Is a Hosted PBX Phone System Right for Your Small Business?

May 17th, 2013

Hosted PBXIn today’s uncertain economic world, between trying to stay in business and trying to turn a profit, small businesses, like your, have enough to worry about. Fortunately, your phone system doesn’t have to be one of them. A Hosted PBX Phone System offers small businesses the same benefits as a traditional PBX phone system, but for a fraction of the price.

Is a Hosted PBX Phone System Right for Your Small Business?

  1. There is no need to purchase or install or maintain anything onsite.
  2. Set up is quick and easy.
  3. Maintenance is handled by your service provider offsite for a small monthly fee.
  4. Hosted PBX offers a plethora of advanced features.
  5. You will not need to purchase any hardware.
  6. Hosted PBX is scalable, meaning it will grow alongside your small business.

Call Advanced Communication Solutions (ACS)!

Is Hosted PBX right for your small business? Not sure? Call ACS. Our business communication specialists will thoroughly analyze your needs and design an affordable solution flexible enough to grow and change as your business evolves. We offer solutions ranging from traditional voice to VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) to Hosted PBX.

Question to Ask Before Calling ACS

  1. What is your budget? As a small business owner, we know your funds are tight. You need a system that will not break the bank.
  2. What features are you interested in? What features are important to you: voicemail, caller-id. One-touch dialing, on-hold music, conferencing, speakerphone, auto attendants, or call transfer?
  3. What is your 5 year plan? You need a phone system that will grow with your business.

Finally, don’t be afraid to ask questions. This is a big decision.

If you have any questions about Hosted PBX please contact Advanced Communication Solutions by calling 1-800-750-3624 or visit BuyTelephoneSystem.com today! You can also follow Advanced Communication Solutions on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Google+.

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Are You Hopping on the Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) Bandwagon?

May 14th, 2013

Bring Your Own DeviceThe Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) trend is sweeping the nation, and for good reason. Not surprisingly, 42% of employees with smartphones use those phones for work, while 8% of Internet web based transactions are conducted from such mobile devices. So it only makes sense that employers are jumping on the BYOD Bandwagon and embracing the trend.

As Cisco marketing manager Linda Beaton explains, BYOD encourages business growth, boosts productivity and mobility…all while cutting costs. No wonder 61% of small or medium sized (SMBs) in North America currently allow BYOD, with 53% expecting productivity improvement.

Additional Benefits of BYOD

  1. Increased productivity
  2. Better customer service
  3. Access and manage information easier with improved mobility
  4. Save money on hardware and software by 15%, by shifting costs from the business to the user
  5. Increase job satisfaction by 16%
  6. Allows businesses to still leverage the latest technology
  7. Provides your business with a competitive advantage

Hopping on the Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) Bandwagon

  1. Network Infrastructure: In order to support employees with mobile devices, you need to first address your network infrastructure, including bandwidth. Failing to do so can significantly impede productivity, by as much as six hours per week.
  2. Establish an IT Support System: It is important to have an IT support system in place. After all, wasted time spent trying to troubleshoot an IT issue is wasted time, no matter which way you look at it.
  3. Improve Security with the Cisco ISA500: So what is holding you back from making the move to BYOD? Is it security? If so, Cisco has the answer. The Cisco ISA500, which acts as a highly sophisticated router, firewall, and unified threat management in one device, helps safeguard against outside threats, allows employees to securely access information, and manages everything.

If you have any questions about BYOD or the Cisco ISA500, please contact Advanced Communication Solutions by calling 1-800-750-3624 or visit BuyTelephoneSystem.com today! You can also follow Advanced Communication Solutions on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Google+.

Sources:

  1. So Many Smartphones and Tablets! It’s Time You Get On Board the Bring-Your-Own-Device (BYOD) Train Cisco.com
  2. An All-In-One Solution for Security and Productivity Cisco.com

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Upgrading Your Phone System: Avaya IP Office is Cheaper than ShoreTel

May 9th, 2013

Avaya IP Office TCOIs your business relying on the same old phone system it has always had? If so, it may be time to consider Upgrading Your Phone System. We understand that you have so many other areas of your business to worry about that your phone system may not seem like a priority. And with such a tight budget, upgrading and operating your communications infrastructure may not seem feasible. Well, guess what? Upgrading your phone system to Avaya IP Office may be a lot more affordable than you think!

