Virtual Phone Review

FreedomVoice, a hosted PBX provider focuses on four main points:
· 800 Numbers
· Virtual Phone Systems
· Competitive Plans and Pricing
· FreedomIQ Hoted VoIP PBX

For FreedomVoice 800 numbers is equal to business. Which makes perfect sense since 800 numbers are easy to remember, very common, and gives the notion that your company is within reach (easily accessible). 800 numbers have a stronger presence than 888, 877, or 866.

The first feature is to grab the customer’s attention, to entice the customer to subscribe. Next, it is important to maintain the relationship and trust of the customer. This is the reason why FreedomVoice’s 800 numbers is backed by a virtual phone system. This virtual office delivers automated attendant greeting, call forwarding, custom hold music, voicemail, etc… To manage the settings of the virtual office, a powerful web console is employed. The webtool can also be used to listen to messages, see detailed call reports, or add your email address to have messages automatically sent to your Inbox as audio files.

Next is FreedomIQ Hoted VoIP PBX. FreedomVoice boasts that this service is a fully-hosted VoIP PBX that can offer first class quality at a lightweight price tag. This service apparently has the following advantages:
- Call clarity
- Automatic updates for firmware
- New features are added frequently free of charge
- Easy implementation of new VoIP phones and locations
- Flawlessly connect remote offices
- Unlimited calling within the U.S.
- Does not require the traditional on-site equipment
- No call switch and IT staff to maintain
- Voicemail Transcription
- Softphone Software
- Advanced ACD & Call Queue
- Dynamic Auto Attendant
- Unified Voice & Fax Messaging
- Visual Call Reports

Lastly, per site information, the provider has been established on 1996 and is a pioneer in providing toll free numbers and toll free number service solutions in the country.

Interestingly, some websites of hosted PBX and virtual PBX providers still shows year 2010 on the bottom part or copyright portion of their webpage instead of 2011. A website is use to attract prospective clients and customers. Just imagine the impression or effect this tiny glitch will have on the possible purchaser. Good thing Broadcore’s main page is updated. Aside from being updated, the website is very professional and showcase the company’s channel partners, technology alliances, and media center.

As for the features, Broadcore apparently boasts that it provides hosted unified communications. Per website information, using their UC suite (unified communications suite) allows the subscriber’s business to increase employee productivity, speeds-up business methods, and improved customer care.

The following are some features bundled with the UC suite:

IP Telephony / Voice (VoIP):
Broadcore can deliver its IP telephony service by using open standard SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) technology which is of great benefit to the client since it eliminates the need for the traditional PSTN and its corresponding toll charges.

Messaging:
Using only a single inbox, the subscriber can access voicemail, email, and fax transactions at any place and any time. The company also offers a fully function IM solution that enables its users to interact with other members of the organization.

Presence:
This option allows the users to view live status and accessibility of other members of the organization, independent of location.

Video calling:
This feature allows video calling solution to be integrated on the voice telephony infrastructure allowing video calls to be as easy and reliable as normal voice calls.

Other solutions offered by the provider are contact center, call recording, call accounting, SIP trunking, broadband access, phones and hardware, customized integration, and service deployment.

Some of the solutions are industry standard, however, it is important to give some details on the call accounting feature. This feature allows the client to evaluate inbound, outbound, and intra-office calls. The feature can be use to assist in analyzing usage management and amplify organizational productivity.

When looking or searching for a hosted PBX provider, it is important to choose one that is reliable and established. VoicePlus, a hosted PBX provider has been in the industry since April 2003. The company’s early offers include broadband phone service, Caller ID, Call Waiting, Call Forwarding, and Call Return. With almost 7 years of experience, it has increased its features for the enjoyment and satisfaction of its customers.

