CloudPhone Blog

Every June, sons and daughters present their fathers with cards, ties, sweaters and various other presents to show their appreciation for their dads. But whether you are a father or not, if you own a small business, this Father’s Day is as good a time as any to give yourself the gift of cloud communications.

Cloud communications can help your company cut expenses and boost productivity by offering big business functionality at a reasonable price. A cloud-based phone service, for example, is maintained by a third-party over the web, meaning you can invest in this gift without paying for a complicated installation or any hardware upkeep. Additionally, the phone system’s settings are also accessible through the web which allows you to make changes on the fly.

The vast array of features you can leverage with a cloud-based system lets you project a big business image even if you are a sole proprietor. For instance, top-shelf products offer:

• A toll free business-specific phone number to give to customers and contacts
• Reach Me Anywhere technology that connects your incoming business calls anywhere you choose on any device
• An auto attendant that greets callers professionally and presents them with menu options
• Voicemail transcription that lets you read your voicemails when you can’t listen
• Business-class voicemail to email that ensures you never lose an important old messag 
• Instant conference calling that facilitates collaboration among your employees

So even if your schedule is full this Father’s Day, find some time—maybe between breakfast in bed and dinner on the town—to investigate cloud communications. Because although Father’s Day comes only once per year, your company needs best-in-class business tools the other 364 as well.    

You want to get a local phone number for your business, but you don't want a landline and you don't want to carry--or pay--for another cell phone plan. We don't blame you. Local phone numbers can be invaluable for businesses looking to gain credibility in a local market, especially with businesses built and run out of a personal home. Getting a dedicated "virtual number" that routes to your mobile is a financially practical and convenient solution for your home-based business.

Virtual numbers work directly with the cell phone you already have, which means you have no equipment to buy, nothing to service, and just one phone to keep track of throughout the day. Getting a local phone number for your business is easy - and inexpensive- if you know where to look. Here's what you need to know before you select a provider:
1. User & Department Extensions
Just because you're a one person (or small) operation working from your home doesn't mean your business phone communications should suffer. Some services that provide virtual numbers may also offer multiple extensions to allow you to either hook up multiple people to the same line or create "departments" to give your company a bigger business feel -- after all, as an entrepreneur you do wear many hats! The number of extensions can impact the price, so be sure to choose what best fits your current needs. Voxox Cloud Phone offers unlimited extensions, with the option to add or remove extensions on the fly as your business changes, without charge.

2. Minutes
Some businesses use their calling features all the time and some just don't. Knowing how often you'll be on the phone will help you pick the best plan for your needs, at the best price. From paying per minute to plans of 1,000 to unlimited minutes, it's easy to find a calling plan that's right for you.
3. Text Messages
Clients and customers of days past may not have appreciated a business-related text message, but as people rely more on SMS for everyday communications, business to consumer SMS is on the rise. Imagine being able to text your client a meeting location, or update them on the status of a project with a simple text--and vice versa. It's fast and it's easy. If you're not sure text is right for you, look for a plan with a lower number of monthly messages and move up as you see fit. Or go for unlimited and text your heart out.
4. Number of Lines
The number of lines you can have on your single plans differs from the number of user and department extensions. Lines refer to new numbers. So if you have a home office and want two lines (say one is for clients and one is for your suppliers) you'll need to choose a plan that allows multiple phone numbers. Providers like Voxox Cloud Phone also let you choose between local and toll-free numbers, or a mix of both if you sign on with multiple lines. Read more here on why both types of numbers might be good for your business.
5. Features
Not all virtual phone numbers are created equal when it comes to features. Some features, like voicemail, come standard, but other conveniences like conference calling and voicemail transcription might come at a premium. Check out the listings of included features before you select a plan, and make sure you're not getting charged extra for those features you really want.
6. Free Trial
Just because you think you need something, doesn't mean you do. By seeking out a provider that offers a free trial period of at least 30 days, you'll have a chance to try the service and see if it fits your needs. If you love it, keep it. And if you don't, look for another provider or communication channel that better fits your business.
7. Management
Being able to manage your account easily on your own, without having to call a representative and wait on hold, is a life saver for busy business owners. Voxox Cloud Phone, for example, offers a simple and intuitive online management portal where you can add and remove lines and extensions, and pay your bill. You can even track activity to see if your current plan is right for your changing needs. If you find out it's not--go ahead and choose a new plan with the click of a button.
8. Cost
The cost of getting a local phone number via a virtual number is lower than you may think – considering the convenience and much needed features that should come with it. With a basic plan starting at just $12 from Voxox Cloud Phone, you shouldn’t have a problem finding something within your budget. Plus, unlike traditional mobile and landline plans, you don’t need to buy any extra equipment, or pay technician or start up fees.
Is there anything else you may want to consider when looking to get a local phone number for your business? Let us know and we’ll help answer your questions. Check out our plans and features here.

