Forward Calls

[AlphaCS]

Okay need some input from you guys. I need to get a business line and stop giving out my personal cell phone. I am using toktumi line2 for my iphone and its works great but there is one major problem.... Its way to easy to forget to turn the app on which is no good. So most likely I need some sort of VOIP phone forwarded to my cell phone. Here are my issues with this. What number with show up on my caller ID if someone calls my forwarded number? I just want some way of distinguishing a personal and business line and obviously want them to only see my business forwarded line's number. Does that make sense? Thanks for the input!

 

[Bloogen]

I currently use RingCentral and I have had great success with it. It is essentially a virtual PBX system that will allow to to do what you are looking for and more. You can forward a number to your phone which will display the callers ID but can prompt you before accepting the call, ex. "You have a caller, to accept this call press 1 or press 3 to send it to voicemail"

You can also make VOIP calls through the iPhone app and desktop based software which will display your caller ID on their side. You can also use the web based caller to call you wherever you are and then connect you with the client and that will also display your caller ID.

Let me know if you have any other questions about it but I can personally vouch for the system and I've sued a couple including Onebox & Grasshopper.

 

[AlphaCS]

Hey thanks. I check them out and may have a few questions.

PS . I really like your website.

 

[Appleby]

I've been down this road. Here is what I do...

I've got a personal cell number and a business cell number. The business cell it just an added line to my plan for $10/month. I don't want to carry two phones all the time but simply forwarding the business cell to the personal cell doesn't solve the problem, because as you said, I can't tell if it's a business call or not because I just see the number listed in the caller ID.

My solution: I got a Google Voice number. I set up my voice mail with GV for my business. I then forward my business line to my GV number. I then have GV ring my personal cell and I told GV to show my GV number in the caller ID, NOT the org. caller's caller ID. I then put my GV number in my personal cell contacts. When you call my business cell it ends up ringing my personal cell with my GV number as the caller ID. I know if it's a personal call or a business call and answer accordingly. If I don't answer the business call GV voicemail pics up the call.

Clear as mud?

Business cell forward to GV. GV rings personal cell and show GV number.

Hope that helps....

 

[thecomputerguy]

I've been down this road. Here is what I do...

I've got a personal cell number and a business cell number. The business cell it just an added line to my plan for $10/month. I don't want to carry two phones all the time but simply forwarding the business cell to the personal cell doesn't solve the problem, because as you said, I can't tell if it's a business call or not because I just see the number listed in the caller ID.

My solution: I got a Google Voice number. I set up my voice mail with GV for my business. I then forward my business line to my GV number. I then have GV ring my personal cell and I told GV to show my GV number in the caller ID, NOT the org. caller's caller ID. I then put my GV number in my personal cell contacts. When you call my business cell it ends up ringing my personal cell with my GV number as the caller ID. I know if it's a personal call or a business call and answer accordingly. If I don't answer the business call GV voicemail pics up the call.

Clear as mud?

Business cell forward to GV. GV rings personal cell and show GV number.

Hope that helps....

This is the way to do it ... just did the same exact setup today except no business line forwarding ... use the google voice number as the primary until I decide when or if I want to get a local LAN line.

 

[TimJacobs]

I have my GV number and Ring Central.

I am using Ring Central as the Primary line. Why you ask???
What happens in 2012 when Google decides to charge everyone for their GV#?
I don't want to be one of them that is not prepared for it....
They may have a flat fee of they may have a per min charge......
Who knows for sure. I know how much Ring Central will be every month and I can always expand if I need to....

 

[dogskool]

I forward my landline to my cell phone.

If I don't answer, it goes to Google Voice where I get a transcribed text message and an email with their return phone # as a link to instant dial.

Never have to write down a phone # or message.

And GV stores all my messages for future reference.

 

[AlphaCS]

I've been down this road. Here is what I do...

I've got a personal cell number and a business cell number. The business cell it just an added line to my plan for $10/month. I don't want to carry two phones all the time but simply forwarding the business cell to the personal cell doesn't solve the problem, because as you said, I can't tell if it's a business call or not because I just see the number listed in the caller ID.

My solution: I got a Google Voice number. I set up my voice mail with GV for my business. I then forward my business line to my GV number. I then have GV ring my personal cell and I told GV to show my GV number in the caller ID, NOT the org. caller's caller ID. I then put my GV number in my personal cell contacts. When you call my business cell it ends up ringing my personal cell with my GV number as the caller ID. I know if it's a personal call or a business call and answer accordingly. If I don't answer the business call GV voicemail pics up the call.

Clear as mud?

Business cell forward to GV. GV rings personal cell and show GV number.

Hope that helps....

When you return a call what number shows up on their end?

 

[Frank]

When you return a call what number shows up on their end?

I use a Google Voice app on my phone which shows my Google Voice number on their caller ID. I could also load the Google Voice web site and call from my Google Voice number, as well.

