MMOIA

By David K Chan

A virtual PBX system is a software solution that allows you to manage your phone number(s) and / or extensions. In reality a virtual PBX system does not even need to manage more than one number. It can provide you with a local or 800# number that customers call and then forward those calls to your cell phone, home office number or even directly to a voice mail box.

The reason companies and individuals are investigating these types of solutions are manifold. Just a few short years ago, PBX systems used to be expensive hardware solutions that you implement “on premise.” What this means is that an IT staff would have to take the hardware and put it into a telecom “center” in your office, load up software, code the system to physical phones in your office, and maintain and troubleshoot any problems that come up.

Virtual PBX systems essentially rid you of the worry of cost, installation, maintenance and support. There are a number of companies out there offering these types of solutions. Not all of them, though, deliver on the promise of installation ease, set up and use… let alone the cost of ownership.

One product in particular, a virtual PBX system, is extremely easy to set up and costs a fraction of an “on premise” solution. In fact, there’s no comparison.

Let me explain what this virtual PBX system does and I think you’ll get the point. My small business uses the $49.99 version for unlimited minutes. What I get is a dedicated 800 number, a dedicated fax number, and 10 extensions.

First off, the 800 number is the only number now that I give out to clients. Why? Because if they call during “business hours” they are either greeted by a live receptionist (in our case) or the client can also be answered with an automated greeting directing them to one of our extensions. For example, “Thank you for calling XYZ Company. For a company directory, please press 109.”

Once an extension is entered, the call is then routed to any one of my phone numbers. In my example, I have two cell phone numbers and a home office number. All of the numbers can be programmed to ring simultaneously or in sequential order. This is a tremendous idea because then clients don’t need to know your personal phone numbers, nor even know that they are not calling you at a physical office.

Another really cool feature of a virtual PBX system is its outbound caller ID feature. You can essentially dial out to a client where the caller id shows your “office number”, not the actual number you are calling from. Why would you want to do this? Again, to give the illusion that you are calling from a physical office, not your home or cell phone number. The tip to doing this with the virtual PBX system is to call your assigned 800 number, press *, enter your code, press 3 to dial out, enter the person’s phone and press #. Looks complicated, but it’s very simple – 800#, *, code, 212-555-1212, #. That’s it!

Now, there are tons of more reasons to have a virtual PBX system. And, at my site DavidKChan.com, I have even more tips to share about this solution. In fact, I’ll have even more secrets to running a virtual office in coming articles, including virtual meetings, assistants, time and billing and many more.

David Chan is a small business owner who is passionate about leveraging great technology to create truly virtual offices. He believes that these solutions save small businesses money and provide tremendous value. David reveals tips and tools on a very competitive virtual PBX system. Grow your business and save money!