Buying a new business phone system is one of the most important purchases any business will ever make. The selection of a phone system can either bring a business closer to its customers and clients or, cause confusion and chaos amongst all that use or interact with it.

It is therefore essential that you choose the right phone system for your business needs. The telephone is quite often the fastest and easiest way to reach customers and clients. It should also be the fastest and easiest way for them to reach you. It should be flexible enough to be able to cover all of your company’s needs and handle all calls appropriately. The last thing any business wants is for its important business callers and customers to be routed incorrectly, disconnected, or faced with a long list of confusing automated options.

There are lots of factors that need to be taken into consideration when choosing a new business telephone system. Below are a few of the main ones:

1. You need enough capacity to fulfil your current business needs.

2. Assess your potential future growth and select a compatible phone system accordingly.

3. Ensure compatibility with any equipment you already own (headsets, handsets, conferencing equipment, cabling etc).

4. What features does your business phone system need to incorporate?

Fulfilling all the factors above and any more you can think of can be an expensive challenge for any business. The aim of this guide is to help you understand what decisions you need to make in order to choose the right phone system for your business.

Types of business phone system

There are three major types of phone system available: KSU-Less phones, Key systems and Private Branch Exchange (PBX) systems. Which type of phone system you choose will depend on the amount of extensions you require and the features your telephone system needs to have installed.

KSU-Less systems

KSU-Less systems are usually more suited to companies that typically have less than ten employees, or require less than ten extensions. That isn’t to say that all companies requiring less than ten phone extensions can make do with a KSU-Less system. It may be that you require more features which are only available through either a PBX or Key phone system.

Requiring a far lower initial investment than the other types of business phone systems, KSU-Less phones are specifically designed to include many of the features usually only available through the implementation of a full small business phone system.

KSU-Less systems can be easily unplugged and relocated, because they are not permanently wired into your office. This portability allows you to treat a KSU-Less phone system, much the same as any business machine, rather than a lost permanent investment.

You will need to ensure that any KSU-Less system you choose is compatible not only with the type of wiring you have in your office, but also with any accessories you may already have, such as: headsets, answering & fax machines and modems. Because KSU-Less phone systems are relatively inexpensive, they are not usually sold, installed, or maintained by telecoms vendors.

All of this means, you have to go out there and do not only the shopping yourself but, also the installation and support. This is one of the two major drawbacks of KSU-Less systems. The last thing any business needs is to be concerned with the reliability and maintenance of its phone system. Another drawback of KSU-Less systems is that they are more prone to something known as “crosstalk”. This is where separate conversations may blend into each other. With PBX, Key systems and Hybrid systems falling in price, it sometimes makes more sense to invest in a full business phone system, rather than become susceptible to the risks of a KSU-Less system.

Private Branch Exchange (PBX) systems

If your business typically requires more than forty extensions, or your needs dictate you need advanced functions from your business phone system, then PBX systems are often the solution. PBX systems used to be extremely expensive and only affordable by huge corporations with hundreds of extensions. Though this is still the case for larger installations, the development of the technology required has progressed to the point where a powerful, fully functional PBX office phone system for a small business is able to fit on the top of a desk.

Nearly all these compact PBX phone systems come with all the features you might want as standard. You pay a premium for the programmability and flexibility that a PBX offers, but in most cases the price difference is not as much as you may imagine between that of a less flexible phone system.

Key Systems

Key phone systems are more typical in businesses that require five to forty extensions. This type of phone system uses a central control unit called the Key System Unit (KSU) to provide features and functions that are not available using ordinary phones. An example of this is: key systems using a KSU allow one extension to call another in house extension, and prevents any other users from picking up a line that is already in use. Key systems usually come as standard with most features any business would expect, but in some cases they are often less flexible than a PBX phone system.

PBX & Key Systems (hybrids)

Though Key and PBX systems have some different technical features, these differences have become somewhat blurred over the past couple of years. Many Key systems now offer features that were once only available to those who chose to install a full PBX phone system. Some systems also operate internally as either a PBX or Key system depending on the software installed. Sometime these systems are often referred to as “Hybrid” phone systems.