If you work from home, the idea of phone extensions for your business line may not have crossed your mind. Maybe you're a solo-preneur, or perhaps you have a few other colleagues dispersed across the country working from their own home offices or coffee shops. So, why would you need extensions if you don't have a traditional business phone system, or even a traditional business office?  While this may be the case, cloud technology has made it easy for businesses of all kinds to set up two or three digit extensions that route business calls directly to mobile phones of your team members through a virtual business phone system.  There are so many ways to use phone extensions to provide your clients with stellar customer service—no matter how big, small or distributed you are. Here are three scenarios to consider:

One Person Business

You're running the show. You have no one to answer to. So, why would you possibly need multiple phone extensions? Because even though you're a business of one, you still have different "departments"—ie: billing, customer service, scheduling, etc. By setting up phone extensions for these different aspects of your business, you'll create a big business feel, and give your clients the security they get when working with an established company. 

Here's a scenario: You own a jewelry store that is open by appointment only, but you also have an online retail site. To manage both all on your own, you have a virtual phone number with separate extensions for store hours and information, online purchases, appointment scheduling and customer support. By sharing general info like "store hours" you can let your clients know they'll need to schedule an appointment (which they can also do via phone) or you can direct them to your retail site—all without ever having to pick up the phone. When you're a one person business, you'll need all the time you can get to focus on other aspects of your company. 

Small Dispersed Team

Phone extensions are a great option for virtual small businesses with team members who live in different areas. Rather than providing a slew of phone numbers to clients and making them track down the right person, extensions can do the hard work for them. Whether you choose to have the extension route directly to a person or department, your callers will thank you.

Here's a scenario: You and your friends from your last agency job all got together and started your own consultancy. But since coming together, you've found yourself living in different cities. By setting up phone extensions, your clients are able to call your central business phone number and be directed to the correct person, all with the touch of a button. Your clients will never be the wiser that Jon, your tech guy, is working from his beach chair in Florida, or that your social media pro Sam is phoning in from Alaska. 

Unlimited Extensions

With only a few departments and a handful of employees, the idea of having access to an unlimited number of extensions might seem unnecessary. But if you get creative, extensions can allow you to give your customers top notch service. Think VIP extensions, hidden extensions, experimental marketing and product line extensions. You can find a few more unique ideas here.

Here's a scenario: You're a web development firm with some high-end clients. You know they want VIP treatment, so why not give them a hidden VIP extension? By creating their own private extension, you'll always know who is calling and they'll feel like Top Dog. This same idea also works for marketing. By creating custom extensions and placing them on different marketing materials - your website, flyers, Facebook, etc. — you'll know where your referrals are coming from. Ultimately helping you to better generate leads and improve your bottom line. 

