Features to look for in business phones
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Choosing the Best Small Business Phone System
Get smart about small business phone systems. The first personal point of contact a potential customer has with you might be through the phone. So it's important that you provide a positive and professional experience. And it's not enough to make do with personal phones. If you really want to make your business ready to compete and meet customer demands, you need a dedicated small-business phone system. There are lots of options out there, but many are geared toward businesses with hundreds of employees and multiple locations. While small businesses need to provide the same high-quality interactions as larger businesses, they have smaller budgets. It can feel like a tall order, but it's important that you make the right choice for your business. To help you evaluate your options, here's a brief look at what to consider in today's business phone systems, some common choices for small and medium-sized businesses ( SMBs), and why a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) solution might be the best fit for you. What to look for in a small business phone system,No two business phone systems are the same. There are many options out there to choose from—and often there are huge differences between the quality and capabilities in each. You need a small business phone system that helps advance your specific business goals. Here are a few basics to consider when evaluating small business phone systems:,Take stock of what you have—and what you need. Do you need a solution that only uses desk phones, are you fully mobile or are you a mixture of both? And if you're only using desk phones now, do you have plans to integrate mobile in the future? The system you choose should address your immediate needs, but also be right for where you hope to take your business in the future. Along those same lines of making sure the equipment will be right for your business in the future, you'll want to make sure the phone system you choose will easily grow with you as you want to add new lines. Only you know what your budget is, so you'll want to make sure you choose a solution that fits within it. But it's not enough to just look at the upfront costs of a business phone solution; you'll want to look at the monthly fees and long-term maintenance costs to make sure that you are getting the right value for your investment. With so many advanced calling features available, you'll want to look for the ones that align best with the way you work. If you field a lot of customer calls, you may want a solution that offers a virtual receptionist. If you have field teams working with office-based teams, then you could probably benefit from a solution that makes it possible to easily share screens. Just make sure the business phone system meets all of your needs. If you're a small business with limited IT resources and expertise, you want to make sure that the small-business phone system you choose will be easy for you to deploy, maintain and manage. And if you do run into issues, will you have access to the support you need to get things fixed?,What is a business phone system?,Different than a home phone system, a business phone system is built to:,There are two basic types of networks that you can use to operate your business phone system:,Types of business phone systems for small businessesA landline is what you'd most commonly call plain old telephone service (POTS). If you are looking for a straightforward system that lets you make and receive calls and requires no additional training to use, a POTS system might be worth considering.But for budget-conscious SMBs, the costs for landlines can escalate quickly. In addition to installation costs, there are monthly service fees per line, new-line fees, long-distance fees and more. And because landlines are physically connected by wires, they don't allow for any flexibility; if you want to answer the phone, you must be by the phone, wherever it is plugged in. For growing businesses, flexibility could be the key to growth, so landlines might be too restrictive an option. However, there are limitations to this option. The quality and reliability of your calls is totally dependent on the quality and reliability of your service provider's network. Plus, your provider will have complete control over managing the system, which could make it more difficult for you to customize an experience that's best for your business. While there are pros and cons to each of these options, we think that most small businesses could benefit from a VoIP business phone system. Why VoIP is a versatile option,Not only is VoIP a good first step to creating a more modern business, it also addresses many of the common concerns for growing businesses. First of all, VoIP is budget-friendly. Because it uses public internet, you can get all the calling capabilities you need, without the additional costs of a private network. And as far as equipment goes, you can purchase VoIP phones if your budget allows, or if it doesn't, there are adaptors that can be used to modify your existing phones. Or you could leverage your business computers and employees' mobile devices. When it comes to flexibility, it doesn't get much better than VoIP. You can build your VoIP system using any combination of desk phones, computers and mobile devices. And it's easy to add new lines as needed, so when your business is ready to grow, your VoIP solution scales with you. Your customers keep you in business, so it's important that you be there when they call. But what happens when there's a power outage or other emergency situation? Because it's cloud-based, it's easy for your VoIP service provider to redirect calls to a backup number in the event of a service outage, which can help reduce downtime and keep your business operating as usual. And those are just some of the benefits you could enjoy by choosing VoIP as your business phone system. The full range of advantages depends on the VoIP solution you choose. A solution like Verizon is designed to address many of the concerns of small businesses. If you're looking to improve the user and caller experience, Business Digital Voice comes with more than 30 advanced calling features, such as automatic call forwarding, voicemail to email, seamless call transfer and more. If you're primarily looking for something that's easy to use