Phone setup?

**PowerPython** · 05-30-2007 11:16 AM

I have a few questions about setting up a phone system for my (almost in existence) new company. I will have a business mobile (not a smart phone though I have a PDA) and a business land line, separate line from the rest of the house. On my business cards, should I give out both numbers? I have another concern though, what if they can't reach me on the land line, like when I'm at school? I don't want them to ring the business mobile cause that won't be answered during lesson times (but at lunch is fine) and I don't want it to go of accidentally and get confiscated (I'll leave it in my locker probably), so I just set up and answering machine right, would this work? What message should I leave, or would the standard one be sufficient? I can't exactly say I'm at school!

**pabell** · 05-30-2007 03:02 PM

Option 1: Sign up for a Voicemail Service some are free. I use PrivatePhone an Affiliate of Netzero. It will Physically Ring and potential clients can leave a message. You'd get an E-mail notification on your PDA provided it has constant Internet Access. Call them at your Leisure

Option 2: Get the Business line as planned but have it forward to your Mobile Phone. Give out the one number and when you want private time force all calls to go to Voice mail

Option 3: Call Attendant Service like Gotvmail.com this will give you a more professional image.

IMHO... NEVER use an answering machine to represent your Business image.

As for message:
1) "You have reached the Desk / Office of _____________. I am unavailable for Collaboration at this time. Please leave your name and number and the nature of your call. And I will get back to you as soon as possible"

**Businessceo1** · 05-30-2007 03:13 PM

I use a Blackberry Smartphone for starting my businesses. I work w/ mostly emails & text messages, than phone calls.

I agree, there should be times set up devoted to messages and calls, because my Blackberry has been taken 3 times so far. Twice for going off (Forgot to turn it off), and once for being caught reading a message. Its hard for me to just leave it in my locker.

**mv3gp** · 05-31-2007 06:52 AM

Blackberry is nice but i prefer TReo

**Young Spark** · 05-31-2007 10:47 AM

The most expensive yet professional method in my honest opinion is to purchase a PBX (or at the very least a virtual PBX system.) Choose one that allows using a web browser to change the PBX server. I know some PBX server's are as low as $950 (the lowest I've seen) and as high as up to $3000... just a thought, but PBX system are quite professional.

If you don't want this route, I recommend what all I've heard so far, use a free voicemail system and have a "voice image" added as your "not here" notice. When I say voice image, I mean use somebody who can do a professional one for you, their quite cheap, I've seen some do it for $35.

**ltressel** · 05-31-2007 07:00 PM

For my businesses:

I use VOIP-$199 a year will give you 1 year flat fee coverage all over the US and 100 minutes free to call UK. The service will give you 2 numbers. One is the house phone and the other as business line. The third number is another fax line that seldom use.

-of course you will need a high speed internet for VOIP. It even comes with a hold music along with the rest of bells and whistles.

I then use another provider for my 888# that I tacked on with my business line. The same provider I use for the free fax line for unlimited e-faxing (receiving only).

My cell-I use for my daily real estate phone calls since I need to make on the spot decisions.

So far, this has worked for me really well. In addition, I added an internet card for more mobility.

That's all.

LT

**sspoldir** · 05-31-2007 07:02 PM

If your going to go full scale PBX, then might as well go VOIP. If you have no cash then build an asterisk box on linux.

There are some services out there that can handle this for you for a nominal fee, like a personal assistant to answer calls.

I prefer email for business (especially support issues), it forces the person on the other end to formulate the question they want answered and get to the point. If not you can skim through it, you can't skim through a phone call.