#voip phone number for business

[cleverstacksblog]

[mostlysignssomeportents]

How I got scammed

If you'd like an essay-formatted version of this post to read or share, here's a link to it on pluralistic.net, my surveillance-free, ad-free, tracker-free blog:

https://pluralistic.net/2024/02/05/cyber-dunning-kruger/#swiss-cheese-security

I wuz robbed.

More specifically, I was tricked by a phone-phisher pretending to be from my bank, and he convinced me to hand over my credit-card number, then did $8,000+ worth of fraud with it before I figured out what happened. And then he tried to do it again, a week later!

Here's what happened. Over the Christmas holiday, I traveled to New Orleans. The day we landed, I hit a Chase ATM in the French Quarter for some cash, but the machine declined the transaction. Later in the day, we passed a little credit-union's ATM and I used that one instead (I bank with a one-branch credit union and generally there's no fee to use another CU's ATM).

A couple days later, I got a call from my credit union. It was a weekend, during the holiday, and the guy who called was obviously working for my little CU's after-hours fraud contractor. I'd dealt with these folks before – they service a ton of little credit unions, and generally the call quality isn't great and the staff will often make mistakes like mispronouncing my credit union's name.

That's what happened here – the guy was on a terrible VOIP line and I had to ask him to readjust his mic before I could even understand him. He mispronounced my bank's name and then asked if I'd attempted to spend $1,000 at an Apple Store in NYC that day. No, I said, and groaned inwardly. What a pain in the ass. Obviously, I'd had my ATM card skimmed – either at the Chase ATM (maybe that was why the transaction failed), or at the other credit union's ATM (it had been a very cheap looking system).

I told the guy to block my card and we started going through the tedious business of running through recent transactions, verifying my identity, and so on. It dragged on and on. These were my last hours in New Orleans, and I'd left my family at home and gone out to see some of the pre-Mardi Gras krewe celebrations and get a muffalata, and I could tell that I was going to run out of time before I finished talking to this guy.

"Look," I said, "you've got all my details, you've frozen the card. I gotta go home and meet my family and head to the airport. I'll call you back on the after-hours number once I'm through security, all right?"

He was frustrated, but that was his problem. I hung up, got my sandwich, went to the airport, and we checked in. It was total chaos: an Alaska Air 737 Max had just lost its door-plug in mid-air and every Max in every airline's fleet had been grounded, so the check in was crammed with people trying to rebook. We got through to the gate and I sat down to call the CU's after-hours line. The person on the other end told me that she could only handle lost and stolen cards, not fraud, and given that I'd already frozen the card, I should just drop by the branch on Monday to get a new card.

We flew home, and later the next day, I logged into my account and made a list of all the fraudulent transactions and printed them out, and on Monday morning, I drove to the bank to deal with all the paperwork. The folks at the CU were even more pissed than I was. The fraud that run up to more than $8,000, and if Visa refused to take it out of the merchants where the card had been used, my little credit union would have to eat the loss.

I agreed and commiserated. I also pointed out that their outsource, after-hours fraud center bore some blame here: I'd canceled the card on Saturday but most of the fraud had taken place on Sunday. Something had gone wrong.

One cool thing about banking at a tiny credit-union is that you end up talking to people who have actual authority, responsibility and agency. It turned out the the woman who was processing my fraud paperwork was a VP, and she decided to look into it. A few minutes later she came back and told me that the fraud center had no record of having called me on Saturday.

"That was the fraudster," she said.

Oh, shit. I frantically rewound my conversation, trying to figure out if this could possibly be true. I hadn't given him anything apart from some very anodyne info, like what city I live in (which is in my Wikipedia entry), my date of birth (ditto), and the last four digits of my card.

Wait a sec.

He hadn't asked for the last four digits. He'd asked for the last seven digits. At the time, I'd found that very frustrating, but now – "The first nine digits are the same for every card you issue, right?" I asked the VP.

I'd given him my entire card number.

Goddammit.

The thing is, I know a lot about fraud. I'm writing an entire series of novels about this kind of scam:

https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250865878/thebezzle

And most summers, I go to Defcon, and I always go to the "social engineering" competitions where an audience listens as a hacker in a soundproof booth cold-calls merchants (with the owner's permission) and tries to con whoever answers the phone into giving up important information.

