Modern telephones come in quite a few different forms nowadays. They are getting less expensive but have more features and benefits. They are computers in themselves and some of them integrate with networks. There are 3 main types:
- Simple systems – These are the traditional type systems that work with analogue or ISDN lines they often have voicemail, auto attendant and some computer integration options.
- Hybrid systems – These include all that the simple systems have plus options to connect and make calls over the internet, more sophisticated computer integration and options to manage or integrate with data networks.
- PC based systems – Again, these often do all that the systems above do but run as an application on a PC. They can act as small hosted telephony systems.
Here are some things to look out for:
- The size – A telephone system should have capacity for your business now and be expandable to fit your business in the future. Many of them are modular so you can start off smaller and grow the system with your business.
- What does it do – Does it do what you want for now and for the future?
- Cost – There are some cheap systems on the market and they work but depending on what you want they can sometimes work out as a false economy. To a point, you get what you pay for.
- Maintenance – Maintenance is a bit like insurance but is well worth having. 10% of system cost is often used to calculate maintenance but varies. You may get offered better terms for longer contracts but be sure of the provider before taking this as an option as you may not be able to escape the contract if you are not happy with the provider. Some providers will change the system password to lock you in to their service. Many reputable providers won’t do this.
- Contract term – If you buy through a lease make sure it is fixed term and the system is yours at the end of the lease.
- Configuration – what happens when you want something changed on the system? Can you do it, is it included in the maintenance, how much will it cost?