and manage, Business Digital Voice has a simple app and online dashboard that gives you intuitive control over call management. Whatever your specific goals for your business, the phone system you choose will serve as the foundation to get you where you want to be. It's a big decision, and one that should not be taken lightly. But once you understand your needs—and your options—you'll be able to make the right call when it comes to selecting your small-business phone system. Create better customer experiences with VoIP,Give your customers what they want—and then some—with a VoIP system that lets you:,* Business Digital Voice is available in select areas of nine states and the District of Columbia. Tell us about your business, then meet with our professionals to ask questions, get advice, or obtain a quote. These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. They are usually only set in response to actions made by you which amount to a request for services, such as setting your privacy preferences, logging in or filling in forms. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work. These cookies do not store any personally identifiable information. These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. We use both third party and first party cookies for this purpose. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. If you do not allow these cookies we will not know when you have visited our site, and will not be able to monitor its performance. These cookies enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalisation. They may be set by us or by third party providers whose services we have added to our pages. If you do not allow these cookies then some or all of these services may not function properly. These cookies may be set through our site by Verizon and third parties. They are used to present Verizon advertising on third party sites that you may visit. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising from Verizon. BackClear Filters,All Consent Allowed
Learn moreChoosing the Best Phone System for Your Business
How to choose the best VoIP provider for your business,You've done your research. You know that a business Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) system is an efficient, simple and affordable communications option that can help keep your growing business competitive. And you've decided to make VoIP part of your operations. Now you have another decision to make—which VoIP service provider to partner with. There are many VoIP solutions out there, but not all are created equal. When choosing the best VoIP service for your small business, you want to make sure you're getting a solution that meets more than just your calling needs. Here are a number of things you should consider when evaluating VoIP solutions and providers. Reliable VoIP needs a reliable network. A good VoIP solution starts with a strong foundation. Because VoIP calls are routed through the internet, it's critical that your VoIP solution runs on a network that gives you reliable connectivity and coverage where you need it. You should never have to worry that you're missing important communications because you can't trust your network. Your VoIP system should grow with you. One of the best benefits of a VoIP solution for small businesses is that it is scalable. A complete VoIP solution should be able to easily expand as the number of users changes. Adding new lines or devices—or even locations—should be virtually effortless, and not cause any disruption to your operations. Competitive features can help create better experiences. Your customers have come to expect a certain level of service from the companies they do business with. When they call a business, they expect to reach someone who can help them—and they don't like to wait. So your VoIP solution should come with a rich variety of business features that can help you operate more like a bigger business without costing a lot. Features like automatic call forwarding, seamless call transfer between devices, virtual receptionists and more that make it easier for your callers to quickly connect with the person best suited to help them. Not to mention features like visual voicemail, virtual meeting rooms and personal phone directories that make it easy for your employees to do their jobs. VoIP should make your job easier, not harder. An efficient communications solution should allow you to monitor, fine- tune, streamline and manage your network assets. And you should be able to do it all easily. If you don't have a dedicated IT department, or if your IT resources are just stretched thin, you want to make sure that your VoIP solution won't create a management headache. Look for a solution that comes with an intuitive web-based management system, so you can stay in control of your communications from where you're working. Customer support should be available when you need it. A good VoIP solution should be easy to manage and deploy. But in times when you could use a little extra help, you need a comprehensive VoIP solution that comes with access to professional support throughout the design, implementation and management phases. You need your communications system to work around the clock, so it's only fair to expect that your VoIP customer service does, too. The bottom line. The communications system you choose for your business will play a pivotal role in building relationships with your vendors, partners and customers—and those are the relationships that will determine how successful your business can be. So you need to partner with a service provider that will help you strengthen those relationships at every turn. Many small businesses have put their trust in Verizon because of our proven ability to deliver effective . We continually invest in our VoIP network, and we have the expansive reach your growing business needs. Verizon ,* our VoIP business solution, offers more than 30 features—including Auto Attendant, Hunt Group, Extension Dialing and more—to help you control your communications, improve customer experiences, streamline your business and simplify your day-to-day. By choosing the right VoIP solution, you're taking the first step toward a productive and competitive future for your business. So you need to make sure you choose a provider that has the experience, reach and range of services that will support your growth. * Business Digital Voice is available in select areas of nine states and the District of Columbia. Tell us about your business, then meet with our professionals to ask questions, get advice, or obtain a quote. These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. They are usually only set in response to actions made by you which amount to a request for services, such as setting your privacy preferences, logging in or filling in forms. