone number to your mobile phone, or home or office landline if the situation calls for it. This makes you available to your clients and customers all the time, regardless of where you need to travel for personal or professional reasons.

A virtual phone system is a great way for you to ensure that your home business is successful because it saves you money, provides you with features that will lend to your productivity, and allows you to be available to your customers 24 hours a day with call forwarding and information hotlines.

iTeleCenter Lends a Helping Hand by Offering 90 Day Free Virtual Phone System Accounts to Businesses Affected by Hurricane Sandy

iTeleCenter, with its corporate offices located in the heart of the tri-state area, was affected by last week’s hurricane like much of the northeast was. With operations fully recovered and 100% operational, it is reaching out to businesses in the community affected by the storm and offering a helping hand by providing its state-of-the-art virtual phone system account to businesses whose communications systems are affected by Hurricane Sandy with free service for 90 days.

iTeleCenter can enable companies to easily stay connected with their customers and clients during recovery efforts by allowing them to forward calls through a new toll free or local number directly to their workers’ mobile phones or landlines. Businesses should post their new iTeleCenter number in email signatures, websites, blogs, tweets, as well as company Facebook or LinkedIn page to let customers know how to reach them during this time.

There is no software to download or hardware setup involved. The new iTeleCenter business number is instantly available, and can be set up to start receiving calls within minutes. Companies can record a greeting to keep callers apprised of any ongoing recovery efforts or any general information they need to disseminate.

Businesses that wish to take advantage of this offer should contact iTeleCenter’s Customer Care department at 1-800-454-5930 and ask about the Hurricane Sandy 90-day Offer.

About iTeleCenter
iTeleCenter was founded in 1992 by entrepreneur Paul Champaneria who wanted to build a company that catered to the needs of virtual companies, direct salespeople, affiliate marketers, real estate professionals, and all forms of home-based or small businesses. iTeleCenter is a virtual phone system that provides individuals with the ability to utilize toll free phone numbers, locally based numbers, 800 numbers or vanity numbers, with call forwarding and voicemail that make professional life a little easier. With the best in customer care and service, along with the latest and most innovative features, it’s a must have for professionals who want to compete on a regional or national level, whether it’s a one-man operation or a million-dollar corporation.

A Virtual Phone System Saved My Dog Grooming Business

As a single mother of two small children, I knew that working from home was something I wanted to do. After taking some classes, I was able to start a dog grooming business. At first, business was extremely slow and I had issues with client communications. When I got my virtual phone system, the business really took off.

Getting Started
With just me and my two young daughters in the house, the only source of communication I had was my mobile phone. After all, landlines are expensive and it is hard to make ends meet with a single income. When I started my business, I thought I would be able to communicate well with my mobile phone. However, I quickly discovered that this was not the case. My voicemail inbox filled too quickly, I missed calls due to a dead battery more times than I can count, and the call quality was just not what I would have liked it to be. While browsing the web one day, I came across an advertisement for a virtual phone system.

The Features
The first thing I realized about the virtual phone system was that it was relatively inexpensive when compared to a landline. Previous users had touted that the call quality was amazing through the broadband connection, as well. Some of the features that really caught my eye included the ability to manage voicemails from my laptop, a feature known as a ‘sizzle line’ with which I could provide information to prospective clients without even picking up the telephone, and another feature that would allow me to forward my calls to my mobile phone if I would be away from home. The ability to add a toll-free number to my service was also a huge selling point.

Setting it Up
When I decided to make the transition to the virtual phone system, I was really happy that I didn’t have to wait for an installer. I simply downloaded the software to my computer and I was ready to go! The support staff was incredibly friendly and they walked me through a few parts of the process. In less than two hours, my new telephone number was ready for use. The desktop interface that allows me to send and receive faxes, check my voicemail messages and even forward calls to other telephone numbers is incredibly easy to use, as well.

My Business Today
After I set up my toll free number and placed it on flyers and business cards, business really took off; the 800 number I selected makes my business appear more professional to clients and customers. During business hours, each caller is greeted with an automated assistant and the clients can choose whether to listen to information, ring through to me directly or even leave me a voicemail. After business hours, all calls ring straight through to voicemail. I never miss calls anymore, I have no trouble affording the service, and I’m really enjoying all of the new business that the virtual phone system helped me gather.