Installation & maintenance of PBX and Key phone systems

PBX and Key phone systems require installation by fully trained and qualified telecoms engineers. All outside and inside lines must connect to the PBX or KSU cabinet. The installation and maintenance of one of these types of phone system can be just as expensive as the phone system itself. In many cases you may be able to use the existing phone lines available in your office, but unless the phones you have been using are relatively new, they may not be compatible with your new system, requiring you to purchase new handsets as well as the system itself.

The Right Size System

It is important that when buying a new business telephone system, that you know your requirements in advance. Knowing what features need to be included with your new telephone system will stand you in good stead when it comes to negotiating with potential suppliers. When considering buying a new telephone system for your business, there are two major factors that determine the size of the system you require:

Lines. These are sometimes called trunks. The number of lines a system has denotes the number of outside lines being used by a company.

Extensions. Most extensions will be made up of handsets. Though any equipment that requires a phone line is classed as an extension. This includes fax machines, modems, and credit card equipment etc.

It is important that you make a list of all the extensions and lines you may need for your new phone system. Not forgetting some users may need more than one line and multiple extensions.

With key systems, the size of a phone system is indicated as a combination of both lines and extensions. For example a system that has 10 lines and 30 extensions will be shown as a 10 x 30 system.

With PBX phone systems, size is defined as a combination of lines and extensions, called “Ports”. The number of “Ports” is the maximum number of connections that can be made to the phone system. These include outside lines and inside extensions, as well as any other telephone system accessories.

When planning for a new business phone system, you should take into account the future expansion of your company, by foreseeing any extra needs at an early stage. Even if your current telephone system is handling calls well for the time being, this may not be the case when any future expansion or improvements are fully implemented. A good business phone system should be able to handle expansion easily and in a cost effective manor. PBX phone systems allow you to expand their capabilities, by adding new expansion cards, thus increasing the number of ports available for use. A few key systems can be expanded by the addition of another cabinet that is identical to the first.

When planning your new system it is important that you enquire about the potential cost for the addition of more extensions or ports. It is important that when choosing a new business phone system, you ensure expansion will come not only easily but as affordable as possible for your company.

Telephone System Dealers and Installers

Finding a good reliable dealer is the most important part of buying a new business phone system. A good reputable dealer will not only be able to sell you the system you require, but will offer excellent, guaranteed installation and service as well as always be on hand to answer any questions you have when problems arise. To put it simply they will be there to hold your hand and guide you through the process, from the planning and selection of a suitable system, to the implementation of you new system and training of staff. Any potential supplier will be more than happy to talk to you about any aspect of a new business phone system, and offer testimonials as to the quality of their systems and installation service.

It is not uncommon for buyers to require a demonstration of potential new phone systems. Any reputable dealer will be more than happy to offer a full demonstration of any phone system they supply. It is better for the dealer to visit your site, that way they can get a proper view of your existing system and evaluate your future communication requirements and cabling needs.

Service Level Agreements (SLA’s) specify how quickly a dealer responds to a problem with your phone system. A good dealer will offer a range of SLA’s to cater for most business needs and budgets. Expect to pay more if your business requires 24/7 support or response times shorter than normal.

Below are some questions that you could ask a dealer when looking for a supplier of a business phone system:

1. Can I have a system demonstration?

2. Who will install the system and cabling?

3. What range of Service Level Agreements (SLA’s) do they offer?

4. Who will provide system training and what are the costs?

5. Can the dealer provide remote maintenance facilities?

6. What guarantees and warranties do they offer?

Check List

1. Decide which type of phone system best suits your businesses needs.

2. Plan the size of your new system by evaluating the amount of lines and extensions you require. Don’t forget to plan for any future expansion.