The following are standard features offered by the company:
· CallerID with Name
· Call Waiting w/ CallerID
· Call Transfer
· Return Call *69
· 3-Way Calling

Privacy and Blocking features:
· Filters – option to select which calls can and can’t go through.
· CallerID Block – option used to disable your CID (Caller ID) when you make calls. When enabled, numbers you called will not see your CID.
· Do Not Disturb – similar to filter option. Allows you to block all calls except the important ones.
· Telemarketer Block – as much as we hate to admit it, telemarketing calls can be quite annoying. This option can block calls from telemarketers even before the phone rings.
· Anonymous Call Block – don’t want to receive calls from “unknown” or “private” numbers? just block them using this feature.
· International Call Block – option to disable international phone calls

Ringing and Dialing features:
· Speed Dial – some phones just allow 9 speed dial. This feature allows up to 99
· Contact Lists – option to customize incoming caller ID to say the caller’
· Distinctive Ring – option to assign ringing tones to specified callers. Similar to a mobile phone.

Extra / More features:
· Enhanced Voice Mail – feature that allows voicemail messages to be retrieved from email or through your mobile phone.
· Online Account Center – allows you to check your bills, remaining minutes, payments, etc… via a web browser
· Virtual Numbers – virtual phone numbers that when dialed, your primary phone will ring or receive the call. These numbers are added to your account and anyone may dial or call said numbers independent of location.

Stumbled upon All Call Technologies while searching the web for virtual PBX providers. The site seemed professional enough but surprisingly, the features it apparently offers on the welcoming page are quite few compared to other communication service providers. The opening page of the website only showcases three features which are voicemail to Email, virtual receptionist, and customized voice services.

Voicemail to Email –
You are most probably familiar with the voicemail feature. Voicemail has been around for a couple of years already and is used on both traditional and mobile phones. However, the voicemail feature of All Call Technologies is quite different. This voicemail seems to offer a lot more than just recording and retrieving digital messages. The provider boasts that their voicemail: can live transfer to voice mail, can be delivered to three email addresses simultaneously, can customize outgoing greeting or record your own anytime, text notification with Caller ID, can retrieve voice mail via email, phone or web portal, can change greetings to play automatically on schedule, etc…

Virtual Receptionist –
All Call Technologies’ Virtual Receptionist will seemingly answer all your calls with a consistent professional greeting. This will give out a professional expression to the callers and will provide the options they want. The greetings are proficiently recorded using either a male or female voice and will be programmed to your specifications.

Custom Voice Services –
Lastly, as per site information, this service appears to be made for five categories: medical office, apartment management, insurance office, franchise, and property management. For example, if you have a medical office, your patients can always reach your office for appointment or billing concerns. In case there is an emergency, the patient’s call can be routed to your on-call doctor. If you run a car insurance company, your clients are assured to always reach your office for claims service, auto club, towing, etc…

With the advent of VoIP technology, it is not surprising that various hosted and virtual PBX providers will flood the communications market. As you may know, VoIP and the internet is the medium wherein PBX services can be offered or provided without the actual PBX equipment. This is the main benefit of subscribing to hosted PBX services. Enjoying PBX functionalities without the high-cost of buying, installing, and maintaining the traditional on-site PBX equipment.

Unfortunately, with so many hosted PBX providers to choose from, it is quite difficult to pick the right one for your business needs. If you are a SME (small and medium enterprise) operator or owner, using PBX services might be greatly advantageous for your business if the provider you have or subscribed to can deliver what your business requires.

GlobalPhone Corporation or GPhone (for short) is a hosted PBX provider that appears to be incorporated since 1995. As seen on the company’s website, the following are included to its hosted PBX service:
· Auto-Attendant
· Receptionist
· Music on Hold
· Call Center
· Voice to Text
· Call Recording

Aside from the hosted PBX service, the company also provides PBX support and gateways for SIP trunks, conference service, phonecards, and fax to email service. The company also sells different compatible phones to be used with their VoIP service. As per website, branded and popular phones offered by GlobalPhone are Polycom, Cisco, Linksys, CounterPath, and AAstra.

Lastly, some additional note on the conference service. From the word alone, you may have already guessed that the service refers to conference call or conference meeting. If your company demands multiple meetings and presentations, then this is the service for you. Online conference call eliminates the distance and place boundaries. Meetings are no longer confined inside a room where it is possible for participants to miss or be late. To know more about online conference meeting please refer to Conference Call feature (http://www.tollfreeservicereview.com/2010/12/feature-definition-conference-call)

Ever heard of the number 866-467-7626? Notice something strange or unique on it? As you may or may have not noticed, aside from the toll free 866 number, 4677626 corresponds to the name of hosted PBX provider Improcom. It is like saying, please call 866-IMPROCOM.