Avaya recently commissioned The Tolly Group, a research firm, to calculate the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) of Avaya IP Office 8.1, compared to ShoreTel’s comparable Unified Communications Platform. The findings: on average, Avaya IP Office 8.1 provides 32% TCO savings over ShoreTel. Over a 5 year period, these savings add up to thousands upon thousands of dollars.

But what about Avaya’s other competitors?

  1. Nemertes Research finds Avaya to offer a first-year TCO less than half of Microsoft Lync.
  2. Constellation Research found Avaya’s video solutions to offer a lower TCO than both Microsoft and Cisco.

Additional Benefits of Avaya IP Office 8.1

  1. Ease of Use: “In addition to a 10 minute deployment, the [IP Office 500] appliance hosts an integrated storage module, capable of capturing 380 hours of voicemail or call recordings,” added the Tolly report.
  2. Scalability: Avaya IP Office 8.1 “can scale to nearly 400 users without any additional hardware,” according to the Tolly report.
  3. Flexibility: “Furthermore, IP Office provides greater deployment flexibility,” noted the Tolly report.
  4. Energy Efficiency: “The Avaya phones exhibited up to 41% lower power consumption than the comparable ShoreTel phones,” according to the Tolly report.
  5. Upgrades: The Tolly report concluded that “in contrast, the ShoreTel solution was more complex to upgrade, as both the ShoreGear appliance and the application server may need to updated. Updates from different versions might also require a conversion from one type of database to another.”
  6. And so much more!

You can download the entire report here.

Advanced Communication Solutions, a Maryland Authorized Avaya Dealer

Avaya offers its products exclusively through its network of authorized providers, which includes Advanced Communication Solutions (ACS). From traditional voice to Voice over IP (VoIP), ACS gives you more options for voice and communication technology and solutions than any other provider.

If you have any questions about Avaya IP Office, please contact Advanced Communication Solutions by calling 1-800-750-3624 or visit BuyTelephoneSystem.com today! You can also follow Advanced Communication Solutions on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Google+.

Sources:

Hey Midsized Businesses! Avaya Is One-Third Cheaper Than ShoreTel Avaya.com

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Tips for Improving Your Business Communication Skills

May 7th, 2013

Business Communication SkillsBusiness has everything to do about the way in which you communicate. Just think about it. Almost everything you do in and out of the office revolves around communication. From phone calls to emails to face-to-face conversations, communication dominates the business world. So you have to ask yourself, “How well do I communicate?”

Tips for Improving Your Business Communication Skills

  1. Verbal Communication & Improving Pronunciation: Communicating clearly is not always as easy as you would think, especially when communicating over the phone. This is especially true if you have a thick accent or local dialect. So in order to improve your pronunciation, try a few of the following tips: read a newspaper or book out loud, while focusing on your diction; or record yourself having a conversation and listen to the way in which you say certain words.
  2. Written Communication & Improving Writing Skills: You do not need to be the next Mark Twain, but your emails, letters, press releases, and other written materials should be professional and well-written. To help sharpen your writing skills, try the following tips: explore new words to improve your vocabulary; pay close attention to grammar; proofread everything you write; and write the way in which you speak, there is no need to use 10 words when 5 would do the trick.
  3. Face-to-Face Communication & Body Language: When it comes to face-to-face communication, body language plays a major role. For starters, you should always try to make eye contact with people. This shows that you have an interest in what they are saying and that you are paying attention. Also be sure to pay close attention to your body language. Your gestures can say more than words ever could. Slouching, staring around the room, twiddling your thumbs, and similar gestures will quickly give away your inattentiveness. So sit up, stay attentive, and show people that you really care about what they have to say.

Hopefully you have found these Tips for Improving Your Business Communication Skills helpful. If you have any questions, please contact Advanced Communication Solutions by calling 1-800-750-3624 or visit BuyTelephoneSystem.com today! You can also follow Advanced Communication Solutions on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Google+.

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Business Communication Platforms: Phone Calls, Voicemails, & Emails

May 2nd, 2013

Business Communication TipsCommunication plays a major role in your business, perhaps a bigger role than you have ever really noticed. Just think about it. EVERYTHING you do revolves around some sort of communication. The way you interact with your employees involves in-person conversation. The way you handle customer service or sales involves phone conversation and sometimes voicemail. The way you handle less urgent matters involves email conversation.