Anyone who is running a small business from home should really consider the type of communications they are using. Speaking with clients and customers is key, and without the ability to do so, a business can never truly succeed.

A Virtual Phone System is an Important Business Tool

Communication is an important aspect of running a business, so if the level of communication that is being provided to clients and customers is sub-par, a business can never realize true success. A virtual phone system can make a huge difference for a business of any size for a number of different reasons.

Better Communications
The first reason why a virtual phone system is so important has to do with the overall better level of communications that the business owners and their employees will have with clients and customers. Features like the automated attendant ensure that each call is properly routed and that accidental disconnects and incorrect transfers are completely eliminated. The call quality is incredibly clear and employees can forward their calls if they will be away from their desks for any period of time. Faxes can be sent and received directly from the computer, and there are no complicated instructions for checking voicemails or returning calls.

Affordable
Another great thing about a virtual phone system is that it is completely affordable, especially when compared to phone systems like landlines. Landline telephones require jacks, splitters and other forms of technology that can be expensive to install and maintain. Also, businesses that need many lines of service may find that their telephone bills are enormous on a monthly basis. This is not the case with a virtual system; for a low monthly rate, business owners can secure a set number of telephone lines and a feature package that is filled with things designed to make a business more efficient and productive.

24-Hour Access
While many businesses have set hours of operation, there are those consumers who like to get information on their own time. With a virtual phone system, businesses can record information on a hotline for consumers to hear 24 hours a day. Afterward, if the listener would like to leave a message, that option is available. Sometimes virtual systems even allow for after-hours answering services, particularly for businesses that specialize in repairs and the like. This way, the business can be closed, but consumers who have emergencies have a direct link to the employee who can help them with the situation.

Toll Free & Vanity Numbers
Although toll free and vanity telephone numbers are certainly available through landline telephone services, they are much more expensive than those associated with a virtual phone system. In fact, the prices for some of these systems include a set number of minutes of incoming toll free calls. This way, consumers can call from anywhere in the country without incurring long distance charges. Aside from this, a toll free number is a great way to boost professionalism, and a vanity number is a phenomenal way to ensure that consumers are able to remember a telephone number when they are in need of a product or service.

Businesses that really want to succeed in this difficult economy must ensure that every aspect—including communications—is on target. A virtual phone system is hands-down the best way to make sure that consumers are able to stay in contact and get the information they need.

iTeleCenter Releases Updated Website for its Virtual Telephone System

iTeleCenter recently launched an updated website for its virtual telephone system. In addition to the revised, crisper home page, it makes phone number selection quicker and easier for customers looking for local numbers. What makes this type of system ‘virtual’ is that calls that come into the subscriber’s number are routed through a hosted system and are forwarded to the subscriber’s landline or mobile phone; there is no physical phone line associated with the toll free or local hosted number.

Subscribers can select from a list of 800 numbers, other toll free numbers (855, 866, 877, 888), toll free vanity numbers or local numbers from major cities around the US. The updated website simplified the number selection process. Visitors landing on a specific city page for New York or Chicago phone numbers, for example, no longer have to go to an additional page to choose a number in that city – the updates provide number selection on each city landing page. And for those looking for numbers in cities without their own landing page, the site provides a link to ‘Other US City Phone Numbers’. The link takes visitors to a page where they can select a number in a specific city.

The website’s user-friendly update makes it easier for visitors to find what they are looking for. More small businesses are realizing that they can increase their reach into local communities by employing local phone numbers with a virtual telephone system. There is no longer a need to have a physical brick-and-mortar presence in order to advertise a local number. A small business in Kentucky can advertise a local number in Los Angeles and have calls seamlessly forwarded to their Kentucky phone.

About iTeleCenter
iTeleCenter was founded in 1992 by entrepreneur Paul Champaneria who wanted to build a company that catered to the needs of virtual companies, direct salespeople, affiliate marketers, real estate professionals, and all forms of home-based or small businesses. iTeleCenter is a virtual phone system that provides individuals with the ability to utilize toll free phone numbers, locally based numbers, or vanity numbers, with call forwarding and toll free voicemail that make professional life a little easier. With the best in customer care and service, along with the latest and most innovative features, it’s a must have for professionals who want to compete on a regional or national level, whether it’s a one-man operation or a million-dollar corporation.

