The word cloud simply refers to the fact that the system is stored and operated offsite. Office phone acronyms and termsĪs you compare office phones, it helps to be familiar with the acronyms and terms associated with these products.Ĭloud: A cloud phone system uses VoIP technology, but the system hardware is in the cloud.
They can also use an auto-answer feature to route calls or record voicemails. These phones can handle multiple lines at one time. These office phones cost $25 to $75.įor a high-end office phone, you could pay anywhere from $75 to $250. Often, there is a display screen for caller ID and for status updates. You’ll be able to save common extension numbers that are accessible at the press of one button through speed dial. Mid-range phones have multiple telephony features. If you just want a phone with no advanced call-management features, you can find one for as little as $10 to $25. Inexpensive office phones are simple pieces of hardware. Even phones that have quite a few features can be purchased for a reasonable price … especially when compared to the price of the latest smartphones. Giving customers the ability to leave a voicemail can help your business. Voicemailįor a call that cannot be answered, you’ll want a voicemail option. Phones can contain anywhere from 10 to 40 individual speed dial buttons. Speed dialĪn office phone with speed dial provides a significant advantage. Display screens on office phones vary in size and the number of characters they can show at one time. The display screen on an office phone provides caller ID information along with other system alert information. It has a high-quality speaker and a microphone to pick up sounds from the room while maintaining a clear audio signal. If you sometimes need multiple people to participate on a call, the conference call feature works well. Some auto attendants play hold music or a hold message. The auto attendant can greet inbound callers, too. The auto attendant feature routes calls and can keep an inbound call on hold until someone can answer it. Here are some key office phone features you may need for your home office or mid-sized business. This gives small businesses the ability to simulate many of the features of a more complex PBX for a lower price than a PBX system.
With a VoIP system, you can use the VoIP-enabled office phone to manage your incoming and outgoing calls. You do not need to be connected to a traditional phone line for this type of service. VoIP phone systemĪ VoIP system sends and receives calls over an internet connection.
Your office phone can connect directly to the incoming phone line and manage the low volume of calls. PBX is a common type of system for this purpose.įor those who need to handle only one call at a time, a phone hardware system is not needed. The phone network is able to handle multiple ingoing and outgoing calls simultaneously. This allows the office phones to connect to the public telephone network. If you have multiple phones in the office, you’ll need some sort of phone hardware system. If you receive your phone signal through a line from a telephone company, a traditional office phone works nicely. Two primary types of office phones are available: the traditional phone line and the VoIP phone system. Businesses that choose hosted VoIP office phone solutions can pay a monthly fee for phone service rather than dealing with large upfront system costs and ongoing hardware maintenance costs.