What happens in 2012 when Google decides to charge everyone for their GV#?

I haven't looked into RingCentral yet, but if Google decides to charge, I'll just port my number if necessary.

 

[The Silent Hobo]

If you have a droid or a blackberry (not sure about Iphone), they actually have google voice app where you can dial out and send SMS messages through it, it's not bad, it's what I have on my blackberry

 

[Frank]

If you have a droid or a blackberry (not sure about Iphone), they actually have google voice app where you can dial out and send SMS messages through it, it's not bad, it's what I have on my blackberry

They have it for the iPhone, too. It's very handy.

 

[AdamsAPlus]

I use toktumi. I love it. I don't use the 2line. What I do when I make a call out I dial my own toktumi number. Then it asks me if I want to listen to voicemail or call out. When I call out then person I am calling get my toktumi number on their phone.

Also I have it set up where when they call my business phone number it show up on my callerID on my cell phone with my business number. That way when I get a call I know if it is business call or not. I have also had it set up at one time to go to auto attendant and when they hit a number then it gives me their number and the number they hit on my caller ID. So if I see a number that is longer than 10 digits then I know it came from the business number.

Toktumi has a lot of features but you just have to play around with them to see them all.

 

[ATTech]

What happens in 2012 when Google decides to charge everyone for their GV#?

The same thing that happened when they started charging for GMail, or GDocs, or Google Sites, or Google Earth, or Google Code, or... you should get the picture by now.

I've been down this road. Here is what I do...

I've got a personal cell number and a business cell number. The business cell it just an added line to my plan for $10/month. I don't want to carry two phones all the time but simply forwarding the business cell to the personal cell doesn't solve the problem, because as you said, I can't tell if it's a business call or not because I just see the number listed in the caller ID.

My solution: I got a Google Voice number. I set up my voice mail with GV for my business. I then forward my business line to my GV number. I then have GV ring my personal cell and I told GV to show my GV number in the caller ID, NOT the org. caller's caller ID. I then put my GV number in my personal cell contacts. When you call my business cell it ends up ringing my personal cell with my GV number as the caller ID. I know if it's a personal call or a business call and answer accordingly. If I don't answer the business call GV voicemail pics up the call.

Clear as mud?

Business cell forward to GV. GV rings personal cell and show GV number.

Hope that helps....

Why not cut out the middle man and port the business line to Google Voice?

 

[agile]

Using Google Voice same as above posters. Seems to work well for my current needs.

 

[nepcrepair]

When you return a call what number shows up on their end?

It depends how you return the call. If you just call right out from your
cell (or whatever GV forwards to) then that number will show up.

Or, you can call your GV number and then push #2 to make an outgoing
call, dial the number and then your GV # shows up on the customers id.
You can also login to GV and use the page to make calls. It calls your GV
phone and when you answer it is already ringing the customers phone.

We use GV and we love it. While I'm in the shop the GV numbers rings
at the shop. When I leave it rings on my cell phone. I got a separate
cell phone just for the business so I know its always a business call when
that phone rings.

BTY our cell phone only cost $29.95 (no taxes or extra fees) for 1200
minutes, 2000 text, and 100MB of data. The plan runs on the Verizon network
but is not Verizon billing

So for $29.95 a month we are all set. Also, the GV website is amazing. It
has tons of options and we just love how it keeps a intricate log of our
calls.

 

[nepcrepair]

I have my GV number and Ring Central.

I am using Ring Central as the Primary line. Why you ask???
What happens in 2012 when Google decides to charge everyone for their GV#?
I don't want to be one of them that is not prepared for it....
They may have a flat fee of they may have a per min charge......
Who knows for sure. I know how much Ring Central will be every month and I can always expand if I need to....

Whats to say Ring Central won't ever raise their rates?

 

[myPCTechs]

It's a good time to get into Google Voice. There were several months of sketchy service last year where the service was poor, calls were being lost, a lot of complaints by users in the forums, etc. etc. They since have had some serious upgrades and the service has been solid for us for many months now.

That's the only downside I can see to using this service - with a paid telco you're paying a bill and have someone you can call/hold feet to the fire when things go south. With Google no one will ever respond to your complaints.

 

[bdhageman]

Like some of the others I just have my Google Voice line ring my cell, I put an entry in my phone book so I see it is the line that is calling and also assigned it a unique ring tone. On call back I use the Google voice App on my BlackBerry.

 

[AlphaCS]

I would love to use google voice but there is never any numbers in my area. I currently trying to work out my issues with line2. Does anyone else use toktumi line2?

 

[RegEdit]

I use Voicemail Depot. For my out going message I give them my phone number (to speak to a real human) and I tell them to visit my web site if possible for complete details including pricing and other information to weed out people with PC's under warranty, people with old PC's that aren't worth fixing, etc.