As cell phones evolved, old-school dumb phones fell out of favor. But now, they’re making a comeback. People are drawn to these relics of the past as an antidote to bottomless distraction and screen fatigue. They’re also a relief from spamming and constant telemarketing calls, which are illegal on cell phones.
VoIP
VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) transforms telephone signals into digital data packets transferred over the internet over a secure ethernet cable or fast WiFi connection. It allows you to make and receive calls from any location with an internet connection, saving you money on long-distance fees. Modern VoIP solutions offer a variety of features that are not available or cost-effective on traditional landline telephony systems such as a community phone landline. For example, many VoIP providers offer call recording, virtual receptionists, on-hold music, voicemail-to-email, conference calling and instant messaging. Businesses upgrading to VoIP can equip their remote workforce with reliable mobile apps with the same business phone number and PBX, eliminating customer confusion when using multiple devices. Additionally, a VoIP PBX offers the flexibility to scale up or down the number of business phone extensions as needed in real-time. It makes it easier for seasonal and rapidly growing companies to manage communications efficiently.
Call Waiting
The call-waiting function is a great feature that allows you to answer another call without interrupting the one you’re currently on. When a second call comes in, you’ll hear a tone and then be able to choose whether to connect with the new caller, put the first caller on hold, or reject the incoming call. Businesses can use this feature to reduce wait times and offer a better customer experience. For example, if you’re on the phone with a customer and get another important call from your boss, you can switch between the two rings with the press of a button. With this, the customer will never receive a busy signal or be sent to voicemail, which can give them the impression that your business is closed. It’s also an effective tool for solopreneurs and small teams who need to transfer calls quickly between team members.
Call Forwarding
Whether it’s shopping malls, record players, or home phones, there’s no reason why old things can’t come back if they satisfy a modern need. And that’s exactly what call forwarding is doing.
Customers expect their questions and problems to be answered immediately, but staffing an entire team around the clock can be expensive. Fortunately, with a call-forwarding feature, you can redirect calls to any number you want. Depending on the situation, you can easily maintain a professional presence by forwarding customer calls to your office or personal phone. And because of how VoIP works, your customers will never know they’re talking to someone different. They’ll only know that their call has been routed to the right place and they’re being helped. A business should choose a VoIP provider with advanced call-forwarding features.
Caller ID
Caller ID is a feature that most of us have taken for granted. After all, we assume that our business name will automatically display whenever someone calls us. But the truth is, it doesn’t work like that. Rather, it’s up to the recipient’s phone carrier to cross-reference the incoming caller number with a database of vetted names. It is done through a service known as CNAM. In other words, if your business’s name changes, you should let your telecommunications provider know. They will request the carrier to ensure your new name is properly displayed on Caller ID.
