However, like all technologies voicemail's utility has diminished over the years. Now there are far more efficient messaging services available. Text messages, instant messages via social media, and emails are all a more robust and effective way to deliver a message.
Before the digital era, he says more than 80 percent of business lines had voice mail. Now, he estimates only a third of office phones have it.”For customers, even the most professional voicemail greeting is impersonal, and may even harm customer experience (millennials, in particular, avoid using voicemail altogether).

Sometimes the difference between the winner listed above and the company in second place is something as simple as price or hardware. For small businesses or small offices, Jive's service features starting at the base price of $19.95 a month per user were extremely appealing, and the company offers more features than Grasshopper. While Ooma has almost everything a small business wants or needs, keep in mind the company requires the purchase of a $99 base station if you want to keep your existing phones and landline, plus an additional $20 monthly charge per phone. In the end, the outlay of cash needed to purchase equipment may be more than a small company can bear.
The Blossom plan suits teams operating from various locations. The $15 monthly fee for each agent includes a much longer list of functionalities than the Sprout plan. For example, with this plan, you can set business hours and get access to multi-level IVR, among other features.