Robert Watts

Google Voice is a free virtual phone service that gives you a business number on your personal device, although the features are limited compared to more robust options. If your business has outgrown Google Voice, we’ve compiled the 20 best competitors and narrowed it down to the top six based on pricing and features. Top…

Sideline and Google Voice are virtual phone number providers that give you a business number on your personal phone. Sideline costs $9.99 per month and is ideal for established teams needing SMS marketing and team reporting features, while Google Voice is a free service and better for solo entrepreneurs wanting a separate business number. When…

A phone tree is a menu-driven phone system that routes callers to an extension or person as well as sends messages to a large group of people. Setting up a phone tree is a three-step process that includes drawing out your tree, assigning employees to call groups, and programming the tree into your VoIP system….

An automatic call distribution (ACD) system is software that can answer your incoming calls and route them to a menu, a call group, or a single extension. It can also route calls based on the caller’s time, language, and other factors, making it especially helpful for call centers and other environments with high call volumes….

High definition voice (HD voice) is a technology found in modern telephones that provides clearer, more natural sounding audio when compared to traditional phone systems. This benefits virtually any user that wants to better understand their phone conversations and the feature is found in most modern voice-over-internet-protocol (VoIP) systems for no additional cost. For example,…

A phone tree is a visualized voice menu that routes your callers to their desired extension based on pre-programmed rules you configure in your phone system’s management console. It can also be used to route outgoing calls to multiple numbers at once. Businesses typically create a phone tree using pre-made, visual templates for specific situations….

RingCentral and 8×8 are VoIP business phone systems with features like unlimited calling, automated attendants, and multiple lines. RingCentral starts at $29.99 per month and is designed to scale with growing teams. 8×8 offers unlimited international calling for as low as $25 per month, making it great for organizations with an overseas business presence. When…

Ooma is one of the leading VoIP phone systems with a wealth of features. However, the service requires upfront investment in hardware and lacks customization. Therefore, we looked at the 20 best Ooma competitors on the market and compared them based on price, features, and other factors to determine the best alternatives for small business….

A public branch exchange (PBX) phone system is hardware and software that receives incoming calls and routes them without human intervention via a voice menu of options. PBX can be free or as much as $1,000 depending on the system. They also provide access to calling features such as call transfers, call scheduling, and more….