Unified Communications Requires an Understanding of Your Organization First

UC or Unified Communications is all the buzz. By now, almost certainly someone in your enterprise has approached the topic of a unified communications strategy – even if you have not yet defined what that means for your organization. Whether you are at the strategic, conceptual, or deployment stage, one thing for sure is your UC experience will likely be better if it is a partnership.

As suggested by techtarget UC is “not as simple as putting in a circuit. This is more business consulting than technical architecture. Enterprises usually overlook or underestimate the non-technical aspects of planning and deploying unified communications projects, which is where a UC consultant can help IT departments.”

Continue read about Unified Communications 

Click, Dial, Conference & Transfer Calls Via Web Interface

AVAD Assistant Enterprise - View Demo

---

The AVAD Assistant-Enterprise automatically includes a web-based account for managing incoming & outgoing calls. For advanced features, users may upgrade to the Premium Assistant Enterprise.

The telephony toolbar enables users to make and accept telephone calls and change telephone settings from within Microsoft Outlook, Internet Explorer and Firefox.

End-User Benefits:

Web-based Call Management
Advanced call control capabilities include a pop-up notification when a call comes in, and enables the user to answer the call, place it on hold, send it to voice mail, or transfer it to another party, without leaving the Microsoft application they are using.

Centralized Contact Directory
Click-to-dial capability from the Outlook contact directory and Internet Explorer Web pages.

Advanced Call Features
Three-way conferencing and caller identification.

---

Point-Counter Point: Hosted Vs Premise VoIP

A very good interview discussing the relative benefits of a Hosted VoIP solution vesus a Premise based VoIP solution.
in reference to: http://www.mgraves.org/voip/2010/03/pcp-hosted-voice-vs-cpe/comment-page-1/#comment-4208 (view on Google Sidewiki)

Virtual PBX Phone System Small Businesses Can Afford

Small Business Virtual PBX Phone System (VoIP)

AVAD Technologies Virtual PBX Business Phone System offers a powerful set of fully configurable Virtual PBX features that can be easily customized. AVAD Technologies Virtual PBX Business VoIP Phone System does not require the purchase of additional telecom hardware and can be remotely configured via AVAD's Web Portal.

More Benefits;

• No Expensive Telecom Equipment Required
• Multi-Location Expandability
• Add Features As Needed

AVAD Virtual PBX Offers the Following Features;

• Auto-Attendant
• Hunt Group
• Virtual Receptionist
• Call Center
• VoIP Call Recording

AVAD can put together a Business VoIP phone system that is customized to your business.  You can request an on-line quote or call AVAD at (800) 733-4136 and speak directly with a Business VoIP Specialist.   

Posted By AVAD Hosted VoIP PBX Business Editor

AVAD Hosted VoIP Call Recording

Ideal Call Recording Solution for small/medium sized companies

• Automatically records all or selected calls
• Live call monitoring
• Integrates with AVAD's Call Center
• Easy-to-Use:  Browser based call access
• 2-hour installation:  No specialists required
• Pay-As-You-Go:  $.025/min per employee

Why Choose AVAD Technologies Business VoIP Call Recording

The issue is simple: You want to comply with regulatory requirements and improve customer service by recording and retrieving phone calls. You don’t want to disrupt operations, exhaust your annual budget or pay for expensive implementation services.

You require a straightforward, dependable and affordable voice recording system. With AVAD Technologies Hosted VoIP Call Recording, Recordings can be indexed by time, agent/employee, date, group, and a variety of other fields, making for hassle-free, instantaneous record retention, search, and retrieval.

AVAD Releases Business VoIP Pricing Quotes

AVAD Technologies provides Business VoIP PBX phone service to small and medium size businesses in the continental United States.  AVAD has begun releasing quotes for its Hosted VoIP phone service.


Quote 1: Medium Size Manufacturing Company (03/03/2010)

A medium size manufacturing company located in the Midwest needs to replace an aging PBX system. The company has 43 employees spread out in 3 geographically separate locations.