But I'd been conned.

Now look, I knew I could be conned. I'd been conned before, 13 years ago, by a Twitter worm that successfully phished out of my password via DM:

https://locusmag.com/2010/05/cory-doctorow-persistence-pays-parasites/

That scam had required a miracle of timing. It started the day before, when I'd reset my phone to factory defaults and reinstalled all my apps. That same day, I'd published two big online features that a lot of people were talking about. The next morning, we were late getting out of the house, so by the time my wife and I dropped the kid at daycare and went to the coffee shop, it had a long line. Rather than wait in line with me, my wife sat down to read a newspaper, and so I pulled out my phone and found a Twitter DM from a friend asking "is this you?" with a URL.

Assuming this was something to do with those articles I'd published the day before, I clicked the link and got prompted for my Twitter login again. This had been happening all day because I'd done that mobile reinstall the day before and all my stored passwords had been wiped. I entered it but the page timed out. By that time, the coffees were ready. We sat and chatted for a bit, then went our own ways.

I was on my way to the office when I checked my phone again. I had a whole string of DMs from other friends. Each one read "is this you?" and had a URL.

Oh, shit, I'd been phished.

If I hadn't reinstalled my mobile OS the day before. If I hadn't published a pair of big articles the day before. If we hadn't been late getting out the door. If we had been a little more late getting out the door (so that I'd have seen the multiple DMs, which would have tipped me off).

There's a name for this in security circles: "Swiss-cheese security." Imagine multiple slices of Swiss cheese all stacked up, the holes in one slice blocked by the slice below it. All the slices move around and every now and again, a hole opens up that goes all the way through the stack. Zap!

The fraudster who tricked me out of my credit card number had Swiss cheese security on his side. Yes, he spoofed my bank's caller ID, but that wouldn't have been enough to fool me if I hadn't been on vacation, having just used a pair of dodgy ATMs, in a hurry and distracted. If the 737 Max disaster hadn't happened that day and I'd had more time at the gate, I'd have called my bank back. If my bank didn't use a slightly crappy outsource/out-of-hours fraud center that I'd already had sub-par experiences with. If, if, if.

The next Friday night, at 5:30PM, the fraudster called me back, pretending to be the bank's after-hours center. He told me my card had been compromised again. But: I hadn't removed my card from my wallet since I'd had it replaced. Also, it was half an hour after the bank closed for the long weekend, a very fraud-friendly time. And when I told him I'd call him back and asked for the after-hours fraud number, he got very threatening and warned me that because I'd now been notified about the fraud that any losses the bank suffered after I hung up the phone without completing the fraud protocol would be billed to me. I hung up on him. He called me back immediately. I hung up on him again and put my phone into do-not-disturb.

The following Tuesday, I called my bank and spoke to their head of risk-management. I went through everything I'd figured out about the fraudsters, and she told me that credit unions across America were being hit by this scam, by fraudsters who somehow knew CU customers' phone numbers and names, and which CU they banked at. This was key: my phone number is a reasonably well-kept secret. You can get it by spending money with Equifax or another nonconsensual doxing giant, but you can't just google it or get it at any of the free services. The fact that the fraudsters knew where I banked, knew my name, and had my phone number had really caused me to let down my guard.

The risk management person and I talked about how the credit union could mitigate this attack: for example, by better-training the after-hours card-loss staff to be on the alert for calls from people who had been contacted about supposed card fraud. We also went through the confusing phone-menu that had funneled me to the wrong department when I called in, and worked through alternate wording for the menu system that would be clearer (this is the best part about banking with a small CU – you can talk directly to the responsible person and have a productive discussion!). I even convinced her to buy a ticket to next summer's Defcon to attend the social engineering competitions.

There's a leak somewhere in the CU systems' supply chain. Maybe it's Zelle, or the small number of corresponding banks that CUs rely on for SWIFT transaction forwarding. Maybe it's even those after-hours fraud/card-loss centers. But all across the USA, CU customers are getting calls with spoofed caller IDs from fraudsters who know their registered phone numbers and where they bank.

I've been mulling this over for most of a month now, and one thing has really been eating at me: the way that AI is going to make this kind of problem much worse.

Not because AI is going to commit fraud, though.

