Recommend a phone company or service please

[Robert74]

I currently have

4 staff sharing 2 BT feature lines (+we have a fax line on separate bt contract that is not a part of this equation)


I would like to be able to:

Pay less on line rental if possible!
Transfer calls internally
Make outgoing calls while the primary number is in use
Not have customers get an engaged tone
Any suggestions please? Or recommendations for a company to try?

I don’t mind payi out a little bit if new hardware is required to do all this, but im sure there must be a better way than having multiple hand sets on desks and passing phones!


Many thanks!

[accountancyextra]

If you have a half decent upload speed on your braodband connection, speak to CJD (member on here) at Voipfone, he'll save you loads and provide you with a great scalable solution. We've used them for about a year now and rate them really highly

[tomsk]

I have recently purchased a telephone system from 1strate (http://www.1strate.co.uk/panasonic-kx-tea308-ccu-buy-now-1290-0.html) - good value and great service.

Hope that helps :)

[Bri]

I currently have

4 staff sharing 2 BT feature lines (+we have a fax line on separate bt contract that is not a part of this equation)


I would like to be able to:

Pay less on line rental if possible!
Transfer calls internally
Make outgoing calls while the primary number is in use
Not have customers get an engaged tone
Any suggestions please? Or recommendations for a company to try?

I don’t mind payi out a little bit if new hardware is required to do all this, but im sure there must be a better way than having multiple hand sets on desks and passing phones!


Many thanks!

I may be able to help, I'll PM you.

[KM-Tiger]

Second the voipfone suggestion. Value for money on the services offered is outstanding, and unusually in the telecoms world the pricing is transparent with no lock-in or other nasties.

You will have to shell out for IP phones, don't skimp on that.

[stugster]

Voipfone or Gradwell
jobs a goodun

[stugster]

You will have to shell out for IP phones, don't skimp on that.

In order of my preference:
Snom 300
Grandstream GXP2000
Yealink SIP-T20P


We've just developed a system that pops up a page with the callers details when the phone rings (if the caller number is known). It's still in beta at the moment, but if this sounds like something you want, you should go for the Snom (as the software only works on VoIP telephones that post to a URL on actions).

[smo]

If you wish to stick to conventional calls rather than VOIP (bear in mind the stability and reliability of your internet connection) then i can wholly recommend Panasonic phone systems, we have 2 incoming lines, 4 internal extensions, fax and modem to the bank all connected through it.

It does everything you ask, and we have multi line answer machines, music on hold etc. It PC programmable too which makes setting up a doddle.

For our lines we use BT still, but our calls go through TMS and cost us much less than any other provider ive seen. Our monthly bill is about £5 - which for a mail order company always on the phone to customers is pretty good.

[martin001]

If you have a half decent upload speed on your braodband connection, speak to CJD (member on here) at Voipfone, he'll save you loads and provide you with a great scalable solution. We've used them for about a year now and rate them really highly


I found CJD / Voipfone on here a couple of years ago and have never looked back since. - I have ran bigger companies / small operations etc etc and not only exclusive use Voipfone in everything I do, but have recommended colleagues too.

It's just so easy to set up, the costs are negligable, and for the scenario you have described I would have thought it would be a perfect solution.

I speak as I find and Voipfone are bloody marvellous!

[cjd]

Ok, so now I'm embarrassed (but thanks to all above :-).

If you call 020 7043 5555, one of the chaps or chapesses will talk you through what's possible and what it'll cost.

Ideally for that set-up you'd use two lines and two ADSLs so that your voice and internet usage is separate and you can have as many simultaneous incoming/outgoing calls as you can physically manage. But if your use is low or you work from several locations you may get away with one connection.

[martin_electrician]

An other option is to buy your own pbx system which will enable you to:
-record your own intro recording when someone calls (welcome to my business, press 1 for sales, 2 for complaints..),
-internal calls
-put calls on hold with music
-group hunting (all phones ring until someone answers)

In terms of features you pay for what you get but some of the cheap systems have most of the standard features
e.g.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/PBX-Multi-line-Phone-System-3-BT-lines-8-Users-/290374905249?cmd=ViewItem&pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item439bb16da1

[cjd]

An other option is to buy your own pbx system which will enable you to:
-record your own intro recording when someone calls (welcome to my business, press 1 for sales, 2 for complaints..),
-internal calls
-put calls on hold with music
-group hunting (all phones ring until someone answers)

In terms of features you pay for what you get but some of the cheap systems have most of the standard features

All of that (and a lot more) is done simply and cheaply with hosted VoIP without the need to buy, install and maintain onsite equipment. See:

http://www.voipfone.co.uk/switchboard_and_hosted_PBX_services.php

[RBS]

Any other voip providers here on forum?

[accountancyextra]

We've just developed a system that pops up a page with the callers details when the phone rings (if the caller number is known). It's still in beta at the moment, but if this sounds like something you want, you should go for the Snom (as the software only works on VoIP telephones that post to a URL on actions).