3. Decide what extra features you might require from you new business phone system (voicemail, door phones, etc).

4. Contact a few reputable dealers.

5. Arrange for a demonstration of suitable phone systems.

6. Work with your chosen dealer to select and purchase the correct system for your business.

7. Don’t forget to sort suitable training and an adequate service level agreement.

Final

The purchase and installation of the correct telephone system for your business is a very important decision. It is imperative that you get it right first time, as the functionality and prosperity of you business could heavily depend upon it. Remember to follow the few simple guide lines outlined in this report, and you will be more prepared than most.

Thanks for reading my article

Jason Morris

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Jason Morris is co-author, search engine optimization and marketing consultant of Business Phone Systems Direct. An established communications company, offering advice and implementation of high quality business phone systems.
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Cellular phones and pagers are part of the “now” generation, instant contact, anywhere at any time. People are looking for convenience, comfort and security. The question is how instantaneous and reliable is the contact?

Talking with someone is the main use for a cell phone, yet due to poor reception how often do calls not go through, or important calls “dropped” due to flaky coverage? Let us not forget, that in a time of tragedy, lines were congested and the resounding “all circuits busy” messages were heard from coast to coast. There is certainly room for improvement if you want to reach out and touch someone.

The alternative to voice communication is traditional text messaging, enjoyed by the young as SMS, a ‘hip’ communication method, and the older as the tried and true paging, a trustworthy means of communication. A carrier receives pages or text messages via a traditional dial up modem or Internet connection to their terminal, and then broadcasts the messages over their network to the appropriate wireless device. How instant is sending a text message? The answer might surprise you…it depends.

Traditional means of sending text messages is surprisingly reliable and fast. However, many cellular carriers, wishing to merge technologies while keeping costs down, have opted to utilize email technology to send text messages. Why not, an email is nothing more than a text message, using the Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP). On the surface this sounds like a great idea, nearly everyone has email access, and the use of the Internet streamlines the sending of messages.

What is often overlooked, is the fact that email was not designed to be time sensitive. There can be significant delays and an instantaneous receipt can be lost when sending email to a pager or cell phone. Text messages sent via the email protocol SMTP could take a more scenic delivery route. While in many cases, receiving messages in a timely fashion is not critical; some industries require and benefit from the receipt of urgent messages. It is therefore important to realize and make a distinction between the protocols that are designed for instantaneous communication and those that are not.

If sending messages immediately to a cell phone or pager is required, more reliable protocols are available. When sending text messages, via a modem, the Telocator Alphanumeric Protocol (TAP) is extremely dependable, albeit slower due to the modem dialing. If sending messages with a high-speed Internet connection use the newer time sensitive Internet protocols: Simple Network Paging Protocol (SNPP) and Wireless Communication Transfer Protocol (WCTP). If your carrier supports these protocols they are the better options for sending important messages.

If carriers understand the “now” generation is about speed and reliability, customer satisfaction will improve. Text messaging is a reliable and useful communication method, especially since voice is not always convenient or possible. With public awareness and urging, carriers will increase their offerings of text messaging protocols. Carriers should offer email or SMTP, but they must also support time sensitive protocols, regardless, of whether the protocols are older such as TAP or newer such as WCTP.

Resources -

Carriers supporting SNPP - http://www.notepage.net/snpp.htm

Carriers supporting WCTP - http://www.notepage.net/wctp.htm

About The Author

Sharon Housley manages marketing for NotePage, Inc. http://www.notepage.net a company specializing in alphanumeric paging, SMS and wireless messaging software solutions. Other sites by Sharon can be found at http://www.softwaremarketingresource.com , and http://www.small-business-software.net

Prepaid wireless service and phone cards are a convenient, reliable way to make prepaid local, long distance and international calls. In the old days it was very expensive and almost prohibitive to make a call overseas, especially to countries like Germany, France, Russia or Taiwan; never mind just to the next state.

Today however, rates have dropped dramatically. Simply buy minutes in advance and use your prepaid wireless service and phone cares whenever you want to make a call.

Use it for business or pleasure.

Prepaid Wireless Service and phone cards are a very convenient and cost effective.

If you’re away from home and need to make a call you simply run down the minutes on your card.