Phone extensions are an easy way to improve your phone communications, and with unlimited extensions offered from Voxox Cloud Phone, there’s no limit on how creative you can get. To get started, you’ll need a virtual number—if you don’t already have one—but set-up is simple and you get a free trial too. Are you already using phone extensions for your small business? We’d love to hear about your experience. Share with us in the comments below or on social media –Facebook, Twitter, Google+, or LinkedIn.

If you are an entrepreneur who’s been itching to launch a new business, we have some news you’ll be happy to hear. Wells Fargo bank recently announced its intention to lend at least $100 billion in small business loans over the next five years.

Image Courtesy of Flickr User Steve Wilson

So now it’s time to ask yourself three simple questions:

1. Do you have a winning product or service idea?
   
   
2. Do you have a business plan?
   
   
3. Are you fully committed to launching a startup?

If you answered “yes,” to any of the three, it’s time to start researching how you can get your hands on some of the Wells Fargo funding and the tools you’ll need to get started.

The first thing every entrepreneur needs is a phone number where potential investors, business partners, clients and of course Wells Fargo can reach you to let you know you’re approved for a loan. But you don’t have the time or resources for an office or a traditional business phone system—so what can you do? Grab a small business phone number of course!  

With a feature-rich small business phone number through Cloud Phone you can get a company specific number that rings to an automated attendant, giving your callers the option to choose various departments or extensions even if every option rings straight to your mobile phone. Cloud Phone enables you to look and sound like a big business. Say goodbye to a physical office or a legacy phone system. There's no need to give out your personal contact information either. Simply leverage business-class phone features on a small business budget:

• Voicemail-to-email notification so important messages are returned quickly
• Auto attendants to greet callers professionally
• Virtual extensions that create a big business presence

In business, timing is everything and with Wells Fargo’s commitment to small business lending, your moment for startup success may be at hand. So strike while the iron is hot! 

Growing small businesses often struggle with phone services that are difficult to set up and costly to scale to their ever-changing needs. So, if you’re like most small businesses, your phone service is a major pain point and sometimes even causes more communications blunders than it solves. With all the options on the market, it can be difficult for small business owners to find the right phone service to fit their needs, but with a cloud-based phone service all those stress-inducing thoughts can become a thing of the past.

Photo courtesy of Sebastiaan ter Burg

There's a number of cloud phone service options that are specially designed to provide full service telephone capabilities to the small business owner without costly equipment or difficult installation. In fact, by utilizing the reliable technology and feature-rich functionality of the right cloud phone solution, small businesses can unlock the potential benefits hidden within the phones they already have.

Here’s how a cloud-based phone service will change your small business for good…

Eliminate Hardware Costs         

A cloud phone service can give your business the professional image you're looking for without requiring any special on-site hardware for you or a technical person to manage. Incoming calls placed to your business phone number, which is nestled in the cloud, can be forwarded to your employees' existing cells through simple extensions for each employee or department. This type of web-based phone solution not only makes things easy for you to manage, but it also gives the perception of a bigger business.

Convenient Calling Features

With a cloud phone service, you get all the amenities you love from a sophisticated phone system – a single business number, a customizable professional greeting and extensions that can reach employees worldwide -- without all the things you don’t, like upfront fees, bulky hardware and costly maintenance. Plus, with all calls routing from a single business phone number, a cloud-based phone service removes the necessity for you and your team to use personal cell phone numbers for business communications.

Connect From Anywhere

If missed calls, lost messages and tracking down employees have dented your bottom-line, a cloud-based phone solution could be the answer to your communication problems. The ideal cloud-based communication service connects everyone in the company on any device through a single business phone number. Not only does it save a ton of money on long-distance and international calls, but it’s also a great solution for mobile employees and companies that don’t have a traditional office setting. 

The truth is, there isn’t a business phone service available that is easier to set up and manage than a cloud-based phone service. Owning a business can be overwhelming, but Voxox Cloud Phone can help take the complexity out the equation and simplify your life, so you can focus on more important things, like running your business!

