What is a virtual office and why do you need it

Perhaps the most important aspect that a business needs to focus on is communications. Great products and services would not sell without effective communication efforts. Competition becomes higher and higher, most especially because doors have been opened that allows businesses to communicate better and faster.

Simply put, startups find it a lot easier nowadays in terms of communications. An effect of this is a more intense competition in the industry. So, how can a startup stand out or at least survive during this time?

A lot of small and medium businesses have been relying on virtual offices. Unlike large corporations, small offices do not have enough money to get a place and pay for it every month. The solution to this is to set up a virtual office. As the term implies, it exists without physical spaces. Instead, it operates by connecting teams and employees that are scattered in different locations. Through telecommunications, the Internet and other communication equipment, employees are able to coordinate with each other as well as with clients and contacts, even if they are not in a single location.

In the past, phone systems rely on hardware and phone lines. It takes a lot of money for an office to acquire such infrastructure. As a result, only large corporations were able to use phone systems. Now, with the advancement of communications technology, small businesses can use a powerful PBX that is on a par, if not better, than what large corporations are using.

A virtual phone system is a network of phones and other communication equipment that powers a virtual office. A usual setup includes one or more main numbers that have extensions and other numbers connected to it. It has a single control center that is accessible online. Unlike traditional phone systems, a virtual PBX is hosted by a service provider. Because of this, there is no need for users to buy equipment and constantly spend for its maintenance.

RingCentral Office is a company that provides virtual PBX systems to startups and small businesses. It has affordable monthly plans which customers can choose from depending on their current needs and preferences. As a business grows, it can choose a higher monthly plan that can accommodate a larger communications system that demands more call minutes. RingCentral leads the industry in helping companies gain access and utilize advanced call features that enable them to operate as a virtual office.

RingCentral Office users are given one or more local or toll free number. This is the main number of the office and serves as the front door to the virtual office. Equipped with unlimited extensions, this number is able to reach any member of the team regardless of the time and location. RingCentral Office is equipped advanced features that help manage a growing communications system for a small business:

• VoIP lines. RingCentral Office comes with Linksys VoIP phones which enable users to make calls through the Internet. Equipped with advanced functions, it makes communications easier, especially when handling high call volumes. The number of IP phones depends on the monthly plan that the subscriber choose.
• Local numbers. You can get one or more local numbers with your RingCentral Office subscription. You can get different area codes, no matter what your location is. These numbers come with free unlimited calling within the US and Canada.
• Toll free numbers. You can get a toll free number as your main company number. Unlike a local number, a toll free number has a national and a wider appeal. If you aim to reach customers in different parts of the country, getting a toll free number with your RingCentral virtual phone system is a good strategy.
• Fax numbers. Depending on your chosen monthly plan, you can get at least one Internet fax number. With this fax number, you can send and receive faxes online, and enjoy all the advantages from RingCentral Fax. With advanced fax features and intelligent functions, your RingCentral Fax number would complete your virtual PBX setup.
• Auto-attendant. You can sound more professional with the RingCentral auto-attendant. Whether you use pre-recorded messages or have your own company-specific greetings, you would sure be able to manage your calls better and brand your business well. The auto-attendant is your sure way of answering all calls and routing them to the proper extension or to voicemail.
• Answering rules. RingCentral has advanced call forwarding and answering rules that are more intelligent than other virtual phone system providers. You can route calls depending on time of day, day of week, caller ID and other settings. This gives you the most flexibility in handling your calls and messages. You can easily configure your call forwarding settings through your RingCentral online account or through the Call Controller.
• Multiple extensions. RingCentral Office comes with unlimited virtual extensions, letting you connect as many phones as you need. This gives you ease in routing calls to all possible phones that a person or department may be using.
• Unlimited calls. RingCentral Office is equipped with unlimited calls anywhere within the US and Canada. Unlike using landlines and cell phones alone, unlimited calls from RingCentral give users big savings in communications, especially in coordinating remote teams.
• Internet fax. Send and receive faxes online with the most intelligent Internet fax service from RingCentral. In the business world, you would find that a lot of people are still reliant on faxing because of its security.
• Voicemail. No ordinary voicemail, RingCentral is equipped with advanced voicemail that enables you to receive your voicemail online through email. With the RingCentral Call Controller, you can also listen in as callers leave their voicemail message, and cut in to answer the call if you deem it is important.

With affordable monthly plans that start at $49.99, RingCentral Office is highly accessible to startups and entrepreneurs that have a limited budget. They can project a more professional image and be more productive with RingCentral Office. Learn more at http://www.ringcentral.com/.