If you have an old phone system, or if you’re thinking of getting a new one, then you might be wondering if your current phone system still has any benefits. It can be hard to tell if your home phone service is outdated because it’s easy to get used to the way things are. You may not even realize that there are newer technologies available that could improve your home phone’s experience dramatically.
But there are some good reasons why updating a phone system can be beneficial for your family and for your business:
Improved caller ID
Caller ID lets you know who’s calling before you pick up the phone by displaying their name or number on the screen of your handset or on a large monitor in your office.
Voicemail
Voicemail allows you to leave messages for people who can’t answer the phone at their desk or if they don’t have time to talk when they call back. You can listen to messages at any time and decide whether or not to call back right away, later that day, or whenever works best for everyone involved.
Call forwarding
This feature allows you to forward all incoming calls from one extension number (or several) to another number — either within the same or a different area. Calls can be forwarded to your home number, cell number, or a number on another mobile device such as an iPad tablet.
For many, a home phone is still a necessity. However, the devices that we use to receive our calls have changed dramatically over the years. For example, when most of us were growing up, we had a rotary dial phone. The cords were curly and connected to the wall with a jack that had to be plugged into an outlet. You could answer with a handset or by pressing down on the receiver.
Fast forward a few decades and things are much different. Today’s phones are sleek and functional — you can even get them in pastel colors! But the technology behind them has changed dramatically.
It’s Easy to Set Up Phone Service Using an IP Phone System
If you are setting up a home phone service, you will need a phone system or connected device from a service provider, such as Ooma.
The process for setting up VoIP home or business phone service is very simple. After you purchase a connection device such as the Ooma Telo for home, or a VoIP phone system for business, and connect it to your broadband connection, you can begin using the service right away.
How to Set Up Phone Service
1. First, plug in your box and wait for it to boot up. Once it has fully booted up, it will automatically detect any other devices on your network and begin pairing with them. If you don’t find any devices on the network, then you’ll have to manually add them by clicking on “Add a Device” in the sidebar menu.
2. Connect another Ethernet cable from your broadband modem/router to an available port on your computer (or any other network device in your home). This will provide Internet access for all devices connected to that port, including the VoIP device.
3. Once all of your devices have been added, click on “My Account” in the sidebar menu and then click on “Set Up”. This will allow you to enter account information such as your name and address so that Ooma can verify that it belongs to you; once complete, click on “Continue”.
4. Next, set up your voicemail by clicking on “Voicemail Setup”. You’ll need to enter an email address where voicemail messages will go.
Open any web browser on any computer or mobile device to make or answer a call.
You can use the app for mobile app to manage your account, make calls, and even keep tabs on how much you’re spending. The app is available for iOS and Android devices, but it’s not required for use.
The process is so quick and easy, even for someone without a lot of “technical” skills. With such a great service, you’ll wonder why you didn’t switch sooner.
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