View the details Business VoIP Phone Service Quote here.

Quote 2: Small Real Estate Company (01/20/2010)

A newly forming 8 person Real Estate office located in the Southeast United States requires a phone system.

View the details Business VoIP Phone Service Quote here.

If you would like a quote for Business VoIP phone service from AVAD Technologies, please call (800) 733-4136 or you can Request a Business VoIP Quote On-Line.

VoIP Can Increase the Productivity of Your Business

Prior to the introduction of Voice over IP, businesses had few choices and were paying too much for traditional business phone services. In addition, many businesses are not convinced a Business VoIP Phone system is reliable. VoIP technology has matured to the point that allows us to deliver a comprehensive package of PBX features at a price even small businesses can afford.

Studies have shown that many business owners are not aware of the capabilities of a Business VoIP system. The study also revealed that many small and medium sized companies believed a VoIP telecommunications system would cost too much to purchase and manage.

Add Your VoIP Blog to My.AllTop.com/VoIP

Add your blog to My.AllTop.com/VoIP

If you would like your blog added to My.AllTop.com/VoIP  please post a comment at the bottom of this post and I will add your blog to the My.AllTop.com/VoIP Directory.

Your blog must in the VoIP or telecommunications industry.

This is not a gimmick, it is free, no strings attached (a reciprocal link to http://blog.avadtechnologies.com/ would be appreciated).  I just want to make sure the blogs listed are active.

Earn Ongoing Referral Commissions

AVAD Technologies specializes in Business VoIP.

Anyone can earn ongoing commission revenue for referring a Business with 5 or more employees to AVAD Technologies.

We work with IT & Business Consultants that want to leverage their existing client base or individuals who may know of a company that needs to upgrade their existing phone system to Business VoIP.

It is a very simple process, complete AVAD's Reseller Agreement and refer a client. You can be as involved in the proposal process as you like.

We pay 10% commission ongoing of your client's month invoice.

 

The Hidden Benefits of VoIP

Reprinted from: Vici Blog

When I came across this post, I thought to myself, this guy really gets it. The blog is a little spammy so I decided to copy the contents and link to the post.

My opinion about this post is at the end of this post.

Business VoIP is About Improving Productivity

You may not have considered it but there are many benefits that businesses can achieve by utilising data networks to carry their voice traffic (VoIP). By marrying this voice traffic with data traffic (IP Telephony) it becomes even more powerful.

Here are a few examples;

1. Cheaper Phone Calls – as your utilising existing data networks
2. Simpler Infrastructure – one set of CAT5 cables
3. Scalable – Extend the existing data network
4. Reduced Operating Costs – converged system is simpler to manage
5. Enhanced Customer Service – “Click to Talk” web services and easy role out application like call centers
6. Flexibility – Remote or home workers can work as if in the office
7. Follow the sun - Incorporate teleworkers in multiple time zones to extend business hours with incurring overtime

Its fair to say that most people focus on the costs savings but in most cases the business improvements far out way the costs savings.

For example if your business operated from multiple sites it would be possible to have a single centralised system located at one site, with optimal staffing resources to operate, manage and support. No need to have 3 receptionists when one will do!

Say you had staff that wanted to work from home or from a remote office. With this technology it would be easy to give them the look and feel of being in the office and the transparency that their co-workers and customers enjoy. Rolling out a distributed business application such as a contact centre or call centre is much easier and more robust.

But….its not that simple to get right!

You must consider;

1. Quality of Service – across the data network
2. Reliability

Neal Gilbert's Response to this post.

"The paragraph where you state "Its fair to say that most people focus on the costs savings but in most cases the business improvements far out way the costs savings." is right on the money.

It is already possible to make free calls, so one should ask why are businesses really moving to VoIP? It the productivity and flexibility offered by this technology that is the driving force.

Companies are no longer limited to hiring local talent because anyone with a high speed internet connection can be part of the company's phone system. Jet Blue uses home based people as reservation agents. Just think about how much they are saving from this.