Each and every aspect of your business involves one of these Business Communication Platforms. And each platform is completely different, requiring a unique set of communication skills in order to effectively communicate your point.

Business Communication Platforms: Phone Calls, Voicemails, & Emails

We are going to skip in-person conversation. We touched on that topic last week in our blog Business Communication Tips: Understanding Your Behavioral Style. This week, we are going to focus on the other major platforms, phone calls, voicemails, and emails.

Phone Calls

  1. Preparation: First and foremost, do a little preparation. Outline what you want to cover in the phone call. This will help the conversation move more fluidly and will help you avoid those dreaded, awkward pauses.
  2. Greeting: Make sure your greeting is professional. Do not just jump into the purpose of the call. Introduce yourself and your company without sounding like a telemarketer.
  3. Courtesy: Is this a good time? Make sure your client or prospect has the time to talk. Do not just assume that they are eagerly awaiting your call and will drop everything else.
  4. Reason: Finally, get into the reason of your call.
  5. Gratitude: It is important to be polite and express gratitude.

Voicemails

Yes, voicemails and phone calls require a different set of communications skills.

  1. Brevity: Be brief. No one wants to listen to a long voicemail.
  2. Introduction: Introduce yourself and put your contact information up front.
  3. Purpose: Get to the purpose of your call.
  4. One Topic: Try to avoid leaving a message about numerous topics.
  5. Return Call: Before hanging up, give your client or prospect a good idea of when they should call back.

Emails

  1. Simplicity: Write the way you speak. Just because you are writing an email doesn’t mean you need to break out the thesaurus. Keep it simple and don’t overdo it.
  2. Subject Line: Make sure the subject is clearly defined in the subject line.
  3. Introductions: If you need to, make sure you identify yourself and your company clearly before getting into the meat and potatoes of your email.
  4. Focus: Keep your email focused and readable. Do not wander off on any tangents.
  5. Proof Read: Please proof read. Nothing looks less professional than an email riddled with spelling mistakes and poor grammar.

One last bit of advice. Never send an email when you are angry. That is the beauty of email. You can write it, save it, and review it when you have cooled off.

If you have any questions about Business Communication Tips please contact Advanced Communication Solutions by calling 1-800-750-3624 or visit BuyTelephoneSystem.com today! You can also follow Advanced Communication Solutions on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Google+.

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Cisco Small Business Offerings: Big Things for Small Businesses

April 30th, 2013

Cisco Mobile ConnectivityAmerica was built on the backs of small business owners. Today, the American economy still hinges on the success or failure of these small businesses. And the success and failure of these small business hinges on the way in which these businesses utilize technology. This is why Cisco has developed an entire portfolio of Small Business Offerings.

Not surprisingly, the number of mobile-connected devices has broken the 1 billion milestone. Businesses large and small rely on the Internet for almost every aspect of their business, from customer service to sales and everything in between. Yet, Cisco estimates that about 99.4% of what could be connected by the Internet is currently unconnected. This is why Cisco’s latest Small Business Offerings are designed to capitalize on connectivity and help small businesses perform to their maximum potential. Cisco looks to accomplish this by addressing several key areas, including security, connectivity, and collaboration.

  1. Security: First and foremost, security needs to be a priority. Cisco ISA500 Series Integrated Security Appliances help small businesses safeguard against outside threats while allowing employees to securely access information remotely.
  2. Connectivity: If you and your employees are not connected, productivity takes a hit. That is why Cisco has developed the following products to provide more options for getting things done. Cisco 300 Series switch models, Cisco ESW2 Series Advanced Switches, and Software updates to the Cisco WAP121 Wireless-N Access Point and Cisco WAP321 Wireless-N Selectable-Band Access Point .
  3. Collaboration: Finally, collaboration helps bring everything together. The Cisco SPA302D Multi-Line DECT Handset, Cisco SPA232D Multi-Line DECT ATA, and Cisco SPA500DS Digital Expansion Module help small businesses respond to customers more quickly.

Interested in Learning More About One of the Cisco Small Business Offerings? Call Advanced Communication Solutions (ACS) Today!

ACS is a national vendor of Cisco telecommunications products, offering solutions and services that help you leverage the value of your business’s communications investment.