Does your company use a cloud-based phone service to stay in touch? Or, do you have questions on how to get started? Join the conversation by posting in the comments below or connecting with us on social media – Facebook, Twitter. 

For those small business owners not already familiar with the term, a small business virtual phone might seem like a daunting concept. Is it some kind of Sci-Fi device that allows you to make a call simply by thinking about it? Maybe it’s a holographic design that lets you dial from thin air. The truth, on many levels, is far simpler.

A virtual phone system simply delivers all the features and functionality of a traditional PBX without the hardware and wiring. In other words, you get a business-specific number and can set up extensions, greetings and customized away messages using only your mobile phone. The entire system is preconfigured and maintained in the cloud, delivered entirely over the Internet.

At this point maybe you are thinking the idea of a virtual phone isn’t so complicated after all. Still, actually getting this kind of technology up and running must be a job for only the most tech savvy individuals. But in fact, you can get your own business-specific number in less than a minute just by typing in your existing cell number. From there, customizing your settings is quick and easy. In almost no time at all you make your small or microbusiness look like a Fortune 500 juggernaut.

Now that the issues of fully comprehending and implementing a virtual phone system are understood, you may still be left with the sneaking suspicion that it is way out of your price range. Conversely,  in many cases these products are designed specifically with small businesses in mind, meaning prices are quite reasonable

Now that you have all the facts, switching to a virtual phone system like Cloud Phone probably seems far more doable. Good! Because you’ll find that as soon as you decide to take action you can make virtualization a reality.

You want to take a vacation this summer. But you can’t afford to completely shut your company's doors for two weeks. Have no fear – your virtual PBX service is here to help.

Entrepreneurs are busy people. Early meetings, long days and late nights make for success– but come summertime everyone wants to get out and enjoy the sunshine. While many might think they can’t take a break without putting a hold on business matters, the truth is cloud technologies like virtual PBX allow entrepreneurs to keep tabs on their business while globetrotting.

Here are a few convenient ways you can use a virtual PBX service to stay in touch with colleagues and clients while abroad:

1. Keep your same number, even abroad.

Making clients pay to call you (aka international fees) is never a "feel good" moment. Plus, clients can get confused by the international area codes, so you might miss important calls and business opportunities, etc.. With a virtual PBX service, you can keep your same number no matter where you are. Say you're traveling in Mexico, but your virtual number (from your virtual PBX service) has a U.S. area code. All your U.S. contacts can reach you via your dedicated U.S. business number, regardless of your actual location, and you can pick and choose which business calls to take and which ones to send to voicemail. 

2. Manage your phone system from anywhere.

Having complete control of your business phone system is important and saves a lot of headaches. Managing bills and settings with a virtual PBX system is easy. Since virtual PBXs are web-based services you can change your settings from anywhere around the world. Add a line, remove a line, read notifications, etc. No matter what you need to do, it can be done from your app or browser. Make sure you select a virtual PBX provider with a simple user experience yet robust features and functionality.

3. Transfer calls on the fly.

Have you ever been on an important phone call, only to have to hang up because of a dead cell battery? It happens more than you might want, and slows down business. That’s where call transfer comes in handy. When your business phone number is through a virtual PBX system, it's possible to transfer calls on the fly from one device to another wherever you are in the world. Say your mobile that you've been using on WiFi has a low battery. Just switch over to your hotel room phone while it charges. Not all virtual PBX services offer this feature, so ask before you buy because it's very handy for travel!

4. Call recording.

Say you want to take advantage of your new time zone for a quick call with an international business contact who has the opposite work time schedule with you when you're at home. Record your call and send it over to your team back at home and delegate some action items!  When you select your virtual PBX service provider, take a look at the feature list and make sure you see the call recording feature on there. Super convenient. 