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work. These cookies do not store any personally identifiable information. These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. We use both third party and first party cookies for this purpose. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. If you do not allow these cookies we will not know when you have visited our site, and will not be able to monitor its performance. These cookies enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalisation. They may be set by us or by third party providers whose services we have added to our pages. If you do not allow these cookies then some or all of these services may not function properly. These cookies may be set through our site by Verizon and third parties. They are used to present Verizon advertising on third party sites that you may visit. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising from Verizon. BackClear Filters,All Consent Allowed
Learn moreLandline Phone Features: Call Forwarding, Blocking and More Business
,: All calling features are subject to availability and compatibility restrictions. Anonymous Call Block rejects most phone calls from callers who have blocked the display of their telephone numbers from a Caller ID device. Anonymous Call Block will not block calls made to you from outside your local calling area or through operator assistance. When Anonymous Call Block is activated and there is a call to your number from a caller who has blocked the display of their number, your telephone will not ring and nothing will appear on your Caller ID display unit. The caller will hear an announcement telling them that you are not accepting blocked calls. They will be instructed to hang up, unblock their number and dial again if they want to reach you. You can use Call Block to automatically block incoming calls using a screening list that you create. Call Block will reject calls from phone numbers that match those on your Call Block list. Your Call Block list is limited to either 6 or 12 numbers, depending on your region. When a blocked caller reaches your telephone number, they will hear a recording saying you are not presently accepting calls. You can temporarily deactivate Call Block or change your Call Block list at any time. Calls made to you from outside your local calling area, through operator assistance, or from cell phones and some business phones cannot be blocked. Before you use Call Block, you must first set up the list of numbers you want to block and then activate Call Block. You can change your Call Block list at any time. To set up and activate Call Block:,The phone numbers you enter on your Call Block list will be repeated to you. By following the voice-recorded instructions, you can add the number of the last person who called you, add a new number or change an existing number on your list. The voice-recorded instructions will also tell you how to add to your list if your list is full. To temporarily deactivate Call Block:,You can turn off Call Block at any time. When Call Block is off, the phone numbers on your Call Block list will be able to telephone you. This service is subject to availability for new customers based on location. If you currently subscribe to this service, you will continue to receive the service. Call Intercept answers incoming calls that do not provide a valid phone number. Callers must then identify themselves before Call Intercept rings your phone and plays the recorded name of the caller. You must have Caller ID to use Call Intercept. The first time you use Call Intercept:,Call Intercept is no longer available to new customers. Customers in CT, DC, DE, MA, NJ, NY, PA, RI and VA who currently subscribe to the product and remove it will not be able to reorder. Call Intercept is not available for business or rotary-dial service. Call Intercept is not available in California, Florida or Texas. Call Trace automatically initiates a trace of the last call you received. You can use this feature to trace unlawful or threatening calls that alarm, frighten or harass you. Your phone is already equipped for Call Trace. To activate it, simply press . There is no charge for the connection, but charges and fees for using Call Trace may vary. The records of all traced calls will be released to a law enforcement agency only. The action taken by law enforcement may vary by area. Please contact the Verizon Security Department at,Do Not Disturb prevents some or all of your incoming calls from ringing on your phone. You can activate Do Not Disturb for a set period of time within a 24-hour period or you can leave it on indefinitely. Incoming calls can be moved to a voice mailbox (if available) or receive an announcement stating that you are not available. Calls received from outside your local calling area or through operator assistance cannot be screened and will ring through. Do Not Disturb does not affect your outgoing calls. Charges may vary. Do Not Disturb is no longer available to new customers. Customers in DC and VA who currently subscribe to the product and remove it will not be able to reorder,On a per-call basis, Selective Call Blocking prevents your name and phone number from appearing on another person's display unit when you make a call. When Selective Call Blocking is on, your call is identified as or on a display unit. When you hang up, Selective Call Blocking is automatically turned off. When you make your next call, your name and phone number will display again on a display unit until you turn Selective Call Blocking on again. Calls to 911, toll-free (800 or 877) and 900 services cannot be blocked. Calls to some wireless customers may not be blocked. Calls made to numbers equipped with Anonymous Call Block will not be completed when Selective Call Blocking is on. *69 helps you identify your last incoming call. For example, iIf you missed your last call and want to know who it was, you can dial *69. You will hear the telephone number associated with your last incoming call. In some areas it will also let you know the date and time the call