If you have any questions about Cisco Small Business Offerings, please contact Advanced Communication Solutions by calling 1-800-750-3624 or visit BuyTelephoneSystem.com today! You can also follow Advanced Communication Solutions on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Google+.

Source:

  1. Cisco’s New Small Business Portfolio—Fortifying the Future

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Business Communication Tips: Understanding Your Behavioral Style

April 25th, 2013

Business Communication TipsBeing professional begins and ends with the way you communicate with others. So how do you communicate? What is your Behavioral Style? You must first understand yourself before you can understand how you communicate and interact with others.

Business Communication Tips: Understanding Your Behavioral Style

There are four basic types of behavioral styles:

  1. Realtors: These people like establishing personal relationships. They want to know what others think. And they are team players.
  2. Socializers: These people like being involved, have high energy, and are enthusiastic.
  3. Thinkers: These people like organization, getting things right, and problem solving.
  4. Directors: These people like control, are competitive, efficient, and decisive.

So why type of behavioral style do you associate best with? Relators and Socializers are more people oriented, while Thinkers and Directors tend to be more independent.

Understanding yourself better will help you better communicate with your coworkers and clients.

More Business Communication Tips

  1. Being Assertive: When being assertive, it is important to get your point across without sounding to negative. To accomplish this, we recommend the IRA approach. I stands for “I need.” R stands for “the reason.” And A stands for “the appreciation.” For example, an assertive message might look like this: “I need you to be to work by 9am when our customers first arrive. Thank you.”
  2. Saying No: Saying no is not always easy for managers and other business professionals to do. Fortunately, we have another formula that may help. USA. The U stands for “understand. The S stands for “the situation. And the A stands for “an alternative.” For example, a message saying no might look like this: I understand that you are more comfortable in tennis shoes. However, our company dress code states that you must wear dress shoes. Perhaps you can purchase some sole inserts to make your dress shoes more comfortable.”
  3. Showing Appreciation: Finally, and perhaps most importantly, is showing appreciation. A good boss will not only point out what his employees are doing wrong or could improve upon, but he/she will also praise their employees for a job well done. For this, we use the ART formula. A stands for “appreciate.” R stands for “reason.” And T stands for “thank you.” For example, a message showing appreciation might look like this: “I really appreciate the hard work and long hours you put in to finish this project. Thank you so much.”

Remember, business communication is not an exact science. It takes practice.

If you have any questions about Business Communication Tips please contact Advanced Communication Solutions by calling 1-800-750-3624 or visit BuyTelephoneSystem.com today! You can also follow Advanced Communication Solutions on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Google+.

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Avaya IP Office 8.1 is Available through Your Maryland Authorized Avaya Dealer

April 23rd, 2013

Avaya, the global provider of business collaboration and communications solutions, has recently announced several new features and benefits for the latest version of Avaya IP Office 8.1. These new features and benefits include:

  1. Increased scalability: IP Office now scales to 1,000 users per server (previously 384 users). It can also network up to 32 locations.
  2. New Linux-based option
  3. World-class video collaboration: With integration with Radvision Scopia® video solutions, IP Office has entered an entirely new world of mobile, desktop and room-based video. Video conferencing will never be the same. IP Office 8.1 also features an enhanced Avaya Flare® experience, allowing users to call, check voice mail, instant message and more from an Apple iPad or Windows device.
  4. Networking: IP Office 8.1 offers enterprise-class networking built and priced specifically for small and midsize businesses.
  5. New support services: Enhanced 24×7 technical support, major software upgrades, software patches and updates, and enhanced remote connectivity, means you will get the most out of Avaya IP Office 8.1.
  6. Powerful new mobility features:  Your employees will be able to easily download Avaya one-X® Mobile Preferred to their smart phone.
  7. Microsoft Lync platform integration: Features and benefits include: click to call contacts, quickly and easily switch from IM to a call, easy access to your coporate directory, and more without costly voice licenses, complex administration tasks or server modifications.
  8. Cost-saving system management enhancements
  9. Simple Backup and Restore: Automatically backup and restore you mission critical conversations.
  10. Secure Remote Services Enhancements: Maximize uptime through secure SSL/VPN remote services.
  11. And more!