A Virtual Phone System Helped Me Run My Catering Business from Home

As the owner of a home-based catering business, I have always realized the importance of making a good first impression on potential customers. For years, I tried to juggle my time between cooking and serving food at events, and trying to make myself available to answer calls from new clients. Finally, I discovered the perfect solution – a virtual phone system.

The Early Years
When I started my catering business 14 years ago, I did not have a virtual phone system. All I had was my home landline and an answering machine. I tried my hardest to answer calls personally during business hours, and I recorded a greeting on the machine that identified the business. I had problems right from the beginning. I would inevitably miss calls during the day when I left to get supplies. On one occasion a potential customer even left a message asking why I was “closed” in the middle of the day.

Constant Interruptions during the Work Day
As my business grew, I began spending more and more time away from home during the day. I would put on daytime events, shop for new menu items, and meet with clients on location. I decided to purchase a cell phone and use that as my business line. I was so excited – now I could take calls at home or away. But I discovered a new problem. I was not missing calls like before, but I was constantly being interrupted with client calls! My productivity suffered. Worse yet, many of these callers wanted simple information about my services and did not need to speak with me personally.

Researching a Better Option
I considered hiring a receptionist to answer calls. Unfortunately, financial restraints made this impossible. Then my brother-in-law mentioned that his company had recently converted to a virtual phone system with fantastic results. I did some research and it sounded promising. I liked the idea that every caller would hear a greeting and then be asked to select an option to hear more information, leave a message, or to reach me personally. Best of all, I would gain much more control over how many times I would be interrupted during the day.

Achieving Maximum Productivity
Considering that a virtual phone system was affordable and did not require a contract, I figured I had nothing to lose by trying it. I am so glad I did. Never again will I need to worry that it will appear my business is closed during the day, just because I am not free at that moment to answer the phone. My phone system sounds professional, which makes a great first impression on potential clients. Also, I have become extremely efficient. I now have the freedom to focus entirely on my work during the day, choosing when and how often I take calls.

My passion is cooking and serving food, not answering the phone. At one time, dealing with the telephone was one of the most difficult aspects of my home catering business. A virtual phone system changed all that, and my business is doing great.

A Virtual Phone System is Affordable And Easy To Use

Although many small business owners have likely heard of a virtual phone system before, they may not fully understand what it is and all of the many options that are available. A virtual phone is affordable and easy to use, and it provides business owners with the technology necessary to realize the success of their companies.

Save Money
Saving money is very important to small business owners, and a virtual phone system is a great first step. Landlines can be incredibly expensive to install and maintain from month to month, and there is even equipment that business owners must replace from time to time. With a virtual system, this is not an issue. There is no special hardware required, and all of the upgrades are handled on the back end—the business owner or IT professionals play little to no part in it. Reducing monthly bills and even negating up-front costs associated with communication is a great way to start a business off on the right foot, but it can also transform the overall operation of an existing business, as well.

Make Working Easier
Employees who do not have access to the best systems while working often become frustrated, and this means that they do not perform at 100% of their potential. By adding a virtual phone system to the office infrastructure, employees will be able to get more done in less time. This not only improves the overall efficiency of the small business, but it also saves business owners money. Employees will feel more satisfied at work, and they will be less likely to become stressed out and seek employment elsewhere.

Improve Customer Satisfaction
One of the most important facets in ensuring that a small business is successful involves providing the best customer service possible. A virtual phone  comes with multiple features that will make customers feel as if their business is appreciated and valued. For instance, the auto attendant feature greets each caller and allows them to direct their own calls. This reduces hold time, improves accidental disconnect rates and ensures that callers reach their intended destinations with ease. Business owners can also make use of information hotlines to provide callers with the details they need instantly.

Excellent Business Support
No communications system would be complete without a wonderful support system, and this is where a virtual phone system can really excel. There are agents standing by 24 hours a day to answer any questions that business owners or IT professionals may have, and they can also work remotely to resolve any issues that occur with software. When there are any issues at all with any part of the communications system, these agents know exactly what to do in order to remedy the situation. Business owners will not have to wait on hold and they will never have to call more than once to get the support they need.

A virtual phone system can do much for any small business for several different reasons. It is the ultimate way to ensure that the business owner, the employees and the customers are all completely satisfied.

Consolidating Multiple Telephone Numbers Into One With a Virtual Phone System

If you are still using standard landline service as your small business communications platform, you likely understand the complications that can arise from having multiple phone numbers within the company. A virtual phone system is a great way to consolidate all of these numbers and make things easier for yourself, your employees and your customers.

