Choosing phone system equipment that can grow with you

Written by Steven Bryan

When buying some pieces of office equipment, the price tag can be so high that it may take years before you are able to upgrade to a newer model. With phone system equipment, however, it is possible to start with a basic setup, adding on other components as your business grows and changes.

Improving on your present phone system equipment

Thanks to some technological breakthroughs, you can combine the reliability of the classic telephone with some affordable upgrades:

• Going cordless. For a home office or a small business, a couple of reliable analog telephones can serve your needs and the needs of your clients. For additional mobility, you also can invest in a couple of cordless phones, which will allow your staff to move freely around the office.
• VOIP. A option that is growing in popularity, voice over Internet protocol (VOIP) lets you use an existing broadband connection to make clear, digital-quality phone calls over the Internet for a fraction of the cost of traditional long-distance. You can invest in VOIP-ready phones or get adapters that let you plug in existing analog phones.
• Ditching the land line. Cellular telephones have become a lot "smarter" than they were in the days when a mobile phone looked like a brick. Most cell phones these days come equipped with voice mail, e-mail and Internet surfing capabilities. For a small office, ditching traditional phone service equipment and going all-cellular can make good economic sense.

High-tech phone system equipment

A business that's growing really needs to look at some of the high-tech phone solutions that now are available including:

• Private branch exchange systems. If you are managing an office with more than 15 employees, consider setting up a private branch exchange (PBX), which gives you your own internal phone network. Each employee has their own extension, which can be reached internally or from a customer calling outside the company.
• Interactive voice response. When your staff is busy or out of the office, interactive voice response (IVR) is one of the more useful pieces of phone system equipment. An IVR system can route customers to the correct department or send a client to voice mail so that their needs will be met promptly.
• Softphones. By purchasing specialized software and contracting with an Internet phone provider, you can turn just about any desktop computer into a "softphone." When calling clients, the screen will display an image of a telephone keyboard, which can be used to make and receive calls. A headset or a USB phone also is required to speak with clients in this manner.

Buying phones that meet your needs

Newer technologies are, without a doubt, fairly attractive, but you have to make sure that your phone system equipment meets your basic business needs before choosing the latest and greatest. If you have too much telephone horsepower, it can be a wasted investment, while having inadequate phone service can send customers running to a competitor.

Working with an expert is the best way to make sure you get the right phone system for your business. BuyerZone can connect you to proven, experienced phone systems dealers who will help you make the right decision. It's free and fast – try BuyerZone today.