Might be interested in this Stu. Been looking for something that links the call to our hosted CRM (Dynamics), but have been unsuccessful so far. This may be an alternative

[PoshTime]

I'd also recommend the IP phone solution. I was very sceptical but it works superbly and and has some very cool features, like the ability to email voicemail messages.

We use Soho66 and recommend them highly.

[icomplete]

Hi yes we are a VoIP provider - which includes VoIP line, call diversion, call recording, voice mail in email, call logging etc £5 per month, pm if you would like to find out more :)

I'd also recommend the IP phone solution. I was very sceptical but it works superbly and and has some very cool features, like the ability to email voicemail messages.

We use Soho66 and recommend them highly.

[RobSmillie]

All the above makes loads of sense, main point is the reliability of your company on the phones. VoIP is the future but there are no guaranteed fix's if your internet connection goes down. Downtime and interuptions are becoming less frequent but still happen, computers will just reconnect but will your customers?
As a small business how important are your calls? if you can't work without the phone go for a traditional system, we don't do Panasonic but they are cheap and bullet proof.

[Millway Communications]

we don't do Panasonic but they are cheap and bullet proof.

We sell the Panasonic range through our online store - 1strate Communications

[Adam_Webb]

Hi,

I work for another VoIP provider (VoiceHost).

To answer the question about what happenes if your line goes down, we normaly supply one line through BT and another with LLU.

This way, if BT goes down, you carry on working through the LLU connection and or vice versa.

In the worst case scenario, your exchange goes down and if this was the case, traditional telecoms wouldnt be able to make calls either.

Also, with our Hosted PBX platform you can have Automatic call forwarding, you would then be able to direct your calls anywhere you needed to should your site go down.

If you want to discuss our Business platform more, give us a call 0800 52 00 878.

Cheers all,

Adam

[martin001]

Do any Voip companies offer services involved in premium rate sex lines, if I were to look at setting up such a service. (No I wouldn't be on the end of the phone!)

[cjd]

I'm sure you'll find some if you look around but you need a licence from phonepayplus.

[Adam_Webb]

Yeah, we can get any number you need.

Give VoiceHost a call 0800 52 00 878

[onebigfuture]

DO NOT USE SOHO66, ( i now use NTA ltd, but shop around online, depends what you need) the only reviews on here for Soho 66 it would seem are from SOHO 66 themselves. I started using this company 6 months ago and I have had nothing but trouble with them. I would consider myself a fairly reasonable person, and think they have the right idea, and it is a simple portal to use. The problem is, when you have a problem. Their sales/ call centre reps are very unhelpful and their trouble shooting is very poor. I am now stuck with a number I cannot transfer and I would recommend no one using this firm, there are many better ones out there, just shop around on the internet, as I am not here to plug other sites, just warn you against this one.

[soho66]

DO NOT USE SOHO66, ( i now use NTA ltd, but shop around online, depends what you need) the only reviews on here for Soho 66 it would seem are from SOHO 66 themselves. I started using this company 6 months ago and I have had nothing but trouble with them. I would consider myself a fairly reasonable person, and think they have the right idea, and it is a simple portal to use. The problem is, when you have a problem. Their sales/ call centre reps are very unhelpful and their trouble shooting is very poor. I am now stuck with a number I cannot transfer and I would recommend no one using this firm, there are many better ones out there, just shop around on the internet, as I am not here to plug other sites, just warn you against this one.

This gentleman failed to pay invoices assigned to his account and despite many reminders continued to fail to do so.

Services were suspended on his account and eventually removed at which point he threatened to post poor reviews of our company unless we reinstated his services free of charge.

[onebigfuture]

I offered to pay the two months outstanding invoices (amounting to £8). They would not allow me to do this and wanted to extort a £40 reconnect charge from me. I said this was unfair, and would not use them again, I now have a much better service and think people should know about their practices. They were also a poor service for the mostpart.

[soho66]

I offered to pay the two months outstanding invoices (amounting to £8). They would not allow me to do this and wanted to extort a £40 reconnect charge from me. I said this was unfair, and would not use them again, I now have a much better service and think people should know about their practices. They were also a poor service for the mostpart.

I'm not going to turn this into a flame war so, will not comment further after this post on the issue. I will, however, state that this customer had been reminded several times over a considerable length of time that invoices were outstanding on his account. To bring the customers same numbers back would have involved a coordinated manual effort on ours and our carriers part to restore the number from a quarantined state.

With regards to poor quality of service, you will find reviews on many sites which state that we are an excellent provider, we use uncompressed VoIP codecs for optimal sound quality, maintain low contention ratios hosting our equipment in high-profile tier 1 data centres. As for customer service, we have a 1 business day turnaround on communication by e-mail, and attempt to solve all problems there and then when a customer calls.

I've checked our communication history from this customer and, can find absolutely no correspondence, except the problem of his numbers not working after service had been terminated.

[stugster]

A £40 reconnection charge seems pretty reasonable to me.