Jonathan Osman

By Jonathan Osman

Eight months ago, I started investigating the idea of buying my own telephone system.  With my mobile number on every sign that I owned and in every ad, I received calls at all hours of the day and night, which got old fast.  The idea of simply turning off my ringer at night was not an option either since I no longer have a land-line at home.

After discovering how expensive it would be to purchase, install, and operate my own phone system, I discovered a number of virtual phone systems that are currently available; the most popular being Google Voice.

For the solo agent or for personal use, Google Voice is a must-have.  Google Voice is free to register (although you must be invited) and you can order a “local” number to receive voicemail and text messages.  You can even dial out using either the Google Voice website or the free mobile app.  Both the app and the website will mask your real phone number with your Google Voice number.  I love using voicemail through Google Voice because the voice-to-text transcription allows me to read an e-mail of a voicemail even though the translations are hit or miss.

For groups or agents demanding more robust features, I would highly recommend a paid virtual phone system through a service like RingCentral, Grasshopper (formerly Got Vmail), or Phonebooth.  All have the capabilities to provide you with a local number, a toll free number, e-fax, company directory, VoIP, and more.  When a client dials in, a recording directs them to the department or extensions which are available.  Continue reading »