Technology Buyer’s Guide, Summer 1999

Managing on Your Own

High Tech for the office is finally worth all the trouble.

"Bizfon, a complete, low-cost phone system with a digital communications switch, four desktop phones, voicemail, caller ID, conference calling, call greeting, and routing calls [starting at under $1500].

Small business telephone systems tie the loose ends

Messages aren’t getting delivered. Calls can’t be transferred to another extension, let alone forwarded to another number. Customers are spending more time on hold than placing orders. Employees have to juggle fax, phone, and modem lines -- and still can’t get anything done. If any of these ring a bit true, it’s time to update the phone system.

With all the new communications options, choosing the right one can be a daunting task. There are plenty of systems out there designed to handle the problems facing small businesses. Whether you are looking for three lines or more than 100. Here are some price conscious ways to get the job done.

Most small businesses need more than just phones. They need messaging options, too. So it's usually best to find a product that ships with integrated, built-in voice mail. Sure, there are plenty of third-party services that work with a variety of key systems, but they’ll usually cost more than an all in one system, and integrating them is tough.

As O’Sullivan Communications of Acton, Mass. grew, president Megan O’Sullivan realized her company needed a better phone and messaging system. The five person marketing and public relations firm was using two-line phones from Staples and central office voice mail from its local telephone company. The problem: incoming calls could not be connected to an individual voice mailbox.

"Checking messages was a problem, and everyone here [acted as] a receptionist," recalls O’Sullivan. "We couldn’t transfer someone to voice mail if we were talking to them; they had to hang up and call back."

She started shopping around for systems, but was discouraged when she got quotes of $4,000 – without voice mail capabilities. Then she found Bizfon, a product that starts its pricing at less than [$1500] with messaging options.

"The price was obviously the driving force," she admits. As for programming and using the Bizfon, O’Sullivan says it was very easy. To program the system, she listened to prompts through a connected phone. "We don’t have a facilities manager here; we do everything ourselves," she explains. "It’s very easy – I don’t even need the manual. I can program it to do whatever I want it to do, from changing a message to adding music, without getting whacked on a service call. I can program the call forwarding myself or press three numbers to get connected to the Bizfon help line."

O’Sullivan says the call-forwarding feature woks great, especially when she’s on the road. "If I call forward to my cell phone, I can then transfer it back to someone in my office." She remarks.

O’Sullivan Comminations is also using Bizfon’s built-in automated attendant, "The phone usually rings off the hook all day long," says O’Sullivan, "and [the auto attendant] freed up time by eliminating interruptions and eliminating the need to answer the phone, redirect calls, and take written messages."

Home Office Computing

August 1999

Tech Tools to Keep You on Track

Organize multiple lines in your office with Bizfon, an all in one communications solution for home offices that need extra functionality for numerous extensions. (Bizfon, 888-390-9030, www.bizfon.com; full systems [for about $1500]). Bizfon supports at up to six incoming lines and eight phone extensions with voice mail, remote user capabilities, and optional information about your company that a listener can access with the press of a button.

Your Company Magazine
(recently changed it's name to Fortune Small Business)

September 1999

Smart Phones Get Cheap - Low end: Up to 32 Users

One of the least expensive system choices is Bizfon’s model 680, which offers voice mail, auto-attendant, call-conferencing, and fax services at a rock button price [of $1499]. Bizfon consists of telephony- application software and a small communications box that accommodates [up to] eight phones. As your business grows, you can wire additional boxes together for a total of 32 phones. Best of all, Bizfon takes care of call-routing chores, so you don’t have to shell out for a Centrex, Key, or PBX system.