For more information about Avaya IP Office 8.1, contact your Maryland Authorized Avaya Dealer. Avaya IP Office 8.1 is available exclusively through Avaya’s network of authorized providers, which includes Advanced Communication Solutions (ACS), your Maryland authorized Avaya dealer. As such, we are proud to provide Avaya technologies as our flagship offering. From traditional voice to Voice over IP (VoIP), ACS gives you more options for voice and communication technology and solutions than any other provider.

If you have any questions about Avaya IP Office 8.1, please contact Advanced Communication Solutions by calling 1-800-750-3624 or visit BuyTelephoneSystem.com today! You can also follow Advanced Communication Solutions on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Google+.

Source:

What’s New with IP Office 8.1

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Is Avaya IP Office right for your Small Business?

April 18th, 2013

When it comes to the success or failure of your small business, communication plays a major role. Just think about it. Communication is intertwined into every aspect of your business, from sales to customer service to inter-office collaboration, and much more. Because of this, it is important to have a phone system capable of handling the communication needs of your growing business. We also understand that it can be difficult to justify such a purchase with the tight budget of most small businesses.

Fortunately, there is a solution: Avaya IP Office. It is one of the most flexible and affordable solutions for small and mid-size businesses. The benefits of Avaya IP Office include:

  1. Total Cost of Ownership: Avaya IP Office offers nearly 25% lower Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) than its competitors.
  2. Energy Efficiency: Avaya IP Office desk phones are energy-saving with up to 60% efficiency.
  3. System Management: With drag and drop system management tools, Avaya IP Office systems are among the easiest to manage.
  4. Flexibility: Avaya IP Office can operate as a pure, all-IP solution, but it can also run as an all-digital solution or anything in between. This provides your business with greater flexibility.
  5. Scalability: Just because your business is small now doesn’t mean it will be small in the future. You need a phone system designed to grow with your business. Avaya IP Office can support up to 1,000 users across 32 different sites.
  6. Productivity: Unified Communications with Avaya IP Office allows you to take advantage of all of our built-in calling features including capabilities like instant messaging, video chat, test-to-speech email reading and many more.

Advanced Communication Solutions: A Maryland Authorized Avaya Dealer

At Advanced Communication Solutions (ACS), we are proud to provide Avaya technologies as our flagship offering. From traditional voice to Voice over IP (VoIP), ACS gives you more options for voice and communication technology and solutions than any other provider.

If you have any questions about Avaya IP Office, please contact Advanced Communication Solutions by calling 1-800-750-3624 or visit BuyTelephoneSystem.com today! You can also follow Advanced Communication Solutions on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Google+.

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Business Communication Tips for using Email

April 16th, 2013

Unlike the type of verbal communication involved with in-person or over-the-phone interactions, email communication is drastically different. Much like writing a letter, emailing involves one very difficult task: trying to convey not only your point, but also emotion in a non-verbal way without losing the interest of your client.

Business Communication Tips for using Email

  1. Clearly State Your Purpose: First and foremost, clearly state the purpose of your email in the subject line. This will set the groundwork for the rest of the email.
  2. Be Concise: Get straight to the point. When it comes to email communication, the easiest way to lose the interest or attention of your client is to ramble on. The last thing anyone wants to see when they open an email is a wall of text.
  3. Bullets: Remember, while similar to a letter, emails are different. So try using bullet points to help organize your thoughts. Bullets are clear and easy to read.
  4. Personalize: Use mass or group emails sparingly. Do your best to send individual, personalized emails. Your clients want to believe that they are a top priority. So give them the individual attention they deserve.

Email can be a great business communication tool when utilized properly. However, not all topics are right for email. When you have a lot to talk about, do the old fashion thing and pick up the phone.

No matter what type of business you are a part of, you will need to communicate over the phone. Not everything can be handled via email. So it is important to make sure your business phone system is up to the task. This is where Advanced Communication Solutions comes in! Our team of communication professionals will help you understand the available phone system features and technologies and will help you choose the solution for your business. From traditional PBX to Voice over IP (VoIP) to IP PBX, ACS gives you more options for voice and communication technology solutions than any other provider in the Baltimore – Metro area.

If you have any questions about Business Communication Tips please contact Advanced Communication Solutions by calling 1-800-750-3624 or visit BuyTelephoneSystem.com today! You can also follow Advanced Communication Solutions on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Google+.

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