Phone Answering System

[Robert Burns]

I'm ramping up my REI business and need some suggestions on the best phone system to use to answer multiple marketing campaigns. I'll use a 24 hot line with a local number as my primary destination for incoming calls but would like some extension capabilities also. Thanks

[Lew Payne]

The following may or may not be suitable for your needs... please research independently.

I use an OBi 202 device (give me two physical phone "lines" and supports four phone "numbers"), of which three of my phone "numbers" are with google voice (no monthly charge, no computer needed).  The OBi device supports call transfer, extensions, etc.   http://www.obihai.com/

There is also an OBi hosted solution available, which may or may not be overkill for you.  http://www.obitalk.com/info/business

The VOIP providers I would recommend (aside from google voice) are:

• CallCentric [ http://www.callcentric.com/ ]
• Voip.ms [ https://voip.ms/ ]
• Anveo [ http://anveo.com/ ]

In particular, look at the "call flow" and "digital receptionist" solutions available from Anveo and Voip.ms.  You can basically program the system to do just about anything, including off a webpage.

To better understand it all, keep in mind that a phone number is a "virtual" thing, and that its point of termination (your equipment) is the only "physical" thing.  I have my cordless home phones plugged into my OBi 202 device, thus terminating my phone "numbers" to my home cordless phones.  In addition, I have some of the phone "numbers" programmed to ring both my cellphone and home phones *simultaneously*.

If you want a full-fledged human-staffed service, take a look at PatLive [ http://www.patlive.com/solutions/ ].

Here's a call-center solution - http://www.talkdesk.com/

Hope that mini-lesson helps.