Looking for the right gift? Sending kids off to school? Need to call in an emergency? Prepaid wireless service can be the solution.

In choosing the best prepaid wireless service it’s best to analyze your calling pattern and whether you primarily call long distance within the U.S. or overseas. Knowing your calling habits will allow you to save even more money.

About The Author

Mike Yeager, Publisher

http://www.a1-longdistance-4u.com/

mjy610@hotmail.com

Cell phones have come a long way since the early days of the 1980s when they were the size of a brick and weighed almost as much. Today, cellular phones come with built-in cameras, polyphonic ringtones, and high-tech games. New “3G” mobile phones are also capable of downloading full motion video and full spectrum music. Whereas there were only a few manufacturers of cell phones in the 1980s, today there are many. In addition to original manufacturers such as Motorola and Siemens, today phones are manufactured by Sony-Ericsson, LG, Toshiba, Samsung, Hitachi, Danger, Palm, HP and others.

As wireless cell phone use increases around the globe, the old CDMA and TDMA standards are being replaced with GSM, the global standard outside of North America. Relatively new mobile phone companies such as Vodafone and T-Mobile in Germany and NTT DoCoMo in Japan have taken advantage of increased cell phone use by expanding their mobile phone offerings and plans world-wide. Also, traditional computer companies are moving or have moved into the cell phone industry-PalmOne manufactures the Treo 650, HP is coming out with its own smartphone PDA and Microsoft powers the operating systems of many of the newest cell phones on the market.

In addition to being used as a method of wireless voice communication, cell phones have within the last decade morphed into mobile computing platforms. These new cell phones are powerful enough to power many applications that only a few years ago required one to be stationed at a desktop computer.

Concurrent with technological innovation and increased adoption worldwide, prices for both hardware and service plans have dropped steadily over the last decade. Whereas only a few years ago most cell phone service providers required 3 year contracts with heavy penalties for early cancellation, now one can get a free state-of-the-art phone with only a one year contract.

Beyond the cell phone hardware, whole new industries have sprung up catering to the needs of cell phone users who demand accessories such as cell phone covers, screen-savers, and ring tones. As well, SMS (simple messenging system) and MMS (multimedia messenging system) lingo is slowly entering the cell phone society vernacular. Use of shorthand abbreviations such as LOL (laughing out loud), SWAK (sealed with a kiss) and G2G (got to go) has become second nature to teenagers who are the main users of phone messenging globally.

(c) 2005 Philip Liu - All Rights Reserved Worldwide

Philip Liu is a freelance author and publisher currently based in New York City. Philip publishes regularly on his websites, Cell Phone News + Reviews (focusing on cell phone news, rumors and reviews from around the world), and DTVScoop - Plasma, LCD Reviews + News (focusing on digital television news and reviews).

There have been significant improvements made recently in cellular phone security. But be careful. Read on for valuable information to protect yourself.

Just remember that wireless phone conversations are transmitted over radio frequencies and these transmissions are not secure. However, analog cell phones are not as secure as digital or personal communications service phones. Low cost, easy to get, radio scanners are used to eavesdrop on phone conversations using analog wireless phones. With digital wireless phones, the conversations are encoded and are much more difficult to be listened in on. However, it is much more difficult to eavesdrop on conversations using personal communications service phones as your conversation is transmitted over multiple frequencies that may be scrambled. These conversations are impossible for interception.

Cloning is a term used to describe illegally charged calls to someone else’s account. The cost to cell phone service providers is astronomical. Digital wireless phones are difficult to clone compared to analog cell phones.

If your wireless phone is stolen, contact your cell phone service provider right way to have your service suspended. Each cell phone provider has its only policy concerning exactly how much you will be billed for local and long distance calls, so it is imperative that you notify your cell phone service provider immediately.

Cell phone insurance is available in cases of theft or loss of your mobile phone. Your cell phone service provider will be able to tell you about cell phone insurance.

Catherine Kenyeres is a free lance writer and publisher for Best-4u-Cell-Phones.com. Catherine provides the latest information, reviews and comparisons for her cell phone clients.