Single Number Publishing
Publishing a single number is much easier for you and your customers than publishing multiple telephone numbers for multiple purposes. As an example, rather than having separate telephone numbers for your main line, each employee and your fax machine, a virtual phone system will allow you to consolidate all of these numbers into one. This way, when a customer needs to contact your business for any reason, they only need to use a single number for any purpose imaginable. This reduces customer frustration and helps your business remain organized, even on the extremely busy days.

Receiving Faxes
It is possible for individual employees to receive their personal faxes, even when the main fax number is shared. This is because of the unique fax-via-internet service provided by the virtual phone system. Consumers can enter the telephone number into their standard or virtual fax machines as always, and by placing the recipient’s name in the proper field, this will ensure that the intended party receives the fax in his or her inbox. Customers and business associates will not have to remember, look up or ask for a separate fax number whenever they need to send you documents. This is a time-saver that will be well-appreciated by everyone involved.

Placing and Receiving Calls
With a standard landline service and a single telephone number, it is impossible to place or receive calls while a fax is being sent or received. Thanks to the technology provided by a virtual phone system, this is no longer the case. Calls and faxes are handled over the internet and share the same bandwidth, so it is indeed possible for multiple employees to be on voice calls while sending and receiving faxes at the same time. All of the calls are crystal-clear and professionally handled, while faxes come and go without delay—no paper jams, no running out of toner, and no lost documents. Everything is delivered electronically via a single telephone number.

Forwarding Calls
The great thing about consolidating multiple telephone numbers into one with the help of a virtual phone system is that it makes call forwarding much simpler, particularly if you are using an after-hours answering service or an on-call employee. Instead of taking the time to forward each telephone number to the service or the chosen employee, all you have to do is forward a single telephone number to the mobile or landline telephone number of your choice. Since the caller has no way to find out the actual number of the terminating device, personal telephone numbers remain private and all calls are handled efficiently.

There are multiple benefits associated with consolidating multiple telephone numbers into one with the use of a virtual phone system. Being able to make and receive calls while sending faxes and even forwarding calls with ease is certainly worth the small amount of effort it takes to make the switch.

A virtual Phone System is a Most Cost-Effective Communications Option For Any Business

As a business owner, you are likely aware of the huge expense associated with traditional forms of communication. Standard landline service is incredibly expensive to install and maintain, and it often does not include all of the features that can truly benefit your business. Thankfully, a virtual phone system can reduce these costs exponentially.

Landline Services
If you are currently using landline service in your business, you probably understand how expensive it is to maintain, particularly if you need to install jacks and complicated telephones throughout the building. A standard landline—and only a single line—with unlimited long distance calling and a variety of business features can cost upwards of $50.00 per month. A virtual phone system, on the other hand, costs about half this much and still provides the same call clarity that you have come to expect. In fact, you will likely get even more features out of your virtual phone than you would from a landline provider.

Installation
If you have not installed telephone service in your building, it is important to consider the fees associated with setting up the two different types of service. A standard telephone jack installation will cost between $100 and $200 per jack. Therefore, if several jacks must be installed, the cost can truly skyrocket. Next, you must purchase your phones and your fax machine as well as the necessary supplies. With a virtual phone system, there is no equipment to purchase. All you must do is set up your computers and download the software. The telephone system and faxing capabilities are included in the desktop interface.

Maintenance
Maintaining landline service is also expensive, especially when new technologies leave your business behind. Replacing complicated and expensive telephone or fax equipment is a headache and a major expense. With a virtual phone system, everything is handled via a desktop interface. There are no jacks to install and no equipment to buy, and upgrades are handled on the back-end; you are required to do nothing more than restart your computer once they have completed. Imagine the money you could save by ditching your expensive telephones and fax machines—and even the associated paper and toner—in favor of a virtual system that is easier to use and simpler to maintain.

Making the Switch
Now that a virtual phone system sounds like the most cost-effective solution for your business, you likely have questions regarding making the switch. In most cases, it is possible to start your virtual service using the same telephone number; this will negate any concerns about interruptions in business due to changing telephone numbers. Your fax machines and hard telephones will no longer be necessary, and you will no longer need to purchase any additional supplies for them. Getting started with a virtual service takes less than 24 hours, and most providers will offer training courses for employees so that they can get started with ease.

