Intelligent Telephony

Popular VoIP products have emerged over the past few years and they have attracted a lot of attention, mainly because they are free like Skype, for example. It is sensible at this stage to compare a service like Skype with a paid-for VoIP solution so that you can see which one is most appropriate for you and your business...

Skype

You can create a free account at http://www.skype.com and start making calls immediately for free BUT WAIT... there are limitations:

1. You will need a PC equipped with a microphone, speakers (or headset) and sound capability of course*
2. You can only talk to other Skype users (for free at least)
3. Most businesses you talk to will probably NOT be on Skype
4. Your Skype account is limited to an individual so each user in your company needs an account
5. Giving people a Skype Account Name to use to call you is not professional (yet at least!)

*(you can buy Skype enabled phones now to avoid the need to have the PC on all the time) 

Business based VoIP

Grape is affiliated to a professional VoIP organisation that has developed their own systems for managing VoIP calls within a company / multi-user environment. This company is the 'exchange' for all your VoIP calls and as such, they can offer some great features above and beyond Skype type services.

Firstly, you will need some equipment:

• 1+ VoIP enabled phone (see image below) or a converter box for your existing phone
  
• A broadband connection, of course
• A new account with our VoIP provider
• Some settings to link it all up
  
• A new telephone number*
  

*you can choose a number from almost any geographical region i.e. you don't have to choose a number from the area in which your office is based (which is great if you want a London based number, for example).

SIEMENS C460IP Phone (x2) & Base

The new VoIP enabled phone (see our recommended product to the right + link to where to buy it) works like a mini-PC and is always connected, via your broadband connection, to the exchange (without cost so don't worry). This is great because some fancy things can happen now:

• Any missed calls and voicemails are recorded by the exchange and relayed to your VoIP phone immediately
• Your VoIP enabled phone may blink (depends on phone) to tell you that you have voicemail waiting
• Your voicemail messages are also sent as a copy to your email inbox so you can pick them up anywhere
• You can setup your VoIP account to give your callers options e.g. "Press 1 for ...", "Press 2 for ..." and so on
• You can manage your VoIP account from any PC connected to the web
• You can top-up your account manually or automatically when the credits run low
• You can lookup the call rates in your account to see how much a call will cost before you dial it
• You can configure Call Forwarding on your number for when you are out of the office
• You have instant access to your Call History by month for help with billing / accounts
• You can create blacklists and whitelists (similar to email ones)
• You can send and receive SMS messages (messages sent to you will be 'read' to you on the phone)

VoIP is the future of telephony and new features will be emerging all the time. For example, we have heard of an exciting new device and service which will be available in 2007 / 2008: you will use a single phone which looks like a mobile, and it will have a single telephone number, BUT you can use it in the office, on the road, at home, or anywhere. One bill, one phone, all because of VoIP. That will make all our lives easier and we will publish details of the service as soon as we have access to it ourselves.

Call us today on 0845 165 9075 or use the Contact Form and we can discuss your requirements in details - for FREE, of course!