Hi Rhonda,

Thanks for the information I couldn't figure out why I would need two services. I also didn't know that google voice was free, my favorite price!! With the other sevices, mentioned, is there a fee? I also hadn't thought about an 800 number, thats a great idea for those who don't live in my area! With the 800 number do I pay for the incoming calls? I have to think about the fax services, I already have 2 land lines thanks to our TV services and alarm system. I have decided to use the line that is not the house number which I already use as a dedicated fax line along with the other service that is on there. Thanks again for the information. VAF has really helped me in putting together my business.

Cbonn

Great information here! I've been using a landline because it came with the bundle we had from our cable company, but I will be getting rid of it in the near future and going with Google Voice.

As for fax services, I eliminated Ring Central because I wasn't using it. When I need to fax something, I use one of the free fax services like MyFax. Depending on what your needs are DropBox and EchoSign are also good alternatives to faxing.

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Margaret
Helping You Build Your Empire

Cbonn, Yes the other two services are a fee based service, but they are billed kind of like a cell phone as in you get so many minutes at different rates and anything that goes over those minutes is x amount of cents. I'm paying $29.95 total for eVoice and SmartFax. I have additional extensions added to my account for my assistant. So mine is a little higher. I was paying $30 something with my cable bundle. So I'm actually saving a few dollars this way and I have extra extensions so calls can be forwarded to my team members. Plus it comes with free conferencing. I don't ever anticipate going over my minutes. One of the reasons I opted to keep using Google voice is so that local's can call me without using my minutes on my toll free number, but I've been using it about 3 months now and I've not come even remotely close to go over on my minutes.

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Thanks Rhonda for the information on those services. I will look into them and see what the prices are. I wont even mention what I'm paying for our land lines, if we could do away with them I would let them go ASAP!!! Its ridiculous what they charge for their phone services.

Originally Posted by Cbonn

Thanks Rhonda for the information on those services. I will look into them and see what the prices are. I wont even mention what I'm paying for our land lines, if we could do away with them I would let them go ASAP!!! Its ridiculous what they charge for their phone services.

It's like that phone commercial with the couple who's being ripped off while talking on the phone about their phone bill.

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Ladies,

What great advise!!! I stopped using landlines so long ago I can't remember. I use my personal cell phone and wanted to look for other options. I currently use skype to communicate with clients and love it but would also want to have a separate numer to communicate with new clients. Thanks!!!!

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Karla Amaya, Your Practical Admin
http://www.yourpracticaladmin.com

I am using a similar type of service from The Real PBX. You do not need to get any extra phone line. The provider will provide you with a soft phone on your mobile and PC and also a number which you can use for your business. You can forward calls to your cell with special ring. Hosted PBX systems offer many other features like a toll free number, call hunt group, call parking, voicemail feature and many more.

I really like RingCentral. They are really inexpensive. I haven't had any problems with it yet.

~Sundra

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Warmly, Sundra
Solei Virtual Services

Originally Posted by RhondaHolscher

Cbonn, Yes the other two services are a fee based service, but they are billed kind of like a cell phone as in you get so many minutes at different rates and anything that goes over those minutes is x amount of cents. I'm paying $29.95 total for eVoice and SmartFax. I have additional extensions added to my account for my assistant. So mine is a little higher. I was paying $30 something with my cable bundle. So I'm actually saving a few dollars this way and I have extra extensions so calls can be forwarded to my team members. Plus it comes with free conferencing. I don't ever anticipate going over my minutes. One of the reasons I opted to keep using Google voice is so that local's can call me without using my minutes on my toll free number, but I've been using it about 3 months now and I've not come even remotely close to go over on my minutes.

This is quite costly if I compare it with my Hosted PBX VOIP system. I am charged at a fixed rate of $9.95/month. No fixed minutes are provided but the call costs are quite low, usually around 1.9 cents/minute. The VOIP call costs are charged as per usage.

I use Google voice as an alternate number, but their voice mail to text feature really needs to be corrected. I can rarely make out what they transcribe.