My growing, creaking, unrurly phone system

mkeathley

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I decided to create a new thread because I want to explore maybe even non-pbx options here.

Let me describe my current office phone system. I like many of you started my business with a cell phone. Currently this is a boost mobile cheapo phone with Bluetooth support. As my business grew I needed a 2nd line. I needed the phone to be able to ring when I called out or was on the phone. I bought a magicjack as this is only $20/yr.

Currently I have a Panasonic cordless phone system with 5 handsets. It connects to my boost mobile main line via Bluetooth. Behaving much like a Bluetooth headset does. The corded line into the Panasonic is my magicjack line.

When Someone calls my mobile main line it rings all 5 of the Panasonic cordless phones. Usually my front counter person answer it. If they need to transfer the call to me they hit the mute button and walk the phone over to me.


I don't need 5 phones. But I do need 3 phones. 1.) On my front counter persons desk. 2.) On my desk. 3.) In my main workshop area.

I uses approx. 3000 minutes a month.

I looked at RingCentral. But it looks like this will cost me $90/mnth.
I'd like to stay in the $45/mnth or under category.

I looked about hosting my own FreePBX or similar setup. But I'm extremely confused about what VoIP provider can help me. I've been clicking on links for hours and I'm just more confused. I think I need a SIP provider who can provide me 2 channels and unlimited minutes?

Or would I be better off porting my boost mobile number to another magicjack device and buying 3 two-line telephones from my local office depot?
 
Any voip provider that does "Sip Trunks" can probably do what you want.

I would suggest flowroute.com, les.net, and all the ones on the voip-info wiki that are recommended.

Don't just google for a sip provider though.. too many bad quality resellers out there.

If you want to not worry about running your own PBX, there are good hosted options out there..

I hear a lot of people using ringcentral.
 
I decided to create a new thread because I want to explore maybe even non-pbx options here.

Let me describe my current office phone system. I like many of you started my business with a cell phone. Currently this is a boost mobile cheapo phone with Bluetooth support. As my business grew I needed a 2nd line. I needed the phone to be able to ring when I called out or was on the phone. I bought a magicjack as this is only $20/yr.

Currently I have a Panasonic cordless phone system with 5 handsets. It connects to my boost mobile main line via Bluetooth. Behaving much like a Bluetooth headset does. The corded line into the Panasonic is my magicjack line.

When Someone calls my mobile main line it rings all 5 of the Panasonic cordless phones. Usually my front counter person answer it. If they need to transfer the call to me they hit the mute button and walk the phone over to me.


I don't need 5 phones. But I do need 3 phones. 1.) On my front counter persons desk. 2.) On my desk. 3.) In my main workshop area.

I uses approx. 3000 minutes a month.

I looked at RingCentral. But it looks like this will cost me $90/mnth.
I'd like to stay in the $45/mnth or under category.

I looked about hosting my own FreePBX or similar setup. But I'm extremely confused about what VoIP provider can help me. I've been clicking on links for hours and I'm just more confused. I think I need a SIP provider who can provide me 2 channels and unlimited minutes?

Or would I be better off porting my boost mobile number to another magicjack device and buying 3 two-line telephones from my local office depot?


If you only need 2 channels, you might be able to get by with using Google Voice as your SIP trunk. I'm working on setting this up now and so far it's worked flawlessly. You can also go with vitelity as SAG suggested to me in a previous thread. http://pbxinaflash.com/vitelity/ They give you 2 channels unlimited for something like $3.99 a month. I've also seen people mention $30/mo for a full fledged SIP trunk.

I also just noticed that someone suggested flowroute.com in that thread as well.
 
When you say you need 3 phones, do you mean 3 extensions? 3 lines?
I can point you to a DECT base station with an unlimited supply of handsets, but that's still just one "line".

Remember, if you go VOIP you'll have to buy all new phones, or the very least, an ATA or two.

You said: "I think I need a SIP provider who can provide me 2 channels and unlimited minutes?"

I mentioned in another thread that for $30/mo you can get 3 channels (think of them as lines) and unlimited. But you'd still need a PBX, whether hosted or on premise. If that's the route you want to go, it's not hard at all to "set and forget".
 
We use Cytracom at the office. Works great and the IP phones can be moved anywhere in the world that have internet. (for instance, if I decide to work from home for a week, I just take my phone home and plug it in and my extension works as if I am sitting in the office.) Plus you can make some decent recurring revenue with Cytracom as a reseller.
 
I need 2 phone lines (channels?) and 3 extensions.

I often have someone calling in while we are on the phone thus why we need 2 lines.
 
As you can see your options are abundant.
It boils down to two things really:
* Do you want VOIP
* Do you want to maintain your own PBX
 
i have been using google voice for 2 yrs now no issues with obi adapter
it is used in a busy store environment

i have no idea why its still free, but im glad it is lol
 
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