was received. You may also be able to use *69 to return the call automatically with the touch of a button. *69 can only announce the telephone number associated with the last incoming call if it is available from the network and the calling party has not blocked the calling information. The announced telephone number does not always identify the calling party and, in some cases, cannot be used to return the call automatically or by manual dial-back. *69 cannot announce or return calls marked private by the caller. Additionally, *69 cannot return all calls. For example, calls placed from cell phones or lines equipped with ISDN or PBX service cannot be returned. In some cases, however, you can return the call manually using the announced number. This product is no longer available to new customers. Customers in CT, DC, DE, MA, NJ, NY, PA, RI and VA who currently subscribe to the product and remove it will not be able to reorder. Caller ID shows the name and number of incoming calls. The caller information appears between the first and second rings on a customer-provided display device or display telephone to give you the opportunity to screen your calls before you answer. Caller ID will also store names, numbers, dates and times of incoming calls (storage capacity varies with your display device model). The name or number of the caller may not be displayed for every incoming call. In some cases, you will see a message on your Caller ID display unit instead of the name and number of the caller. The exact wording of the message may vary depending on the display unit you use. Out of Area or Unavailable messages may appear for calls made outside specially equipped areas, calls made through an operator and for certain telephone numbers for which Verizon does not purchase Caller ID information. Private or Anonymous messages may appear for calls made by people who have blocked the display of their telephone information. Caller ID works automatically. You do not have to activate or deactivate this calling feature. If your display unit shows the wrong name, please contact Verizon to have one of our agents correct the name that appears on the Caller ID display units of those you call. If you have Call Waiting, the phone numbers of the waiting calls are not displayed because the Caller ID unit must detect one ring before it can display a number. If you have Per-Line Blocking, your name and number will be prevented from showing on the Caller ID unit. You can deactivate Per-Line Blocking by pressing before you make your call. After you complete your call, your line will revert to its previous privacy status. Call Waiting ID works in conjunction with Caller ID and alerts you to an incoming call while you are talking on your telephone. Call Waiting ID may also show you the name or the number of the person calling you. You can then choose to continue your call or answer the new call. Call Waiting ID requires Caller ID and Call Waiting, as well as a special display device (purchased separately) that supports Caller ID and Call Waiting. Priority Call automatically sounds a special ring—short-long-short—when you receive a call from any of the selected phone numbers you have entered on your Priority Call screening list. You can store up to 6 or 12 different numbers on your screening call list, depending on availability in your calling region. Calls not on your screening list or from outside your regional calling area or through operator assistance will ring normally at your phone. You can change the numbers on your screening list or turn Priority Call off at any time. This service is no longer available to new customers. If you currently subscribe to this service, you will continue to receive the service, but you will not be permitted to resubscribe to it if you remove it or transfer it to another customer at your current location or to a new location. You can activate Call Forwarding whenever you want your calls to be sent to a local, long-distance or mobile phone. Once activated, all your calls will be sent to the forwarding number you request. Each time a call is forwarded, you will hear one short reminder tone on your home phone, but you will not be able to answer the call from your home number. You can make outgoing calls while Call Forwarding is activated. To activate Call Forwarding:,To deactivate Call Forwarding:If your line is busy or if you do not answer an incoming call within a preset number of rings, Call Forwarding—Busy Line/Don't Answer will send your calls to a forwarding number. Available products vary by area. If you are in an area where the Variable option is available, you can change the forwarding number at any time. If you have the Fixed option, the forwarding number will be fixed by your local business office. To change the number, you must submit a service order request to Verizon. If you forward your calls to a long-distance number, long-distance charges will apply. Ultra Forward/Call Ability service lets you forward your calls or change your forwarding number from virtually any touch-tone phone. To ensure an incoming call doesn't interrupt your activation or deactivation of the Ultra Forward/Call Ability service, temporarily deactivate the following feature first:,You must initialize your service from your subscribing telephone before you activate Ultra Forward/Call Ability by doing the following,If you forget your PIN, call from your subscribing telephone to reestablish your PIN. To activate this feature from your subscribing telephone:,To deactivate this feature from your subscribing telephone:,This product is no longer available to new customers. Customers in DC, VA, DE, NJ, PA, MA and NY who currently subscribe to the product and remove it will not be able to reorder. The first time you dial into voice messaging, you will be asked to set up your mailbox. You will need the following information:To set up voice messaging from your business telephone line:,Voice Mail answers when you can't answer the phone or are on another call. You can retrieve your voice messages at any time, from any touch-tone phone, whether at your home or a remote location, without the need of additional equipment. With Voice Mail:,For more information, read our or our more detailed . For most areas, the Fios Digital Voice Mail access number is 1-888-234-6786. For Fios Digital Voice Customers in CA, FL and TX, your access number is,OnePoint Voice Mail enables you to retrieve all of your voice mail