Is 3CX Really Free?

Nicky SmithLeave a Comment on Is 3CX Really Free?

No, nothing is ever really free, even if it might seem that way at first glance. Many businesses today are making the move to cloud-based telephone services, and you might be tempted to do the same. Most cloud-based services run on either SIP trunking or VoIP protocol, basically using virtual connections, instead of wires and cables and using existing internet connection cables to convert audio into data to be transported. This can have many advantages. Landlines are quickly becoming a thing of Read More…

5 Ways that Cloud Office Phone Systems Cut Costs

Nicky SmithLeave a Comment on 5 Ways that Cloud Office Phone Systems Cut Costs

These days, the need for businesses to “do more with less” is not just important: it’s essential! And that’s why a growing number of companies — from small firms to large enterprises — are upgrading to cloud (a.k.a. VoIP) office phone systems. Here are the 5 biggest reasons why 1. No PBX Costs With Office Phone Systems Conventional phone systems require an on-site private branch exchange (PBX). These are extremely expensive. While the exact amount depends on the size of the organiRead More…

Why Your Hybrid Workplace Needs VoIP+Unified Communications

Nicky SmithLeave a Comment on Why Your Hybrid Workplace Needs VoIP+Unified Communications

Prior to the pandemic, generally, there were two types of workers. There were those who worked in the corporate office, and there were those who worked in their home office. Now, however, there is a third type of worker that HR experts say will dominate the workforce landscape for the foreseeable future: the hybrid worker. This individual spends time in both environments (e.g. Monday and Wednesday in the corporate office; Tuesday, Thursday and Friday in their home office). The term for this confRead More…

Softphone vs. Desk Phone: Which is Best for Your Organization?

Nicky SmithLeave a Comment on Softphone vs. Desk Phone: Which is Best for Your Organization?

Deciding to make the switch from a conventional phone system to a cloud (a.k.a. VoIP) phone system is a smart move when you consider all of the advantages, which include: Significant initial and year-over-year cost savings. A wide range of enterprise-grade Unified Calling (UC) features such as voicemail-to-email, auto-attendant, live call transfer, and more. Seamless scalability. No maintenance, update and upgrade costs. No technical support costs. Reliability and uptime (ifRead More…

5 Ways that Cloud Office Phone Systems Cut Costs

Nicky SmithLeave a Comment on 5 Ways that Cloud Office Phone Systems Cut Costs

These days, the need for businesses to “do more with less” is not just important: it’s essential! And that’s why a growing number of companies — from small firms to large enterprises — are upgrading to Cloud (a.k.a. VoIP) office phone systems. Here are the 5 biggest reasons why: 1. No PBX Costs Conventional phone systems require an on-site private branch exchange (PBX). These are extremely expensive. While the exact amount depends on the size of the organization, generally the costRead More…

business mergers and acquisitions

Acquisitions in the Hosted VoIP Industry

Nicky SmithLeave a Comment on Acquisitions in the Hosted VoIP Industry

Why Bigger is Not Always Better Bill Gates once said that “success is a lousy teacher because it seduces people into thinking that they can’t lose.” Well, to this we would add that success is sometimes not just a lousy teacher for people — it can also be a lousy teacher for companies, too. Take for example the consolidation that is happening in the VoIP industry. A growing number of relatively small companies are being acquired by larger organizations. On the surface, this seems likeRead More…

5 Support Related Questions You MUST Ask a Potential Cloud Phone System Vendor

Nicky SmithLeave a Comment on 5 Support Related Questions You MUST Ask a Potential Cloud Phone System Vendor

Best Support for Hosted Telephone Services is Always LOCAL When it comes to choosing a cloud phone system for your organization, naturally you will focus on things like features, functionality, installation/implementation, quality, scalability, flexibility, security, and of course, price and total cost of ownership. All of these factors are essential and need to be part of the evaluation process. However, there is another critical aspect that you simply cannot afford to overlook — because Read More…

IT Professionals

Nicky SmithLeave a Comment on IT Professionals

Dear IT Professionals: Let’s start with this: there has been a lot of talk about “essential workers” during the pandemic — and for good reason. But you, Mr. or Ms. IT Professional, are essential ALWAYS. In fact, if you weren’t on the job, end-users would experience chaos and customers would get irate. Basically, the entire organization would grind to a halt. Things would get ugly in a hurry. And speaking of ugly… Let’s talk about your other job. You know, the one that you nevRead More…

Working From Home. How’s It Working?

Nicky SmithLeave a Comment on Working From Home. How’s It Working?

A new report from Gallup suggests that while many workplaces are returning to a “normal” in-office activity but that a nearly two-thirds majority of employees who have been working remotely since the beginning of the coronavirus would like to continue working from home. While 30% of those people responding to the survey said they were concerned about COVID-19, 35% would like to continue working remotely. For those who have adjusted their lives to working remotely, there are benefits as weRead More…

When it Comes to Cloud Phone Service – One Size Does Not Fit All

Nicky SmithLeave a Comment on When it Comes to Cloud Phone Service – One Size Does Not Fit All

If you are thinking about moving your business telephone service to the cloud, there are some major differences between providers you need to know. While switching to digital phone service (or Voice over Internet Protocol – VoIP) you still need to be aware of details like how many users you need to support, what features you will need, and what equipment you will be using. But first, take a step back and assess what type of cloud phone provider you want to use. If you find yourself asking “Read More…