A virtual phone system is without a doubt the most cost-effective communications option for any business. There are plenty of features and options from which to choose, so if you are curious about making the switch, contact your provider today to get pricing and set-up information.

The Importances Of Virtual Phone System

A virtual phone system is the perfect choice for business owners who are interested in providing only the best communications solutions for their employees and customers. The advantages of virtual phones are many, and the low cost associated with these systems make them undeniably important.

Low Cost
The first thing about a virtual phone system that many business owners will find appealing is the shockingly low cost associated with it. Business owners who are used to paying their monthly landline bills will often mistakenly believe that swapping to a virtual phone is more expensive than what they are currently using. To compare, a business with three landlines, unlimited long distance and basic features like caller ID and call waiting will pay roughly $150.00 a month for these services. With a virtual system, it is possible to enjoy all of the same features—plus some that are specifically tailored to businesses—for around $25.00 a month. This is a huge savings, and one that cannot be ignored.

Easy to Use
Landline services are often difficult to use in business settings. Transferring and returning telephone calls can become complicated with some of the hardware that is used in offices. With a virtual phone system, this is a thing of the past. Everything can be managed with the help of an easy-to-use desktop interface that is accessible by the business owner and the individual employees. From here, employees can set up call forwarding, look at their call logs, review their voicemail messages and even return telephone calls with ease. Thanks to this, there are fewer missed calls and happier consumers all around.

Packed with Features
Some of the features associated with a virtual phone system are simply phenomenal. The call forwarding feature is completely invaluable in many business settings, as it allows employees to get their telephone calls privately, regardless of whether or not they are physically in the office. Voicemail to email and the ability to send faxes online are great production boosters, and the auto attendant feature provides a pleasant greeting to each and every caller, regardless of the time of day.

24-Hour Support
While a few of the major landline companies boast 24-hour support, this is often limited to checking bill balances and inquiring about basic features through automated systems and recordings. With a virtual phone system, business owners can rely on real, live support agents 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Even in the middle of the night or on Christmas Eve, it is possible to reach an agent who can answer questions and resolve issues with ease. All of the updates associated with the system are software-based and almost completely automated, so business owners will not find themselves spending precious time updating their communications systems without assistance from the company.

The advantages of a virtual phone system are many, and with the low cost, it only makes sense that businesses of any size should take advantage of these systems. With ease of use, plenty of features and 24-hour support, they provide everything a company needs to realize success.

A Virtual Phone System Keeps You Connected While Traveling

Regardless of the nature of a business, travel is often inevitable. Conferences, business meetings and even conventions can all help business owners better understand their industries, and they may even help to introduce new products and services to the lineup. A virtual phone system is a great way to stay connected to a business while away from the office.

Call Forwarding
Call forwarding allows business owners to forward the calls that would typically terminate at their office desks to the telephones of their choice. When business owners are on the road or in the air, they can still receive telephone calls on their mobile devices with the use of this feature. Similarly, when they have settled into a hotel room, they can easily forward their calls to that landline. Everything can be handled almost instantaneously, and business owners will never be out of touch with their customers or their employees. This feature also works well for business employees who must travel; they are still available to other employees and customers via their assigned extensions.

Maintain Privacy
One of the best parts about using call forwarding to stay connected while traveling is that it allows everyone to stay in contact while still maintaining privacy. Business owners and employees would never provide their personal telephone numbers to clients and customers for obvious reasons, and depending upon the size of the business, it may even be best for business owners to keep their personal telephone numbers private from their employees. Thanks to call forwarding, everyone can accept their business calls without interruption, and the terminating telephone number is always kept 100% private.

Portable Desktop Interface
The desktop interface that accompanies a virtual phone system is incredibly simple to use. It can be installed on a laptop or even downloaded in the form of a mobile app so that the phone system can be managed from virtually anywhere. Traveling business owners and employees can easily access the interface with their username and password combinations in order to make changes to their call forwarding settings or even check their voicemail messages. This interface is an invaluable resource for managing every aspect of business communications in a single, easy-to-navigate environment. This promotes organization, even when on the road.

Online Fax
When attending conferences or conventions, business owners and employees will often receive documents that will need to be shared with the rest of the company. Thankfully, the ability to send and receive faxes online with the help of a virtual phone system makes this easy and instantaneous. Rather than trying to locate the fax machine in the hotel lobby or local retail store, it is possible to simply scan the document into a computer and fax it as easily as sending an email. The process works in reverse, as well. Traveling employees can open and view documents they receive via fax with complete ease.

