We’ve compiled a comprehensive list of the top cloud-based business phone system providers on the market. So, if you’re looking for virtual PBX and auto attendant with great pricing, robust features, call quality, and outstanding customer support, we’re confident you’ll find a business phone service provider below that will meet your needs.
Whether you need phones for opening a new office, supporting employees working from home, or it’s time to update your business phone system, we have done all of the research and tested over 25 small business phone systems to prepare the list of our best Top 5 most recommended business telephone systems. The manufacturer must be reliable, with a proven history and warranty support. Be the most affordable for a small business to purchase and maintain. Be future proof — compatible with standard analog landline telephone service or VoIP cloud phone service. Provides feature to transfer calls to a cell phone, a smartphone app, and supports mobile and home office employees. Must have the essentials: automated attendant call tree menus, voicemail to email, intercom, call forward, transfer, and music on hold.
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Here are some helpful links to help you record voicemail greeting that is clear and professional. Record your phrases for recording a great voicemail greeting here. Record yourself and compare it with a native speaker. Hear Georgie giving helpful feedback to other students on their voicemail greetings.
The availability of APIs for speech-to-text functions, including Google AI, have allowed phone service providers to easily integrate voicemail transcription at a low cost and without much overhead. Transcriptions can be completed on the fly, so customers can expect access to their transcripts immediately following the receipt of an inbound call.
The U.S.-based Ring Central offers a substantial amount of call features and the most bells and whistles for the money. The base model "Standard Plan" offers call management, mobile apps for both iOS and Android, unlimited calling and conference calling, 1,000 toll-free minutes, unlimited business SMS, unlimited video conferencing for up to four connections, log reports, and multi-level auto-attendants for a monthly fee of $24.99 per user. The popular "Premium Plan" upgrades the number of toll-free minutes to 2,500, increases the video conference capacity to 50, and adds custom application development/deployment, caller ID, automatic call recording, smart integration with systems like Salesforce and Zendesk.
42. Hi, you’ve reached [X company]. Our team is currently out of the office or assisting other customers. Leave your name, number, and a brief message so we can direct your call to the proper team member when we return.
A virtual phone number is a telephone number without a phone line directly associated with it. Instead of being connected to one specific telephone line, a virtual number is programmed to forward incoming calls to one of the pre-set telephone lines that the client chooses, be it fixed, mobile or VoIP. Virtual phone numbers are also known as access numbers since they can work as a gateway between traditional calls and VoIP.
17. Hi, this is [your name] at [X Business Name]. Our office is currently closed, but I’ll be back in the office at 9 a.m. tomorrow. Feel free to leave a message or send me an email at [email address], and I’ll get back to you as quickly as possible.
Check out our roundup of the Best CRMs for Small BusinessesHow does VoIP pricing work?
Holidays are often the busiest time of the year for any business — especially retail. Obvious, right? As obvious as that is, how confident are you, the exhausted employee or business manager, in your caller’s ability to recognize what exactly that means for you? Do you think they understand the torture of working long hours day after day and what effect that has on your mental and physical state? They might, but chances are they’re more concerned about receiving a personalized experience.
46. Howdy, you’ve reached [name], [job title] at [company]. I’m at this time away from my desk or on one other name. Please toddle away a detailed message so I will return your name as rapidly as I receive aid.
Each customer has a picture of what exceptional service looks like in their minds. If you do not have an understanding of what this entails for each customer, it will cause frustration. Customers are only moments away from a fiery tweet because they typically call in from their mobile phones.
For every type of use case, there is a phone model to fit it. Costs will vary depending on whether you select a high-end phone brand or a generic option. Your options could include: Screen Type: Color screens, grayscale screens, and screen-less phones are three common options. Sizes of screens can also range significantly. Buttons: The number of function buttons on business phones can range from 2-12. Wireless Options: Certain jobs or environments may require wireless phones that can be physically transported throughout the office or work site. Audio Definition: You may choose to upgrade standard audio to HD audio. Phone Size: The size of business phones can vary significantly, from large phones designed for conference rooms, to “standard” sized desk phones, to small, lightweight wireless models.
45. Howdy, right here’s [X department] at [X company]. We’re no longer ready to expend your name true now, but within the event you allow a hasty message after the tone, our subsequent on hand manual will name you aid rapidly.
Professional recording studio — Rent a professional recording studio space for a day to have optimal audio quality.Professional speaker — Hire a voiceover professional to create all of the voicemails across your company.Create a script — Create scripts for the voiceover professional to use during recording.Be personable — As noted above, allow for a bit of personality in the recording.Be positive — Tone matters more than the words you say!Keep it short — The longer they have to listen, the less likely they are to leave a message.Ask for details — Make sure to get the most important information from them in their message. Get a free business voicemail script (that you can use today!)
check words for the English /oʊ/ vowel. Many non-native speakers make this more like a single vowel and it’s a double vowel so it should have /o/ and /ʊ/ smoothly joined together. Check it in the word ‘phone’ . Another double vowel to look out for in your Voicemail Greeting example is the diphthong vowel /eɪ/. This vowel is in words like ‘wait’ and ‘able’. Many people use the word ‘can’t’ in their Voicemail greeting example. This can be a trap for non-native English speakers. That’s why we chose ‘unable’ instead! Watch out for the word ‘can’t’! In American English and British English the vowel in ‘can’t’ is pronounced with the vowel /æ/ like in ‘pat’ – /kænt/.
When you decide to use a VoIP phone provider, you choose to make employees and customers the top priorities of your business. Learn more about Ooma Pricing and plans.