One of the truest things I know about AI is: "we're nowhere near a place where bots can steal your job, we're certainly at the point where your boss can be suckered into firing you and replacing you with a bot that fails at doing your job":

https://pluralistic.net/2024/01/15/passive-income-brainworms/#four-hour-work-week

I trusted this fraudster specifically because I knew that the outsource, out-of-hours contractors my bank uses have crummy headsets, don't know how to pronounce my bank's name, and have long-ass, tedious, and pointless standardized questionnaires they run through when taking fraud reports. All of this created cover for the fraudster, whose plausibility was enhanced by the rough edges in his pitch - they didn't raise red flags.

As this kind of fraud reporting and fraud contacting is increasingly outsourced to AI, bank customers will be conditioned to dealing with semi-automated systems that make stupid mistakes, force you to repeat yourself, ask you questions they should already know the answers to, and so on. In other words, AI will groom bank customers to be phishing victims.

This is a mistake the finance sector keeps making. 15 years ago, Ben Laurie excoriated the UK banks for their "Verified By Visa" system, which validated credit card transactions by taking users to a third party site and requiring them to re-enter parts of their password there:

https://web.archive.org/web/20090331094020/http://www.links.org/?p=591

This is exactly how a phishing attack works. As Laurie pointed out, this was the banks training their customers to be phished.

I came close to getting phished again today, as it happens. I got back from Berlin on Friday and my suitcase was damaged in transit. I've been dealing with the airline, which means I've really been dealing with their third-party, outsource luggage-damage service. They have a terrible website, their emails are incoherent, and they officiously demand the same information over and over again.

This morning, I got a scam email asking me for more information to complete my damaged luggage claim. It was a terrible email, from a noreply@ email address, and it was vague, officious, and dishearteningly bureaucratic. For just a moment, my finger hovered over the phishing link, and then I looked a little closer.

On any other day, it wouldn't have had a chance. Today – right after I had my luggage wrecked, while I'm still jetlagged, and after days of dealing with my airline's terrible outsource partner – it almost worked.

So much fraud is a Swiss-cheese attack, and while companies can't close all the holes, they can stop creating new ones.

Meanwhile, I'll continue to post about it whenever I get scammed. I find the inner workings of scams to be fascinating, and it's also important to remind people that everyone is vulnerable sometimes, and scammers are willing to try endless variations until an attack lands at just the right place, at just the right time, in just the right way. If you think you can't get scammed, that makes you especially vulnerable:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/02/24/passive-income/#swiss-cheese-security

Image: Cryteria (modified) https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:HAL9000.svg

CC BY 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en

[knotnetworsllc]

Knot Networks LLC: Making Communication Simple and Affordable with USA Toll Free Number

Knot Networks LLC is a  telecommunications service provider based in Delaware, USA. It has over 8 years of expertise in this sector and has earned a reputation for offering high-quality and dependable communication services to organizations of all sizes. A Toll Free Number is one of the most popular services provided by Knot Networks LLC.

Businesses can boost their reputation, client happiness, and professional image by giving consumers an International Toll Free Service Provider. A Toll Free Number is a virtual phone number allowing customers to call businesses for free. These numbers are typically ten digits long and begin with 800, 888, 877, 866, 855, or 844.

One of the significant benefits of a USA Toll Free Number is that it allows businesses to track their calls more quickly. Knot Networks LLC provides clients with extensive call tracking and reporting capabilities, allowing them to monitor their calls in real-time. It assists firms in identifying areas for improvement in customer service and tracking the success of their marketing strategies. Another advantage of employing a Toll Free Number in the United States is that it might assist businesses in expanding their reach. By giving a Toll Free Number, companies can receive calls from anywhere in the United States, regardless of location. It can assist firms in establishing a national presence and reaching a larger audience.

Knot Networks LLC offers a range of plans to suit the needs and budgets friendly of different businesses. The projects are flexible and customizable, and clients can choose the features they need to meet their communication requirements. It makes Knot Networks LLC's USA Toll Free Number service an affordable and reliable option for businesses of all sizes.

In addition to its Toll free number for business in USA, Knot Networks LLC provides various other communication services, including VoIP phone systems, IVR systems, and virtual receptionist services. The company's VoIP phone systems are designed to be user-friendly and reliable. They offer various advanced features, such as call recording, call forwarding, and voicemail-to-email.

