Computer Phone System

Office computer phone systems are becoming more common among small and large businesses, university campuses, and home offices, through connections to broadband, high-speed communication services. One of the first things a new user will notice that is really different from other phone systems is the omission of area codes. Now, no matter where a call is going within the caller's area code, dialing seven digits will complete the connection. The seconds saved by dialing only seven numbers will add up during a day when telephone traffic is heavy. In addition, this system offers the same conveniences a businessperson can receive through conventional telephone set-ups.

Call forwarding can be an important feature on any business telephone because of the freedom it offers to the business owner. One doesn't have to be present in the office to receive important calls. Along with this feature of the computer phone system comes the ability to do it from any computer if someone forgets to forward calls before leaving the office but thinks of it later. Since computers are so prevalent, finding a public station in a restaurant or hotel is usually not a problem. Also included in the package is caller ID, which allows a person to know who's on the other end of the line before picking up. Of course, one must choose a phone with a display window to view this information. 

With land telephone service there is a list with the monthly bill that logs all incoming and outgoing calls from the billed number. There is no record of calls missed because there was not a completed connection. However, with office computer phone systems, you can get a log that shows missed calls in addition to all those that were completed. It can be an advantage to know who was trying to call but did not get through, and didn't leave a message. This service is unique to the high-speed computer phone system. Call return, the ability to dial 69 and immediately call back the last number that dialed in, has been available for landline phones for some time, but there is a fee above the regular monthly bill for the computer phone system service. These phones provide this service free of charge.

Call waiting is another regularly available feature that has a twist with the computer phone system. Instead of just hearing a beep letting a person know there is someone calling while he is on another call, there is also a display of the name and number of the caller so a decision as to whether or not to accept the call can intelligently be made. A simple press of the flash button or switch hook will put the current caller on hold while the second call is accepted, then the same procedure gets back to the original call. That procedure is the same as with landline phones. 

Because of the unique connection, placing calls to persons on the computer address list is simplified by simply clicking on the telephone connection by a name, and the number is automatically dialed. This feature, called "click to call" is a timesaver, especially when making a series of calls for a meeting. Also, where there is more than one line in an office, different rings can be chosen so they are easily distinguishable from one another before answering. This is particularly important if each line represents a different business the owner is running. The businessman, when setting up office computer phone systems, can make the choice.

Most people have addresses and telephone numbers stored electronically in a cell phone, or handwritten in a pocket directory, and another list on the computer that is used only for online communications. With office computer phone systems, all of that information can be electronically stored, and will be accessible to the telephone through the click to call mentioned above. On the other side of the coin, there are times when a person doesn't want any telephone connections to disturb him while he's working on something, or in conference with someone. That's when the "do not disturb" feature comes into play. This feature of the computer phone system sends calls directly to Voicemail where callers will hear a message stating calls are not being accepted. Quiet is valuable for recuperating from stress and prayer, and its value is even mentioned in Scripture. "Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven." (Psalm 107:30) 

Still another feature of the office computer phone systems is one that allows calls to multiple numbers, one after the other, so that if the businessman is visiting several clients and doesn't want to miss a call he's expecting, the call can follow him to wherever he's going. Cell phones have allowed people to be connected any time of day or night already, but some of these features not found on the cell are particularly beneficial to business offices through their electronic connections. It may well be the wave of the future.