From the category archives:

Technology

A Look At How VoIP PBX Works

by Adam on February 4, 2009


It’s not a surprise that Voice-over-Internet-Protocol (VoIP) has become a great asset to many people around the world. There are all sorts of reasons to use VoIP and it is becoming like a wave for the Internet world. One product that has come out of the VoIP revolution is the VoIP PBX. In order to understand just how VoIP PBX works it is also important to first understand what it really is and how it helps.

Small-to-medium sized businesses are the main benefactors from VoIP PBX technology, but of course large-scale businesses also can take advantage of this technology. What this system is, though, is basically a system that routes incoming telephone calls to one external phone line that can switch the connection between various other phones in the building or office. At this point you may be thinking that this technology is nothing new because standard businesses have used PBX (Private Business Exchange) technology for many years.

This is true, however, VoIP technology allows businesses to use the tool of the internet in order to do the same thing. Instead of paying on a per-minute basis or being afraid that they’ll go outside of their calling area or minutes allotted, businesses are able to pay flat fees for these types of VoIP services.

Essentially, having a VoIP Private Business Exchange (PBX) is probably one of the best things a small-to-medium sized business can invest in in order to not only save money, but also to help their employees. The reason that a VoIP PBX system is less expensive and more cost-effective for a small business is because incoming calls to the business are routed to that single external line first, which is actually connected to the internet. This is where VoIP technology and the software for the PBX come in.

Instead of sending data-packets of information over the internet, VoIP technology sends voice-packets, allowing the caller on the other end and the people inside the business office to talk to each other. Furthermore, a VoIP PBX is mainly software controlled, meaning that individual employees can be added and deleted with ease and calls can be transferred as easily as any other landline telephone PBX system.

Many businesses might think, however, that a VoIP PBX service may be too unreliable or it might not deliver all the calls that come to the business on a daily basis. However, small and large businesses and offices are able to take advantage of the VoIP PBX services. This business system allows all calls to be handled and all employees to be reached through one single telephone number as well as many other different features as well.

For example, voice messaging is allowed through VoIP PBX technology as well as call-waiting and automatic call distributions. Phone extension numbers can even be used to reach individual people and employees in a business so that customers don’t have to wait while their help is found.

All in all, the functionality of a VoIP PBX technology is not only worth it for any type of business in the long run, but is definitely a more cost-effective way to handle daily phone calls to and from the business or organization. They are one-time costs associated with a VoIP Private Business Exchange system, such as the software to manage the PBX, but the benefits of it all definitely outweigh whatever is paid.


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Is your email inbox a mess?

I learn a lot about a person from a glance at their email inbox or file management system. I recently worked with a client whose email inbox was, quite frankly, a mess. I define ‘mess’ by one or both of the following: too many unread messages and/or messages that are never deleted. If you fall into either of these categories, you are not alone. However, failure to delete your emails or at least create and move them into folders puts you at risk of missing out on potential new business. Worse, if you allow your messages to pile up without reviewing them, a lack of response may signal to existing customers that you’ve forgotten about them. It is not uncommon to receive 100 or more emails in your inbox in the course of a day’s work.

Here are two simple rules that can help you manage the high volume of emails.

RULE #1: Read the email once and file, flag, delete or reply.

RULE #2: Delete emails that do not contain important information.

Are you bewildered about file management?

It’s equally important to keep the files on your computer organized and up-to-date. The goal of computer file management is to ensure that you can always find what you’re looking for, even years after its creation. What good is all your hard work if you can’t find where you stored your file?

These file management tips will help you keep your files accessible:

1. Organize by file types. Make applications easier to find by creating a folder called Program Files on your drive and keeping all your applications there. For instance, the executables for Word, PowerPoint, QuickBooks, and WinZip should all reside in the Program Files folder.

2. One place for all. Place all documents in the My Documents folder and nowhere else. Whether it’s a spreadsheet, a business letter or a PowerPoint presentation, make sure to save it there. This will make it easier to locate your files and to run backups.

3. Create folders in My Documents. Having trouble naming your folders? Envision your folders as the drawers of your computer’s filing cabinet. Use plain language to name your folders. Otherwise, you may be looking at this list of folders in the future and wonder what ‘rtm’ or some other invented abbreviation means. Create file and folder names that are meaningful to you. Keep business and personal folders separate.

4. Nest folders within folders. Create other folders within these main folders as need arises. For instance, a folder called ‘invoices’ might contain folders called “2007″, and “2008″. A folder named for a client might include the folders “customerdata” and “correspondence”. The goal is to have every file in a folder rather than having a bunch of orphan files listed.

5. Follow the file naming conventions. Do not use spaces in file names, keep file names under 27 characters, and use all lower case. So a file named for a client should be “susansmith” rather than “Susan Smith”. If you break any of these rules, be consistent about it.

6. Be specific. Give files logical, specific names and include dates in file names if possible. The goal when naming files is to be able to tell what the file is about without having to open it and review. So if the document is a letter to a customer reminding him that payment is overdue, call it “overdue091207″ rather than “letter”. This allows you to know to whom the letter was written without opening it.

7. File as you go. The best time to file a document is when you first create it. So get in the habit of using the “Save As” dialogue box to file and name your document. Put it in the right place in the first place.

8. Order your files for your convenience. If there are folders or files that you use a lot, force them to the top of the file list by renaming them with a “1″ or an “aa” at the beginning of the file name.

9. Clear out your files regularly. Sometimes what’s old is obvious as in the example of the folder named “invoices” above. If it’s not, keep your folders uncluttered by clearing out the old files. Do NOT delete business related files unless you are absolutely certain that you will never need the file again. Instead, in your main collection of folders in

Documents, create a folder called “old” or “inactive” and move old files into it as you come across them.

10. Back up your files regularly. Whether you’re copying your files onto a flash drive, a disk, or an online storage site, it’s important to set up and follow a regular back up regimen. Protect your files from loss due to viruses, hackers, and damage.

Save often but know where you’re saving. There is a place for everything and everything in its place.


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How You Can Add A USB 2.0 Hub To Your Computer

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Edi Reference

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