Knot Networks LLC's IVR system is valuable for businesses receiving significant calls. By automating the call-handling process, companies can improve their efficiency and reduce the wait times for their customers. The system can also provide valuable data and insights to organizations, allowing them to improve their operations.

The IVR system from Knot Networks LLC can be modified to suit the unique requirements of every company. Companies can, for instance, select the voice prompts, menu choices, and call routing options that best meet their needs. The system is a flexible and effective communication tool since it can combine with other communication channels like email, SMS, and social media.

Knot Networks LLC's virtual receptionist service is an automated answering system that can handle incoming calls, route them to the appropriate department, and provide customers with information about the business. It can assist organizations in improving customer service and reducing the workload on their employees.

In conclusion, Knot Networks LLC is a telecommunication service company that provides affordable and reliable communication services to businesses of all sizes. The USA Toll Free Number service is a popular option to help businesses establish a professional image, expand their reach, and track their calls. Knot Networks LLC's other communication services, including VoIP phone systems, SMS marketing, and virtual receptionist services, make communication simple and efficient for businesses.

How to Become Toll-Free Service Provider in USA

[newsonline1]

An extremely incredible support of get back to family and companions home and a simple method to revive their mobiles. Purchase a calling plan and get the best rates for landline & portable calls or send versatile energizes on the web. Premium quality universal calls with no additional expenses.

[ralfmaximus]

I've got one coworker who calls me occasionally without any warning whatsoever. Everyone else hits me up in work chat first: hey are you busy? got a sec? can I call?

But not this guy. Also, he uses his personal cell phone, and due to whatever wacky VOIP cellular service he uses, it's never the same number twice, and his caller ID is literally "wireless caller".

This guy is THE ONLY REASON I ever answer my phone, even if the caller ID screams spam. Because if I don't talk to him, something at work that's on fire will get worse, making everyone else's life a little worse.

So I answer his calls, and he never introduces himself or gives context for the call. He's already six words into his stream of consciousness explanation of what the problem is and what I need to do to help him fix it. It's always very arcane, very technical.

"Screen SA-011 is throwing a validation error, and it has something to do with the foobar field. I think the combo box on that screen has lost its list of validations, so if you could--"

It's like being thrown into an ice cold river. I forget to breathe, listening to him monologue endlessly, trying to simultaneously parse what he's saying while also rewinding the conversation in my memory back to the beginning so I can maybe figure out the context for the call. I sometimes jot key phrases on a scrap of paper while he talks.

Eventually he stops. Now it's my turn. I get to reply, to tell him what he needs to know to fix his problem, and (weirdly) nine times out of ten I can. There's a part of me that wakes up and knows, even if my conscious brain has no fucking clue. Often it's a memory from eight years ago when we first wrote that module, and it's just enough to trigger an additional cascade of important memories on his side.

"Yeah," I hear myself reply, "that's the UD1015 table, and you'll need to reload that from backup. There are too many values in there to enter manually."

He thanks me and hangs up. The whole interaction lasted less than four minutes and I won't hear from him again this year.

Now what the fuck was I doing?

[agentjayrock]

Uber? Lyft? What the hell is going on?

Ever had to contact customer support and heard over an automated voice instead of a human? How about contacting them and once you explain to them your issues only for them to give you ready-made responses as they haven't clue of what you're talking about? Well, that's been my excrcuiating experience as a driver for both companies at the same time. So, let's dive into how ludicrous it's been.

Let's start with Uber since it's rich with crazy stories. Uber has kind of a fair hourly wage going $25-30. You can receive payments on weekly basis like most jobs and contracts. Or you can have instant access to your money and even cash out once you've finished your shift with the Pro Card. Of course, I would choose the latter because why not? Normally I cash out directly to my debit card and needed I new one some time ago. I went in to change the details for the new card and had to undergo a security code verification via text message. I never received it so I had to contact support. I explained the issue I had and was told to whilelist my phone number from a text message. That's strange. How come I can receive text messages from Pro Card just fine when logging in, but not for this? Because this didn't work. I thought that this had to be a problem in their end. Now, a good tech support agent would troubleshoot such an issue should a solution like that not work. Not here; they "took it to further support" (Bear with here. I couldn't remember exactly what they said.) in order to resolve my issue. Their response: logout and in, reinstall the app and restart my phone. None of that worked because it's the most half-assed set of solutions of all time. Imagine if EA told you do that with their games you try to boot up. It'll just add the notoriety they're known for having.