Without proper communications, traveling can present a host of problems for business owners and employees. With the help of a virtual phone system, these problems can be easily negated and everyone can stay connected at all times.

iTeleCenter Welcomes New Virtual Phone System Customer Vortech Solutions

iTeleCenter welcomes Vortech Solutions as a new Virtual Phone System customer. Vortech Solutions, a Florida-based sanitization company, started using iTeleCenter’s virtual phone system to fulfill its business communications needs. iTeleCenter has made it easier for the company to reach out to a broader audience and increase their customer base in the West Palm Beach and Clearwater areas.

Implementing iTeleCenter in their business model has enabled Vortech Solutions to advertise a toll free number and forward incoming calls directly to a company representative’s mobile phone. The benefit is two-fold – customers outside their immediate calling area can easily reach them without incurring long distance charges and company reps can keep their personal numbers private and still take calls on the go. The system seamlessly forwards calls to their company representatives in any physical location without having to implement an expensive PBX system or install any additional equipment in their offices.

Vortech Solutions offers a host of Sanitization, Decontamination, Purification and Dehumidification services for yachts, homes, businesses and the marine industry. They provide a full line of unique services and products to help assure the confidence of a clean, pristine and safe home and marine environment.
iTeleCenter looks forward to a long partnership in helping Vortech Solutions achieve continued success.

About iTeleCenter
iTeleCenter was founded in 1992 by entrepreneur Paul Champaneria who wanted to build a company that catered to the needs of virtual companies, direct salespeople, affiliate marketers, real estate professionals, and all forms of home-based or small businesses. iTeleCenter is a virtual phone system that provides individuals with the ability to utilize toll free phone numbers, locally based numbers, or vanity numbers, with call forwarding and toll free voicemail that make professional life a little easier. With the best in customer care and service, along with the latest and most innovative features, it’s a must have for professionals who want to compete on a regional or national level, whether it’s a one-man operation or a million-dollar corporation.

Use a Virtual Phone System to Post Soccer League Cancellations

A virtual phone system is an excellent option for soccer league overseers and officials to keep in contact with players, parents and caregivers. With the information hotline feature, callers can keep track of cancellations 24 hours a day and there is no need for an actual official to stay by the phone and provide the same information over and over.

What is an Information Hotline?
An information hotline is a telephone number that people can call to find out information via an automated system. This feature can be used in conjunction with an auto attendant for even more options. The soccer league operator can pre-record the message of his or her choosing and upload it to the system. When the player, parent or caregiver calls, they will be provided with the up-to-date information they need. This information may include cancellations, games that have been postponed, upcoming schedules and more. A virtual phone system will typically include these features as part of an affordable monthly plan.

Using an Auto Attendant
An auto attendant is a fantastic feature to use in combination with the information hotline. With it, rather than simply hearing a recorded message, callers can choose which information they would like to hear. When the caller connects, they will first be pleasantly greeted and thanked for calling. Next, they will be provided with a list of options from which to choose. These options may include soccer game cancellations by league, age group or even date. Finally, the caller may even have an option to contact an official or coach directly if they have any further questions. When the caller chooses this option, the call is forwarded anonymously in order to maintain privacy.

Benefits to Callers
An information hotline as part of a virtual phone system can be incredibly beneficial to callers in many ways. Callers who simply want to know whether or not a particular soccer game will still be held are not forced to wait on hold or until the coach or official is able to come to the phone. They know they can obtain the information they need within just a few seconds and they are never left second-guessing. If the information the caller needs is not listed within the options, they can simply press another button to speak with someone who can provide it. There is no waiting, hassle or trouble.

Benefits to Coaches and Officials
A virtual phone system can also be very beneficial to the officials and coaches who use them. The primary benefit of using an information hotline and auto attendant combination is the ability to provide information to parents, players and caregivers without having to answer the phone a dozen or more times per day. The system itself comes with an easy-to-navigate desktop interface that makes uploading recordings an easy process. When a caller is forwarded through to a mobile phone or secondary landline, the number is kept private.

Soccer coaches and officials who want to provide their players, parents, caregivers and fans with up-to-date information should consider using an auto attendant and information hotline as part of a virtual phone system.