5. View faxes anywhere.

Faxes may be on the way out as far as popular business communications go. But when you need to read them, you need to read them. Say you need to review a time-sensitive contract for your colleagues back home to sign off on. Rather than bottlenecking their progress until you’re back in the office, have them fax you the contract. Take a look and shoot them a call, text or email approval. It’s that easy, and your clients (and staffers!) will appreciate your attention.

With a virtual PBX phone system and a little know-how, it’s possible for entrepreneurs to take a break without completely shutting their doors for business. Before you head out on your getaway, be sure to find the perfect virtual PBX system for your needs (we can help!) and don’t forget to check back for Part 2 of this post, which highlights a few ways you can avoid roaming charges while abroad.

We are excited to announce that Cloud Phone now includes free business texting for all of its calling plan subscribers. This is particularly awesome because many popular virtual PBX services do not offer two-way texting for free within their monthly calling plans. We are including between 1,000 and 5,000 monthly text messages at no additional charge for Cloud Phone customers because we want to provide the best business value. 

Check out our full press release below:

Voxox Cloud Phone Adds Free Two-Way Business Texting Across U.S. and Canada for Customers with Paid Monthly Calling Plans
Two-way SMS is typically not included without additional cost with popular virtual PBX services, differentiating Cloud Phone for its business value
SAN DIEGO – October 5, 2016 – Voxox®, innovator in cloud communication solutions for businesses with the most comprehensive Unified Communications Platform as a Service, today announced that it has included two-way texting at no additional cost for all customers subscribed to Cloud Phone, the cloud-based virtual phone system for entrepreneurs and very small businesses. The paid subscription plans, which range from 1,000 to 5,000 minutes per month, will now also include between 1,000 to 5,000 free text messages per month, depending on the plan. Popular virtual PBX services typically do not include two-way texting within their monthly calling plans without extra charges or fees. The inclusion of free SMS for Cloud Phone customers is in line with Voxox's strategy to differentiate its services by providing the best business value. 
"Two-way SMS has been our most requested feature for Cloud Phone with 60 percent of customers indicating in surveys their desire to add business texting to their accounts," said Bryan Hertz, CEO and co-founder of Voxox. "Not only did we add the feature but we also included it for free with all Cloud Phone calling plans, which is unorthodox in our space. Our goal with Cloud Phone is to disrupt the marketplace with innovative features and unique offers that empower micro-businesses."                                                                                                                                            
Cloud Phone enables “micro-businesses” (businesses that operate on a very small scale), as well as individuals and small organizations seeking a business-grade telephone presence, to easily obtain local and toll free numbers that support up to 25 extensions and advanced call routing capabilities. With Cloud Phone, users can place and receive calls, manage call activity, access features such as voicemail transcription, call recording, device transfer, faxing, and much more -- all within a sleek, elegant design. No special equipment or advanced skills are necessary to use Cloud Phone. Once a Do It Yourself (DIY) set-up is completed online, all that a user needs is a calling device (e.g., mobile or landline phone) to which calls can be routed. The effortless user experience and set-up process, which can be completed in less than a minute, along with highly competitive global calling rates and exceptional call quality, are key differentiators as compared to alternative solutions.
Cloud Phone comes with a complementary mobile app for iOS and Android. The Cloud Phone mobile app leverages Voxox's new breakthrough VoIP codec, a technology used to encode and compress voice signals into digital form for transmission. This is particularly significant for small businesses with a disbursed or traveling workforce, as the codec dramatically improves voice quality in poor bandwidth settings, such as hotels, convention centers, rural locations, etc. To hear the dramatic difference visit, www.voxox.com/codecdemo.
Apart from two-way business texting available through Cloud Phone, Voxox also offers wholesale SMS services for text-enabling business communications through a web service API. More information available at http://www.voxox.com/business/sms.
To sign up for Cloud Phone, please visit www.cloudphone.com.
About Voxox
Voxox is an innovator in unified cloud communication solutions for businesses. The foundation of the company's offerings is its award-winning unified communications Platform as a Service, which enables the company and its customers to build powerful, scalable applications and services. For end-users, Voxox provides an extensive suite of carrier-grade business phone solutions, including its flagship business app, Cloud Phone, as well as SIP Trunking, hosted PBX, and a wide array of wholesale services, such as high volume SMS. For service provider partners, Voxox delivers cutting-edge mobile and desktop applications that integrate voice, video, messaging, fax, media sharing and more. Voxox is headquartered in San Diego. For more information, please visit http://www.voxox.com.