Smart phones are a combination of a cell phone and PDA functions all in one device and are much bigger and notably more expensive than regular handsets, generally costing in the neighborhood of $600. However, one won’t need to carry around two separate units.

Most individuals who would need a smart phone are people who are out of the office for long periods of time that require connectivity to e-mail and appointments. While the regular individual can get by with a basic cell phone or if you already have a separate PDA device and don’t wish to incur the additional expense of combining the two features into a smart phone.

If you are thinking about purchasing a smart phone, you will need to consider finding a cell phone plan that can provide the additional data for e-mail and for Internet browsing. For example, some cellular phone providers charge a flat fee for the megabyte usage while other cellular phone providers furnish a monthly allowance for megabyte usage. Finally, if your smart phone comes with Wi-Fi access, see if you cellular phone provider offers Wi-Fi plans.

Now you have the scoop. So what it really boils down to is the PDA functions. If you need to be connected to the internet and need email capability, it’s worth checking out. But for most of us, a regular cellular phone should meet our needs quite nicely.

Catherine Kenyeres is a free lance writer and publisher for Best-4u-Cell-Phones.com. Catherine provides the latest information, reviews and comparisons for her cell phone clients.

The best money saving practice for buying new cellular phones and service plans is to buy from a dealer, not through the cellular provider directly. Dealers compete against each other with lower prices than the actual cellular providers do.

The reason for this is that dealers are much smaller and rely solely on cell phone revenues. The actual cellular providers themselves have many other fronts, battles, and sources of revenue, so price satisfaction in any one sector is not always available.

For Example: AT&T or Verizon has cellular, but also have local phone service, long distance, satellite, and so forth. A dealer only sells cellular; that’s it. Dealers usually will offer just about every existing cellular provider’s services so the convenience of one stop shopping is an additional feature.

Online dealers are the most convenient source for shopping and comparing plans. You can shop low dealer priced plans from online and save even more.

A great and smart idea, before you buy into any cellular service plan, is to have a friend or family member let you borrow their phone(s) for a day at the least. By doing this you can travel to all of your frequent hotspots to make sure you will receive decent signaling with that cellular provider on a regular basis. Just taking someone’s word for it is not good enough, especially if they are trying to sell you the service. Try a test drive; it’s your smartest bet. Remember, purchasing the best plan will be worthless if you can never use your phone. Coverage is the first factor to any cellular plan ? period.

If you have friends with a diverse set of cellular providers, try each one out to determine which one is most reliable for your daily activities. Take your friends feedback as well; they will be very helpful on subjects of billing, quality of service, and other important consumer information.

This article was written by Aaron Siegel of TopSavings.Net which offers residential, business, and governments voice and Internet communications. Cell Phones

Services available at the site include VoIP, Internet Access, Long Distance, Local Phone Services, Toll-Free Services, Intranet Access, Cellular Services, and more.

A recent survey of the FCC’s antenna structure registration database showed that in 2001 there were roughly 89,000 antenna sites registered with the FCC. Today, there are over 109,000 registered sites. It is important to note that most towers under 200′ are not required to be registered, so there are significantly more towers in the US than this number suggests.

All of these sites are on someone’s property, whether the tower company or antenna site owner owns the land underneath it or is leasing it. Over the past 5 years, the tower companies and wireless carriers have predominately chosen to lease land rather than buy it. Assuming that the increase in antenna structure registrations constitutes just 50% or all new leases, in the last five years, that yields 40,000 new cell site leases.

From my experience in the industry procuring land and structure sites for cell towers and antenna sites, the vast majority of the landowners who are approached to lease land or space on their building have very little experience with this type of lease agreement. The landowners often inquire with their associates and colleagues to find out how they should negotiate. However that assumes that the landowner’s colleague negotiated a good agreement in the first place, which is often questionable.

So where is a landowner faced with negotiating a lease agreement to turn? First, start by asking the pertinent questions from the agent interested in leasing space for a cell tower.

