A quality business phone system should be able to manage multiple calls simultaneously and seamlessly transfer calls within the company itself. Business phone systems also offer businesses both small and large a cost-efficient means to manage their incoming and outgoing calls with ease. With so many choices in design, functions and features available today, it can be difficult to choose the right one for your company. It may be helpful to review the features each telephone system offers before selecting one for your company.

Some of the basic features included in Business Phone Systems are call forwarding, voice mail, call waiting, three-way conferencing, caller ID, call return, music on hold and more. The basic function of call forwarding is to take a forwarded call from a customer to another number in the company. This is typically done to accommodate a customer who may not have access to a cell phone for some reason. If this is the case, a business can forward the call to a toll free number, which may be a fax or a voice mail box. If the caller does have a cell phone, the call will then be routed to that number.

Many businesses also use small business phone systems to provide integrated contact management options. Some of the basic features available include call recording, caller identification, call forwarding and video calling. Video calling allows a small business owner to display video information like web pages and incoming calls on his or her phone. This allows the small business owner to show how busy he or she is during any specific period of time. Small business owners may also choose to display phone numbers for multiple extensions. Most small business phone systems do not contain video functionality with regard to cellular phones, however.

Business owners who require caller ID may benefit from a business phone systems with video calling capabilities. Some of the systems will allow the user to see all incoming calls before picking up, and then shows a list of dialed numbers for the user to choose from. In addition, some of the best business phone systems will allow the user to view voicemail messages and faxes before picking up. This allows the business owner to respond quickly to any type of important message.

A third option for business phone systems is the use of VoIP technology, or Voice over Internet Protocol. This technology uses voice signals transmitted through the internet. A traditional telephone calls are converted into voice data during the transmission process. VoIP phone companies will convert voice calls into digital data packets which can be sent across the internet. The voice data is then converted into normal internet protocol (IP) messages, making them indistinguishable from regular telephone calls.

For many business owners, there is nothing more convenient than making their traditional long distance calls over the internet. Many providers offer packages that include free long distance calls made within a particular area. The best phone system companies also offer additional services such as caller ID, call screening and call forwarding. These additional services allow business users to take advantage of advanced features of their service without having to purchase additional hardware or software. Multi-line and multi-service plans are available from most VoIP providers.