Comments on: Hello, Can I Help You? Alternatives to a Landline for Business

By: topout

topout — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 15:40:07 +0000

No one has mentioned the Magic Jack. It's a lot cheaper than skype. Here's a magic jack review.

By: kcarrillo

kcarrillo — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 17:09:08 +0000

Make sure you do your research before signing any contracts. We spent about two weeks looking over alot of VoIP companies before finally settling on RingCentral.com. I shudder to think what might have happened if we had signed with one of the companies that had bad reviews.

By: Dan Grossman

Dan Grossman — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 07:31:22 +0000

I have an 800 number through Kall8.com. $2 per month, can’t beat that price.

By: fthead9

fthead9 — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 06:59:40 +0000

I've been using Toktumi Hosted PBX for the last 4 months and highly recommend it. I looked at Ringcentral but Toktumi's unlimited calling in the US and Canada and toll free 800 made it the clear winner for me. I'm testing their new iPhone app right now and it rocks. Now I have my business calls and voicemail on my iPhone and my personal number isn't shown to anyone. I've heard from others that Google Voice shows your cell phone number on calls you place out from GV, which pretty much defeats the purpose of having two numbers on your cell. I'm still on their beta list so hopefully I can test it soon and let you know first hand which is better.

By: Roffo

Roffo — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 09:23:09 +0000

Hi Alyssa,

Funny you do an article about Business communications!

We’re like 2 weeks away** from launching a hosted VOIP PBX service call VoNEX :)

At risk of sounding like the Demtel sales guy checkout some of the cool stuff VoNEX does:

SIMULTANEOUS RING that lets your customers call you on every phone you have (including your mobile) using just a single number. (A bit like Google forwarding phones but better).

UNLIMITED PHONE EXTENSIONS so when you get a new team member you can just a plug another line in and their set to go.

GLOBAL PHONE EXTENSIONS that let you plug a phone in anywhere around the world with a internet connection and transfer calls, have phone confernces and dial other team members extension as if they where in the office cubical down the hall from you.

VOICE MAIL with a click to callback link in the email.

An AUTO ATTENDANT to direct incoming calls like secretary without the cost.

And finally a CLICK TO DIAL THINGIE for your website so customers can free call you.

Pretty cool huh!

**Our website still isn’t a hundred percent yet but we’re getting there… PM me your thoughts if you like :)

By: Brian Lawson

Brian Lawson — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 06:13:30 +0000

I’ve been using VOIP since the late 90’s when it wasn’t even know. You can just use it with free programs downloaded from the internet. Or you can just use Yahoo Voice for a penny per minute. I learned that trick from this guy at http://www.plastikka.com

By: mikebrady

mikebrady — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 18:44:11 +0000

In the virtual phone line category, Google Voice is a free option. Currently, it is not open for everyone, but you can request an invite. I got mine last week, and it seems like it will be very useful. That being said, I think they are planning on having a free version and a paid version with more features. If this is true, it might mean some of the features I am enjoying now for free could cost me in the future. But, for now, it is worth requesting an invite.

By: Linda Dessau

Linda Dessau — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 16:30:33 +0000

Hi Alyssa,

I’ve been experimenting with Google Voice and it’s a very cool way to give clients and prospects the option to call me toll-free by clicking a link on my website contact page (http://www.youtalk-iwrite.com/contact.html). I can customize it to ring anywhere, send it to voicemail, etc.

Great article – thanks!
Linda

You Talk, I’ll Write
Imagine the Relief!
http://www.youtalk-iwrite.com

By: Ed

Ed — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 16:29:14 +0000

I am waiting for my Google Voice invite to be able to run my business calls through that rather than direct to my cell which is where I have been taking my business calls. I work as a freelancer and don’t want the added expense of a dedicated business line, but I also want to be able to not purposefully give out my cell number which is the only number I maintain.