Small Business Phone Systems

When you hear the term Small Business Phone System. it can mean a variety of things. Traditional vendors use it to mean a scaled down version of their larger phone system. Yet, they find it difficult to even imagine a company with perhaps only one employee, the owner! So, when they say they have a small business phone system, it isn't. Then, you have other products that claim to be phone systems, but, are nothing more than glorified multi-line phones. Finally, you have the all VOIP players (voice over IP), which is beyond the ability of most small businesses without technical experience. Also, VOIP while of acceptable performance in some areas of the country, is just awful in others. We personally don't think it wise to be saying "can you repeat that" to a customer, or a potential customer. It wastes their time, and yours. Actually, there is one more category, those run on a PC, sometimes, a Linux pc. These are suitable for some techno-savvy small businesses, but not useful for the masses. Anyone who uses a PC knows what it means to have another box you have to manage. I personally have been a PC admin for many years in the past, working with multiple OSes. While not a problem for me, believe me, it is for the majority of small businesses in this country.

So, are there phone systems made specifically for small businesses, as small a one person even? Yes. There are a number that can actually work for small businesses or home based businesses. We sell the at least 4 major players in this market, Talkswitch, Bizfon, Venture IP, Intellitouch ITC-420 KSUless system, and others. There really isn't any decent competition for these systems. The Talkswitch scales from 2 line in 4 local phone box, to, 16 lines in and 32 local phones. Bizfon scales from 6 line in and 8 local phones, to 24 lines in with 32 local phones. Venture IP scales from 1 t- 40 lines in, and, 1-200 extension. Talkswitch also adds the ability to use VOIP in a multi-location environment. While we still believe VOIP is *far* from ready for prime time, it is clear this will not always be that way. For now, we see no reason why multi-branch type calls cannot be services from VOIP if at all of an acceptable quality. It's not the same as exposing customers to break ups and jitter. Venture IP uses VOIP for all local phone traffic, this is a great use of VOIP. The ITC-420 doesn't have any central system at all, so, is naturally the easiest of all. It can handle up to 15 lines and 12 stations with a fair amount of functionality.

These phone systems differ in numerous ways. But, they have one thing in common - they are stand-alone boxes who don't take any effort to keep running. Any phone system has to be set up, but, these are the least painful systems on the market.

So, if you are one of the millions of small buisinesses in this country, checkout these fully functional phone systems. See Talkswitch, Bizfon, Venture IP, Intellitouch ITC-420 KSU-Less, and Help with Picking a System. Fully loaded with features a really small business needs, like, the ability to connect our cell or home phone to the phone system for the convenience of your customers. And contact us if you have any additional thoughts or needs.

Tags: talkswitch small business phone system

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October 13, 2005 - Power Systems is now a platinum level dealer with Talkswitch, their highest dealer rating! We also now carry a simple KSU-less phone system with no central box if you do not need a lot of features in your phone system. Finally, our Intellitouch On Hold Plus music on hold series has gone down in price. Talkswitch has come out with a new software version available for download from their web site. They typically come out with new features at least twice a year. Software version 3.21 new features include auto line calibration to optimize incoming line settings, the ability to load from a wav file for voicemail greetings, firmware updates over IP, USB support, "0" options for voicemail, "call waiting" which is similar to call queue for local extension, the ability to light any phones voicemail light for any mailbox, the ability to disable the "one moment please" prompt, separate notification settings for voicemail via modes, and more. This update will not work with the old NLS or old Talkswitch 24 models as they have no more memory available. However, it works with all CA and CVA models.