| What are the advantages to having a Virtual Phone system? |
- Cost Savings: Box phone systems are expensive and will not have the features of a virtual system unless you spend many thousands of dollars.
- Call Handling Volume: Our system handles hundreds of calls per minute.
- Virtual Systems Free-up Office Lines when transferring calls to cell phones or voice mail.
- Scalability: Expansion of a box phone system is expensive and requires a service call from a technician. Virtual system changes only require a call or email to customer service.
- Upgrades: You will have the latest technology as our system is upgraded in the future.
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| What if I already have a "Box" phone system? |
Add features to your system without replacing or expanding the box.
Features like:
- Auto/Backup attendant
- Live Transfer to voice mail
- Voice mail that is delivered to your email
- After hours call management can enable callers to reach intended party without having to "hang-up and redial." This feature is particularly important for technical support, help lines or after hours property management issues.
- Spell-by-name directories for larger companies allow callers to reach intended parties efficiently.
- On-call rotation gives everyone on the staff an equal chance at fielding a sales call.
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| I'm just starting my business and my cell phone is the best way to reach me: why would Answer Idaho be a better solution? |
| Cell phones are a great communication tool, but they are similar to a "catcher's mitt." Once you receive a call, there is no flexibility. You can't route it, and the caller cannot route themselves to someone else that can assist them if you're unavailable. And once your business starts to grow and you add people to your team, there would be no efficient way to use your cell phone for your main business line. Answer Idaho offers you flexibility right from the start so as your business grows, we grow with you. |
| I'm just starting my business, why do I need to think about the phone numbers I plan to advertise? |
| If there's a chance you'll be changing locations, moving into or out of an office, opening multiple locations, or even moving residentially which would move a home office business line. Answer Idaho can supply you with permanent voice and fax numbers for your business. You can move anywhere in the valley and you don't need to worry about whether your advertised numbers can move with you. |
| Do I have to change my phone number? |
| No. Typically Answer Idaho replaces old fashioned answering machines or telephone company voice mail so your business phone number does not change. |
| Do I have to buy new equipment? |
No. There is no equipment to buy, install or maintain.
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| Do I have to get new software? |
Most computers are already loaded with Adobe® Reader software for faxes and some type of media player for the voice messages.
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| Can I get a local phone number? |
Yes. Your business can have new permanent numbers for voice and fax.
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| Can I use an 800 number? |
Yes, but Answer Idaho does not provide 800 numbers.
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| Is this a VoIP service? |
No. We do not provide "dial tone" for VoIP or traditional phone services. We added a VoIP component to our service that allows our clients to have local phone numbers in other markets around the state and country.
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| Will Answer Idaho work with VoIP? |
Yes. Some services may require extra programming and testing.
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| How do I get my messages? |
All voice messages are accessible from:
- Anywhere you can pick up your email
- Any phone 24/7
- Answer Idaho web portal 24/7
Faxes are delivered to as many as three email addresses and accessible from the Answer Idaho web portal in TIF format. |
| How long will Answer Idaho store my voice messages on the Answer Idaho server? |
- Voice Messages Un-played: 168 hours
- Voice Messages Played: 24 hours
- Fax Documents: 96 hours
More time is available upon request. Clients may store their voice messages and faxes on their own computer as long as they'd like. |
| Do I still have to have local phone service? |
Answer Idaho provides phone services but does not supply business or residential "dial tone", you would still use your preferred service provider if you need land line or cell phone service.
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| What about porting numbers? |
Answer Idaho purchases phone numbers to allow clients access to our services. These numbers are owned by Answer Idaho LLC. Because of this and other ownership issues we can not port numbers out of our service nor are required to by the FCC (http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/numbport.html). Numbers may be ported into our service and may be ported back out at the client request.
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| Are there any contracts to sign? |
No. All services are on a month to month plan.
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