Whether you’re a small business just starting out, or you’ve been in business for years, there’s a good chance you’re considering virtual office phone service. After all, it’s a great way to keep your costs down while still having the appearance of a professional telephone system. But what is a virtual office phone service? And what are the benefits? Here are 5 fast facts about virtual office phones that will help you decide if this is the right solution for your business.
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Fact #1: Virtual Office Phone Service Lets You Use Your Existing Phones And Phone Number With A Professional-Grade Telecommunications System
First of all, virtual office phone service lets you use your existing phones instead of investing in new equipment. There are several virtual phone services that allow keeping the same number as well. Virtual office phone systems provide a wide range of features and abilities at very reasonable prices.
A virtual office phone service works in a similar way to VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) services. With virtual phone service, you still use your existing phones and phone number but when someone calls you, they are directed through to an IP communication network – whether that is the internet or a private communication network like radio waves.
The virtual office phone service connects with this communication network and then turns it into a regular telephone call which you can answer on your normal analog cordless phone. It’s important to understand that virtual phone services don’t provide telephones; they just provide the capability of sending numbers elsewhere.
Fact #2: Virtual Office Phones Keeps Your Business Running Wherever You Are
There are many reasons why companies might want a virtual voice messaging service, such as lower costs, better customer support, and access to special features like call forwarding or customized greetings without having any hardware installed. One feature is the ability to receive messages from phone callers while you’re out of the office.
Virtual telephone service will keep your business running by forwarding calls to a virtual phone system and playing personalized greetings or recordings that inform callers of the expected wait time for each department, and then routing them immediately to an agent without having to listen to any hold music in the process.
Fact #3: It Has A Fair Number Of Advanced Features Designed For Small Businesses
There are several virtual office phone systems available, such as virtual PBX and virtual receptionist services. All professional virtual office phone systems include features like unlimited extensions, customizable voicemail messages, advanced call forwarding rules, and more. There are also virtual office phone systems designed specifically for small businesses that have a smaller set of features but can still provide a lot of flexibility for entrepreneurs.
Virtual office phone services come under the umbrella of virtual PBX systems which take advantage of VoIP technologies to provide businesses with virtual extensions that can be forwarded or transferred from your existing office lines. The virtual assistant will pick up calls for you and direct them appropriately even when you’re not in the office – either by forwarding a call to a colleague at one of your virtual extension numbers or by getting them re-routed through to you after putting your caller on hold until you’ve returned from an appointment.
Fact #4: You Can Add Or Delete Users As Needed, Without Long-Term Contracts Or Commitments
Many virtual phone systems allow users to add and remove virtual numbers as needed. This means you won’t be locked into long-term contracts, which can save money over the course of your virtual office phone services.
Virtual office phones are convenient for small businesses that don’t have the time or resources for a traditional telephone system. These virtual options provide many of the same features that come with standard business telephone systems but at a fraction of the price. Businesses on a budget will appreciate being able to receive advanced features without paying high monthly fees.
Fact #5: Virtual Office Phone Plans Come With Unlimited Minutes That Let You Talk As Much As You Want Without Incurring Any Extra Charges
There are virtual office phone plans that come with a set number of minutes, but there are also virtual office phone plans that offer unlimited minutes.
If you’re only using the virtual office phone service for your personal use, then it’s possible to receive unlimited talk time throughout the month without spending too much.
However, if you intend on setting up virtual business lines, be prepared to pay extra. And if you want an actual business telephone number (not just a virtual office phone) you’ll need to factor in monthly billing costs as well. If you make lots of outbound calls throughout the day, you should look at virtual office phone plans with outbound calling or at least virtual office phone plans with unlimited outbound calling.
Many virtual office phone plans also come with virtual faxing capabilities, but there are a few virtual office phone providers that only offer virtual phone service and not other telephony services such as virtual faxing or virtual call forwarding. Be sure to read each provider’s terms before signing up, as some providers charge an additional monthly fee for virtual faxing.
As you can see, virtual office phone service has quite a few benefits that are sure to satisfy any small business owner’s needs. We’re here to help with the details and answer any questions about our plans or how it all works. Call us today!
Does Your Business Need a Reliable Virtual Receptionist?
Reliable Receptionist helps small to mid-sized businesses enhance their professional image, improve customer service, manage workload and convert callers to become loyal clients. At Reliable Receptionist, we not only provide simple answering services but you can be confident your company’s incoming calls will be immediately answered by one of up to five trained representatives assigned to your account. Our off-site receptionists are professionally ready to answer questions about your business, provide directions, capture critical lead information, schedule appointments, and forward calls to the appropriate department depending on your set guidelines. One of the many advantages of using an off-site receptionist with advanced call handling technology is that your calls can be privately announced and seamlessly connected to you in real-time on any phone number. Many of our clients provide multiple connecting numbers for us so we always have the best way to reach you. Let’s Work Together! For more information or to request a quote and free demonstration, send us a message or call us today at (925) 627-4200.
