Telecomms Headache.

[Sundowner]

Hi I run a small business with just me taking calls. 30% of the day I'm home, 30% I'm at work and 30% I'm mobile. I only take about 15 calls a day but I sell high value items and all calls are very important to me.

I have two sales brands both with their own 0800 number. These forward on to two separate fixed lines at my work. I answer the phone differently depending on which phone rings. Prices are different between brands so it's important to know which of the brands is being contacted. When I'm out of the office I forward both these land lines onto mobile phones. The main brand forwards to my iPhone and the other line goes to a cheap Nokia.

Sounds good so far but when I'm home I don't get great mobile signal. Calls get dropped regularly and sometimes I just get an answerphone message notification without the EE iphone having rung at all. If I were to forward the fixed lines both to my fixed home line I lose the ability to take calls when I'm out and about and I lose the knowledge of which of my sales brands is being called! EE are not helping me with signal boosting solutions despite me asking.

I'm open to VOIP at home as I have a 60mg broadband, but my work is not so great (2mb rural speeds). If VOIP is the answer I'd prefer dedicated voip handsets as I don't want my pc running all day or missing calls because it's hibernating. I don't want a solution that involves me setting up and cancelling diverts all the time and I don't really want a solution that leaves my customer dangling while the system follows a pre-determined divert order.

Am I asking for too much?!
Thanks in advance for any suggestions.
Rob.

 

[ServWise]

Okay I am in no way affiliated with these guys just a happy customer for some 10 or so years. www.voipfone.co.uk offer something that may make your happy, firstly for an idea of extreme usage I use them from my rural home on the side of a hill in Italy (Sardinia) on really bad broadband, to give me three lines a London line, a freephone line and a home line.

I use the Siemens dect phones (they sell them pre-configured but I bought mine separately), each phone can receive like 6 lines for so and so you could get one for the office and one for home and have them connect to the same set of lines.

They also have a cool new smartphone app (Iphone and Android) that you can setup that will detect when you are not at your normal location (Either by GPS or simply if it can't detect your wifi) and will send an automatic signal to their system to redirect all calls to your mobile phone so no need to manually do the redirect, they also have some really cool Switchboard & PBX services you might find useful.

Oh did I say they also chat on this forum as well (User:cjd).

Hope that helps

 

[ServWise]

Looks like the Siemens Gigaset phones I have are now just called Gigaset, i'm sure they are still pretty good though, we have had ours 10 years, dropped them loads of times and they still work flawlessly.

http://www.voipfone.co.uk/shop.php?method=view&pid=57

 

[ServWise]

Here is the geodivert app in case you want more info

http://www.voipfone.co.uk/mobile-app.php

 

[Sundowner]

Thanks, really like the GPS aspect of it. Smart diverting based on your location! Now I'm getting somewhere, will check it out. Rob.

 

[workstylz]

I use Switchboard Free. I answer calls for a variety of clients from my home office. Using switchboard free I provide the client with a number which they divert their calls too. That number rings on my main phone via BT call sign (a 2nd number on my main line that rings differently and costs just £2.99 per month). For each client I set up a call whisper so I know exactly which company the call is for. This works really well and switchboard frees basic service which give you 4 numbers is totally, and they also have the follow me feature for you Iphone.

 

[AlexisSvenn]

We use a solution from Best4Systems which is called Avalle I think and lets you route calls anywhere you like - very versatile and easy to set up and use,

 

[simonclark123]

Hi Rob
I am a mobile dealer (for EE, Orange, T-Mobile, O2 & Vodafone).
Having managed to get hold of an EE 'boost box' for myself, I would recommend persevering with EE - try threatening to leave and speak to retentions perhaps?
I too have decent speed broadband (with Virgin) and the EE 'boost box' certainly sorted out all my EE reception problems (by routing my calls via broadband instead).
Please be aware however that 'boost boxes' will only work with 3g devices, so, if you have an old 2g Nokia, it won't help reception on that at all.
Best regards,
Simon

 

[cjd]

If you call 020 7043 5555, one of the support people will talk you through your options. They're not sales people, they'll give you real advice.

On the knowing which number is being called front, you need line presentation here:

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

As you already have numbers which you may not wish to change, you can port them over to us if you like:

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

 

[CommsSupply]

This is something that Comms Supply would be able to help you with. We have several different options available all dependant on what you need but from looking at your initial post, our most popular hosted solution would fit your business needs fully and you will get free local, national and UK mobile calls too. If you would like to know more then please drop me a quick PM and I would be more than happy to run through the prices with you.

Kind regards,

Paul Frost

 

[AdaptableTelecoms]

Rob,

Sounds like your current setup is a real headache!

You could have as many numbers as you want (0800, 03, local number etc) diverted to your mobile, landline or an IVR (press 1 for sales, 2 for accounts etc...)

The number being called can be presented to your mobile (so you know which business number they are calling). Calls can be recorded in the cloud if needed, calls can be routed to different numbers based on time of day, sent elsewhere if unanswered or you can have voicemail setup.

You have full control of what goes where and when. You have the ability to change this at anytime. You get full stats in real time and emails when a voicemail is left. You will never miss an important call again!

Give me a shout if you need help finding a solution...

Thanks

Mike

 

[Dalycom]

Rob..sounds challenging indeed. If you haven't found a solution we would be happy to help. There are several ways we could go. The hosted option being the most obvious from reading your post but feel free to PM to discuss further.

 

[Michael_Mobilephones.com]

You may want to speak to Carphone Warehouse Business as I know they offer a free multi-SIM pack with the main networks all included. This would allow you to test each networks signal free of charge. Of course this is only useful if you can change your contract.

 

[Kabir Ahmed]

Hi Rob,

Its quite simple, all you require is :

IP handset at home: I'd recommend a Cisco SPA 303
Time of day routing: to know where to route the calls to at any particular time
Multiple IP/PSTN/Mobile failover: just in case any of your devices fail it just flips to the next available device
Call whisper: to distinguish inquiries between the two businesses prior the call being answered.

This can be set up within minutes.

Drop me a PM if you are still in the hunt.

 

[astraqomuk]

Rob,

Your requirements are not too much and can be set up with a Hosted PBX.
Portability, phone lines, enhanced features, IVR, included landline and mobile minutes, E-Fax, E-Sms: basically, all you asked for and more.

If you still haven't found a suitable solution, consider us

If you did, then your issues are probably sorted out and I wish you all the best

 

[drdialeruk]

I use the Siemens dect phones (they sell them pre-configured but I bought mine separately), each phone can receive like 6 lines for so and so you could get one for the office and one for home and have them connect to the same set of lines. you may want to speak to Carphone Warehouse Business as I know they offer a free multi-SIM pack with the main networks all included.