It didn't feel like I was chatting with a human, so I decided to call support for a better chance. I had to wait (Get ready for this) ONE MOTHERFUCKING HOUR just to talk with someone. I can't believe I had the patience for that. I finally get to talk with an agent, only for them to tell me the same. Damn. Thing. Dude, what the fuck? Is Uber run by Skynet or something?! I kept contacting until I remembered why I had to whitelist the phone number I've been using with my account: it's because it's believed that it was being blocked by the provider. The number here is one I had setup for business reasons via TextFree, so I contacted them about it and they told me there was no issue on their end. Is Uber screwing with at this point? But, I went and switched the number on my account to my personal one, thinking that the business number is being assumed to be a VoIP, which is not allowed with some services. I finally get the code needed to finalize debit card changes to my Pro Card account.

Now this next story really interfered with my job significantly. I've been doing rideshare look normal, steady with a consistent schedule I setup for myself. The one thing that annoys me is that I have to verify my facial identity every once in a while. I mean, you know what I look like. Nothing too drastic has changed about me. So, why do I gotta go through this as I begin the job at a desired time? One day, I randomly go into the trip preferences menu to see it go from this:

To this:

Note: the Uber Eats food delivery preference is suppose to be there, but I didn't take a screenshot before it disappeared.

Of course, I had to talk to an agent. But this was more aggravating. I tried my damnedest to explain this issue. The agent, however, couldn't seem to figure out what I mean. Did they not have any job training? Once that was sorted, the agent said things like "This should be the type of experience for you to have" or "We understand your concern". Do ya, really? Because you should've went deeper into it by now. Continuing with this chat, guess what they told me then: the same solution from the Pro Card "troubleshoot", but that didn't work because THE APP IS NOT THE FUCKING PROBLEM! I disconnected and got in contact with a different agent. This bullshit repeated, but I got a whole new response. I got confirmation of my eligibility to have these preferences, including UberXL, and it was still approved. They also actually spent the time to look into it for a few minutes, although it was longer than. The problem involved the inspection of the vehicle I have registered. They wanted me to show an image of a newly documented inspection, but I don't have to worry about it for another 6 months. In my state at least, (I'm from the USA) I have to perform an annual inspection for legal validity of driving the vehicle, and it's $100. Doing this every 6 months makes no sense and it feels like it'll lead to an endless money pit, as a certain mechanic would say.

After that was sorted, I went back to doing the job like normal, only for it to happen again the next week. Starting to feel like Uber has a grudge against me. I go back to dealing with the same ol' crap more frustrated than ever, even angry, and get an unexpected response: I'm not eligible to perform UberXL rides. Well, isn't this the most inept thing to happen here? I drive a minivan, goddammit. What do you mean I'm not eligible? I just disconnected and almost didn't bother to reach another agent. But, I'm managed to collect myself and get it sorted out like last time. I'm certain this will happen again however.

On the Lyft side of things, the same issue with support, except this is about emblems. Speaking of those emblems, the adhesive is weak sauce. So, I needed new ones. You can order new ones from the site or app with the push of a button. It's suppose to arrive within week, but didn't as that time range passed. I had to contact an agent, but it was hard to do it on the app because for some reason, they have too high of expectations that problems are solved with FAQs. But this is a troubleshooting issue; there's no way they can believe things can work fine that easily all the time. I had to go to the site to get help, and they responded by arranging a new order, which did arrive. Thing is, I've had this problem since I first signed up. I didn't even get my training kit with the cool pink mustache. After those emblems wear out too soon, I had to order another pair. Here's me thinking "Maybe they sorted out that issue with the delivery". But something even worse happened:

And as of the date of this blog post, it's still like this. Why? I even contacted them with this screenshot and they just gave me an automated message saying they'll just reship the emblems. This shouldn't have to be the only way to obtain new emblems beside the Express Hubs, which is too far from where I live. And they didn't arrive this time. If I contact them about any other problem, it'll just be the same type of response instead of troubleshooting.