What is the going rate for a cell tower in this area? What is your average lease payment? What was the amount of the last lease agreement you signed? Can you show it to me? Why are you looking at my property? Is there anything special about it?

While you may not get straightforward answers, you will at least get a sense of how this agent operates. From there, be prepared to do some research. Ask friends and business associates if they know of anyone with a tower on their property. Search the web for cell tower lease rates and for cell tower leases. Be aware that every piece of property is different and that each has its own value to a wireless carrier that may not be reflected by its total value. Call your local zoning or planning office to discuss what the requirements are for a tower and whether or not your site meets them.

Lastly, retain the services of an attorney, consultant, or both. You are preparing to sign a 25 year agreement that will tie your land up, make sure that you understand it well. The cost of a qualified attorney or consultant is minimal compared to the money recieved over the term of the lease. If you are using an attorney, ask specifically how many wireless leases they have negotiated. If the answer is less than 5, look for someone else. A wireless lease is not like a standard commerical lease even though some of the clauses will be the same. Your attorney really needs to know the difference or he/she could end up costing you the lease.

A cell tower lease can be a very lucrative proposition for you. We in the industry like to call it mailbox money- you sit back and receive a nice monthly check for doing nothing other than allowing your land to be leased, often for significantly more than any other type of use on the property. While the reward can be great, make sure that you minimize the risk by asking the questions and getting the outside help you need.

Ken Schmidt is the owner of Steel in the Air, a cell tower consulting firm. Steel in the Air provides expert consultations on cell tower valuation, cell tower lease negotiations, lease renegotiations and lease buyouts. Ken has been quoted on cell towers in the NY Times and numerous other publications.

Cell phone accessories would include antennas, batteries, cases, faceplates, holsters, holders, hands free kits and a few others. Antennas are to boost your signal and an additional battery may be a good precaution. A car charger could be a good alternative to an additional battery.

With the convenience and pricing of cellular phones and the new long life batteries, many people are choosing to eliminate the use for a home phone altogether. There is no reason to pay for one phone, when you already have one in your pocket that has the same purpose. Although some cell phone accessories are trends, most are very beneficial to the cell phone user.

Consider what and when you use the cellular and how cell phone accessories would be a convenience to you.

Cell phone accessories need to be charged all the time. When your cellular phone batteries aren’t kept fully charged, it will die in the middle of conversations. If your cell phone batteries haven’t been adequately charged over time, you will have to spend more money and time replacing them

Cell phone accessories include different parts. Of all these, the hands free kits are the most important. In some states, it is illegal to drive while talking on your cellular. Hands free cellular accessories allow you to mount your phone for easy dialing, answering and wear a headset or microphone for convenient talking.

About The Author

Mike Yeager Publisher http://www.a1-cell-phones-4u.com/

mjy610@hotmail.com

Cellular phones are used by millions of people in the United States and around the world. They are such a great device! With a cell phone, you can talk to anyone on the planet from just about anywhere! These days, cell phones provide an incredible array of functions.

One of the most interesting things about a cell phone is that it is actually an extremely sophisticated radio. Cellular phones are more popular in European and Asian countries than they are in the United States — more than ninety percent of Europeans or Asians own a cell phone, compared to about fifty percent of Americans.

Cellular phones have different plans to use. If you are an infrequent user of cell phones select a low usage plan. In many areas, wireless phone plans are quiet affordable. The competition among the many cellular companies has been a tremendous benefit to the consumer, since it has brought the per-minute costs down. Only get the features you need with your wireless phone plan. Cellular phones and mobile phones are more of a novelty for the younger generation.

Cellular phones provide a wide range of services for security or trouble situations. Since it works in nearly any area you can be reached, you can also call for assistance if needed for any medical or mechanical problem. Prepaid cell phones and prepaid cellular phones are also great options. Cellular service has become so popular mainly because of the reduction in price for airtime.

About The Author

Mike Yeager Publisher

http://www.a1-cell-phones-4u.com/, mjy610@hotmail.com