From its website (http://www.improcom.com/), this provider offers both on-site and hosted PBX features. Though both offers PBX services, hosted PBX has the advantage in terms of cost. As you may already know, hosted PBX only needs a fast internet connection for the provider to deliver PBX services. Whereas on-site or traditional PBX, the subscriber has to worry about the actual PBX equipment, housing and installment facility, maintenance, etc…

Apparently, with Improcom’s hosted PBX service, it can offer free calls to USA and Canada, has virtually unlimited amount of phone lines, and provides service not only to commercial SMEs but also to government sectors and internet-based companies. To cater and meet the usage and requirement of internet-based companies, Improcom has designed and built Laye1 datacenter infrastructure. This is for Colocation facilities, server clusters, and server rooms.

For internet-based companies and hosted PBX users, high-speed and no-downtime internet service is very important since hosted PBX service is delivered via internet. Improcom also provides a dedicated or Point-to-Point T-1 line, boasting and apparently ensures 99.9% uptime connectivity. Please note that typical T-1 lines has 1.5 Mbps of upload speed and has the same for download speed. However, even with these speeds, it is suggested to restrict or limit access to certain websites that occupies huge amount of bandwidth. This is to ensure that your connection always has available bandwidth.

The company also provides IP phones. IP phones has a huge advantage over traditional or analog phones when it comes to features, remove access, and mobility. Some IP phones on Improcom’s list are: Cisco Unified IP Phone 7912G, Cisco Unified IP Phone 7960, Cisco Unified IP Phone 7940, etc… Actually, there are a bunch of IP phones each with its’ own feature, specific purpose, and advantage. To view the list, please visit: http://www.improcom.com/ip_phones.php

Viewing the about section of Improcom, it is stated that the company has been around, catering and providing service to SMEs since 1996. The bottom part of the website shows its partners, affiliations, and accreditations.

While browsing the web and various user opinions for reliable PBX providers, FonAngle caught my attention. So far, users have only praises for this particular provider and so, have decided to check out their website (http://fonangle.com/) and see their features and offers.

Must say that the website is quite pleasing on the eyes. The welcome screen is informative and shows what might be the main feature of the provider, which is HoPs – Home Office Phone System. As per site information, FonAngle is not only a hosted PBX provider but is a complete unified communication solution.

Just like any other hosted PBX providers, FonAngle’s website describes and discuss the advantages of hosted PBX over traditional PBX. It also discusses the medium used, the inexpensive costs, etc… Will not deal with this section in detail since various posts have already tackled said topic. Please click or re-visit: http://www.tollfreeservicereview.com/2010/12/common-standard-features-hosted-pbx-service/
http://www.tollfreeservicereview.com/2010/11/cost-worth/

Moving on, FonAngle apparently calls its hosted PBX service as HoPs. The provider boasts that they call it as such since it does not only function as a hosted PBX service but also integrate various communication medium such as fax, voice, IM (instant messaging), etc… With HoPs combining these communication channel, it can result to increase productivity, eliminates long distance, maintenance, and upgrade costs, and it will surely be loaded with business features.

It would also appear that HoPs can be extended to mobile phones through the HoPs-mobile application. This is a good application since it makes the mobile phone an extension of HoPs and will not use the mobile phone minutes’ when making calls. Since it is an extension of the hosted PBX, the phone number that will reflect on the B-number is actually the hosted PBX’s number, keeping your personal number private.

Please take note that in order to use HoPs-mobile, the mobile phone must: be compatible or has 3G / Wifi features, has a compatible SIP client, and has a data plan. Said requirements are important since it seems that HoPs-mobile requires 3rd party products and services. Since hosted PBX service is usually delivered over the internet and VoIP, the line quality when using HoPs-mobile is dependent on the 3G or Wifi signal strength. Lastly, since calls are made using the internet, this might not be charged on the mobile phone’s minutes but the mobile phone carrier may have additional fees when using their data services.