Calling all telecoms buffs

[Alpha]

Is there a cost effective solution to my requirement.

We have two offices and run some of our services through a second company at another location. Would like to be able to pic up calls from office 1 at office 2 if not available or if already answering a call. The second office would need to know if the call is one coming in direct to them (answering in the name of company 2) or being diverted from Office 1 (answering in the name of company 1).

[barry.hynd]

OK Alan bear with me here. I think you can set up a second number on the same line with BT. You can then use divert from office 1 to office 2 and use the second number which will have a different tone that will enable you to answer it correctly. You may also be able to use virtual pbx which is relatively inexpensive to use. If you need more details on the pbx system drop me a pm and I will get the details for you.

[Ozzy]

Hi Alan,
I operate a similar system as I am involved in a few businesses and have 4x office locations.
Using my own system with say an 0800 number <plug>http://www.quicktele.com</plug> I can tell the system to try and route the call to one office. If that line is not answered within X second or the line is busy, try the next, and then the next and so on until the call is answered. However, in only two of those locations can I then route a call back out to somewhere else due to having suitable phone systems in their locations.
You will need to have a separate phone number for each "company" at each office to identify the calls (known as a DDI). The most common method after that is to use hunt groups with non-geographic numbers such as 0800 and 0870.