messages from a single voice mailbox, whether they are from your home, an additional line, a vacation home or your Verizon Wireless phone. Additionally, OnePoint Voice Mail lets you:,Toll rates apply for calls made to your Voice Mail system from outside your local calling area. Measured local-service, local-usage or message-unit charges apply for calls forwarded to your voice mailbox and calls to check your messages. Call Forwarding—No Answer/Busy Transfer is required on all numbers that forward to OnePoint Voice Mail. All calling features are subject to availability and compatibility restrictions. : For most areas, the Fios Digital Voice Mail access number is . For Fios Digital Voice Customers in CA, FL and TX, your access number is,Select Call Forwarding lets you program your phone to forward incoming calls from a preselected list of numbers to a different number of your choice. The number you choose can be a cellular phone, a pager or another phone number. Normal local or toll charges may apply to forwarded calls. Your Select Call Forwarding list is limited to either 6 or 12 numbers, depending on your region. Only calls from your list of numbers will be forwarded. All other calls will ring at your regular number. You can change, add or delete the numbers on your list at any time. Also, you can turn your Select Call Forwarding service temporarily off without changing your list. If the number you are calling is busy, Busy Redial will redial the last local telephone number you called for up to 30 minutes. If the number is not available after 30 minutes, the redial will stop. You can cancel the redial with a code if you do not want to wait for the number to become available. Depending on your calling area, Busy Redial is activated when you dial a code or, with Enhanced Busy Redial, after you respond to a vocal prompt asking if you want to use Busy Redial to reach the busy number. You can use Busy Redial to call back more than one busy number at a time. Also, you can make other calls while Busy Redial is active. When your line and the one you are trying to reach are both available, your phone will signal you with a special ring. Normal local or toll charges apply to calls connected using Busy Redial. This product is no longer available to new customers. Customers in DC, DE, MA, NJ, NY, PA, RI, VA and CT who currently subscribe to the product and remove it will not be able to reorder. Speed Dialing places a call to either 8 or 30 local or long-distance numbers (depending on your service) by dialing just one or two digits. You assign a one-digit code for two to nine of your most frequently dialed numbers and a two-digit code for 10 to 30 of your most frequently dialed numbers. You can store phone numbers that are up to 28 digits long, enabling you to include a long-distance carrier access code and the call recipient's area code and phone number. Once programmed, the codes will work from any phone in your home. This product is no longer available to new customers. Customers in MA, RI, CT, DC, DE, NJ, NY, PA and VA who currently subscribe to the product and remove it will not be able to reorder. Distinctive Ring lets you assign one or, in some areas, two additional telephone numbers to your single telephone line. Each number will have its own special ring so you can determine who the call is for before you answer it. A free listing in your local Verizon Directory is available for each Distinctive Ring number at no additional cost. Distinctive Ring is always on. You do not have to activate or deactivate it. This product is no longer available to new customers in CT, DC, DE, MA, NJ, NY, PA, RI and VA. Customers who currently subscribe to the product and remove it will not be able to reorder. Whether you made or received the initial call, you can use three-way calling to add a third person to your call at any time. After the third party answers, only you and that person are connected. The first party is on hold and cannot hear your conversation until you complete the procedure. If the third party's line is busy or there is no answer, you can return to the first party by pressing the recall feature twice. To leave a three-way call, any of the parties you added can leave the conversation by hanging up. You will still be connected to the other person. A person who hangs up can return to the conversation by picking up their receiver again. You can disconnect the third person at any time by pressing the recall feature (flash key, hookswitch or hang-up button). If you hang up, it will end the three-way call and all other parties will be disconnected automatically. To avoid placing a three-way call accidentally, hang up your phone for at least three seconds between every call, whether it is a three-way call or not, to reset your phone line. If you have a fax machine or modem that allows simultaneous dialing, make sure you reprogram it to allow at least three seconds between transmissions. Sign in to your Verizon business portal to view and pay your bill, order products and services, manage your router, access security settings and more. These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. They are usually only set in response to actions made by you which amount to a request for services, such as setting your privacy preferences, logging in or filling in forms. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work. These cookies do not store any personally identifiable information. These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. We use both third party and first party cookies for this purpose. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. If you do not allow these cookies we will not know when you have visited our site, and will not be able to monitor its performance. These cookies enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalisation. They may be set by us or by third party providers whose services we have added to our pages. If you do not allow these cookies then some or all of these services may not function properly. These cookies may be set through our site by Verizon and third parties. They are used to present Verizon advertising on third party sites that you may visit. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising from Verizon. BackClear Filters,All Consent Allowed
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Questions related to "features to look for in business phones"
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