Over the past few years, the business communications landscape has changed dramatically. From the rise of social media, to the influx of smartphone users, it’s obvious that technologies affect the way we communicate-- and businesses around the world are working hard to adapt in order to better reach their customers. So what’s in store for 2015?  Virtual numbers.

While virtual numbers are not a new thing, they are the new thing for small businesses in the recent past and increasingly so in the coming year. Virtual numbers not only save businesses money by removing the need for expensive equipment and set-up fees, but they also offer a slew of other perks, like giving callers a more professional vibe and in-call features you’d only dream of getting with an expensive phone system.

Here's a look into how virtual numbers will shape your business communications this year…

1. Mobile advantage. 

Virtual numbers leverage something that practically everyone keeps on their person at all times: their cell phones. For small teams, dealing with vendors and generally keeping things running takes up enough time, so if you have to chase after a ringing desk phone or be at a desk to listen to messages, chances are inquiries from potential customers will go unanswered. Much easier to keep connected through a virtual PBX service, whether you’re on the go or in the office.

2. High tech features. 

Toll-free numbers, extensions, call forwarding, and an auto attendant are just a few examples of the cool (and useful) features you get with virtual numbers. Not only do these tools help you provide better communications for your customers and team members, but they also give the appearance of a large corporation. Even if your small business has just a few employees, you have the ability to make your business look as large as you desire, as your auto attendant can route callers to individual extensions or departments such as sales, customer service, and billing.

3. Global connectivity.

Since virtual numbers can travel with you anywhere your cellphone gets reception, they can keep you, your highly mobile staff or your remote workers in touch – no matter where on the globe you may go. Plus, when purchasing virtual numbers you have the ability to choose the numbers’ area codes, which could position you as a local business in many places at the same time.

While there are always new challenges to tackle with each new year,  there are also a lot of terrific opportunities thanks to the continually advancing communications technologies, and the proliferation of virtual numbers is a great example. Most of the changes we’ll see in the next few years have already started to happen, but they will continue to accelerate—giving forward thinking businesses a leg up on the competition. The future is already here, but is your business ready?

What technological challenges and opportunities do you see in store for new businesses in 2015?

Do you operate your business from the comfort of a home office? Well, you are certainly far from alone. According to Forbes 52 percent of all small businesses are home-based, which makes sense given the economic advantages. As you know, working at home saves money on office space and travel while simultaneously providing great work/life balance. 

But even if your home-based business is thriving, you may still be encountering some age-old problems associated with home offices. For instance, what phone number do you give out to customers? If it’s your landline, you risk one of your kids pick up the phone—presenting a slightly less than professional image—or worse, somebody in your family answering a call while you’re out and forgetting to give you the message. Giving out your mobile number might be a better option, but giving customer a personal can also leave you looking small-time.

Fortunately, there is another option—a small business phone service. Leveraging this technology, you can use your mobile number to get a business-specific line that rings to your existing mobile device so worrying about projecting the wrong image or missing important messages from customers becomes a thing of the past.

These systems also provide auto attendants and extensions so that even when you can’t answer a call your home office presents the customer with the feeling that they’ve reached a corporate headquarters in midtown Manhattan. Last but not least, best-in-class virtual phone systems are not merely designed for small businesses—they are priced for them as well.

 So whether you are considering switching your business to a home office or looking to improve operations for an existing one know that there are technological solutions out there designed to make your life easier. After all, there’s still no place like home.