Phone Systems

Re: Phone Systems

Rob Davis — Sun, 25 Mar 2012 16:53:10 GMT

[quote user="Malcolm Ness"]A (minor) problem is that the head-sets we have are quite discreet and sometimes a receptionist can be dealing with a call and it is not obvious to another client or staff member who tries to engage them in conversation.[/quote]

We use these and have the same problem. I have suggested there should be a flashing red light on the top of their head when they are on the phone, but this doesn't seem to meet with universal approval!

Re: Phone Systems

Malcolm Ness — Sun, 25 Mar 2012 13:25:04 GMT

We have "phone headsets on reception.

They need to be, very light-weight, extremely comfortable and "mobile" (ie no cables) otherwise the receptionists won't use them. A (minor) problem is that the head-sets we have are quite discreet and sometimes a receptionist can be dealing with a call and it is not obvious to another client or staff member who tries to engage them in conversation.

The functionality (and availability) seems to depend on the parent 'phone system. Ours let the receptionist hold calls etc.

Re: Phone Systems

kirsty — Sun, 25 Mar 2012 09:44:46 GMT

Slightly off topic but does anyone use head sets for receptionists? Any good and can you put clients on hold with them?

Re: Phone Systems

Ian Mostyn — Sat, 24 Mar 2012 22:35:55 GMT

[quote user="Colin Thomson"]We use VOIP internally but the advice we got (about 18 months ago) was that it was still probably only 99.5% reliable for external calls. We felt that was too much of a risk for our business, so we use VOIP internally, but still have ISDN channels ( and a few analogue lines) for our external connections.

Colin

[/quote]

We have our PSTN lines coming in from BT then converted to digital - a hybrid system. We make most outgoing calls by VOIP but have the fail safe of the PSTN lines. Any critical system should have back-ups and failsafes in place - just needs proper planning. ISDN would probably be better than PSTN but that is a future possible upgrade.

Ian

Re: Phone Systems

Mark Rowland — Sat, 24 Mar 2012 07:21:38 GMT

[quote user="Kate Richardson"]

[quote user="Mark Rowland"]

Nope Im sure you havent!

[/quote]

Top photo! Needs a little thought bubble attached....caption competition anyone?

[/quote]

Ha Ha he looks quite content there doesnt he? Blisfully unaware of the numb feeling he was soon to experience between his back legs and the thought of being 2 stones lighter!

Re: Phone Systems

Colin Thomson — Sat, 24 Mar 2012 00:11:54 GMT

[quote user="Chris Reichmann"]

VOIP is definitely the way forward! We use 3CX with Cisco phones.

[/quote]

We use VOIP internally but the advice we got (about 18 months ago) was that it was still probably only 99.5% reliable for external calls. We felt that was too much of a risk for our business, so we use VOIP internally, but still have ISDN channels ( and a few analogue lines) for our external connections.

Colin

Re: Phone Systems

Kate Richardson — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 23:06:59 GMT

[quote user="Chris Reichmann"]

VOIP is definitely the way forward! We use 3CX with Cisco phones.

[/quote]

Is that what the pig is thinking?

Re: Phone Systems

Chris Reichmann — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 23:03:20 GMT

VOIP is definitely the way forward! We use 3CX with Cisco phones.

Re: Phone Systems

Kate Richardson — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 22:57:55 GMT

[quote user="Mark Rowland"]

Nope Im sure you havent!

[/quote]

Top photo! Needs a little thought bubble attached....caption competition anyone?

Re: Phone Systems

Ian Mostyn — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 22:56:05 GMT

Streamline are doing card machines now that connect via broadband rather than a dedicated line so that could save you one phone line. Obviously the broadband can be on one of the other lines and I would vote for fibre optic - much better speeds. We are using a VOIP system now based on Asterisk with Gradwell for our outgoing calls - £30 per month for 500 mins mobile and £8 per month for unlimited landlines. We have Cisco phones that have many advanced features - call parking, individual voicemail, busy line indicators, paging etc. It did take a bit of setting up and testing, especially with echo problems at the start with some cheaper equipment - you get what you pay for. Now it is set-up and working well and the savings in call charges more than pay for the equipment. ISDN digital channels may also be a better bet than standard business phone lines - call quality should be better.

Ian

Re: Phone Systems

Mark Rowland — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 17:38:27 GMT

Nope Im sure you havent!

Re: Phone Systems

Bob Russell — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 17:32:52 GMT

As long as I have not persuaded you to buy a pig in a poke!

Re: Phone Systems

Mark Rowland — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 17:27:16 GMT

Thanks Bob Ive had a look on ebay and there are some good BT systems that look very usable and cheap too. One of my clients did out electrics and installed our phones so Im sure I can get him on the case (He's got 20 new vivs to plumb in anyway).

Many thanks again, I think you could have saved me quite a lot of cash so Im really in your debt

Mark

Re: Phone Systems

Bob Russell — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 16:33:29 GMT

We have two incoming lines plus one that is used for outgoing calls and incoming faxes. I think the credit card machine is internet. Our system tips a third call/unanswered calls to an answering machine. The message tells clients to leave a message but in emergency they can dial 0 and it triggers an emergency ring so we know there is a call that needs immediate attention. So far over the last couple of years this has never been abused!

Re: Phone Systems

Mark Hedberg — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 15:46:31 GMT

2 phone lines isn't really enough either if you're really busy. The bottleneck in the practice I worked in was also making sure you had reception staff to cover the extra lines.

Re: Phone Systems

Bob Russell — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 15:43:27 GMT

Go for a reconditioned system with installation. Ebay is (surprisingly) a good place to start. The systems become dirt cheap when removed and reconditioned.

We were conned into a system that was going to 'save' us money and pay for itself! The figures looked convincing but turned out to be bullsh*t! We were well and truly done.

Make sure you have a maintenance contract on it and second hand will do fine. Stick to a good name (Panasonic/NEC/BT), they are built like tanks! Just be careful with the cost of extra cards to do things you really don't need!

There are DIY options if you are keen but this is your livelihood so you don't want it to go wrong.

Please, please don't get the All Creatures Great & Small theme for on hold!!!

A good example if you can find an installer (Yellow Pages):

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/phone-systems-/220979997627?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item33736f2bbb#ht_500wt_1202

I am not suggesting this particular item as I don't know anything about it but there are plenty of similar items.