Now, I don't know too much about the experience with support for riders since I've not used rideshare often. But I'm sure there's similar issues. The fact that this is the type of support we receive is unacceptable. It's as if they only measure their success financially based on the quantity of users. With the money they make, you'd think they could hire more competent employees for tech support, but they just found some random people with barely any tech skills to speak of and brought them in. There's got to be some kind of union strike or something because we can't keep letting them get away with this.

[ezeetel]

How Does a Cloud-Based Business Telephone System Work? Solving Communication Challenges for Modern Businesses

Introduction

In today's fast-paced business world, seamless communication is the lifeblood of any successful organization. Traditional phone systems have their limitations, making it crucial for businesses to adopt modern solutions that can keep up with the demands of the digital era. Enter Ezeetel Telecommunication, a leading provider of cloud-based Business Telephone Systems. In this blog post, we will explore how Ezeetel's cutting-edge technology works, and how it addresses the communication challenges faced by businesses today.

Understanding the Basics of a Cloud-Based Business Telephone System

A cloud-based Business Telephone System, also known as Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), revolutionizes the way organizations communicate. Unlike conventional landline systems, where communication is routed through physical phone lines, VoIP operates over the internet, transmitting voice data as packets. Ezeetel leverages the power of cloud computing to deliver a robust, reliable, and scalable telecommunication solution to businesses of all sizes.

The Inner Workings of Ezeetel's Business Telephone System

Virtualization of Phone Infrastructure: Ezeetel replaces the need for bulky, on-premises hardware with a virtual phone infrastructure hosted in the cloud. This means businesses no longer need to invest in expensive telephone exchange equipment, reducing both upfront costs and maintenance expenses.

Seamless Call Routing and Management: With Ezeetel's cloud-based system, incoming calls are efficiently routed to the intended recipients, regardless of their location. Advanced call management features, such as call forwarding, auto-attendants, and interactive voice response (IVR) systems, ensure that every call is handled professionally.

Scalability and Flexibility: As businesses grow, so do their communication needs. Ezeetel's solution is highly scalable, allowing companies to add or remove phone lines effortlessly. This flexibility ensures that the system can adapt to organizational changes without major disruptions.

Unified Communication: Ezeetel integrates various communication channels, including voice, video, and messaging, into a single platform. This unified communication approach streamlines internal collaboration and enhances external interactions with clients and partners.

Mobility and Remote Work Support: In an increasingly remote and mobile work environment, Ezeetel's Business Telephone System shines. Employees can use their smartphones, laptops, or desktop computers to access the system from anywhere with an internet connection, ensuring uninterrupted connectivity.

Solving Communication Challenges for Businesses

Ezeetel's Business Telephone System addresses several critical challenges faced by modern businesses:

Cost-Effectiveness: By eliminating the need for costly on-premises equipment and offering competitive pricing, Ezeetel significantly reduces the overall telecommunication expenses for businesses.

Reliability and Redundancy: The cloud-based infrastructure ensures high system availability, with built-in redundancy to minimize downtime. Businesses can rest assured that their communication channels remain operational at all times.

Enhanced Collaboration: With integrated voice, video, and messaging features, Ezeetel fosters seamless communication and collaboration among team members, boosting productivity and efficiency.

Business Continuity: In case of natural disasters or emergencies, Ezeetel's cloud-based system ensures that communication remains intact, allowing businesses to continue operations without disruption.

Global Reach: Ezeetel's VoIP system enables businesses to establish virtual phone numbers in multiple countries, expanding their reach and providing a localized experience for customers worldwide.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Ezeetel's cloud-based Business Telephone System represents the next generation of telecommunication solutions, empowering businesses with unparalleled communication capabilities. By virtualizing phone infrastructure, enhancing collaboration, and addressing the challenges of modern communication, Ezeetel enables organizations to thrive in today's dynamic business landscape. Embrace the power of cloud-based telephony and take your business communication to new heights with Ezeetel Telecommunication.

[phonesuitedirect]

Lowering your costs by using a VoIP phone system is a smart and cost-effective solution for businesses of all sizes. By leveraging the power of the internet, VoIP eliminates the need for traditional phone lines, resulting in significant savings on monthly phone bills. With features such as virtual numbers, call forwarding, and video conferencing, VoIP enhances communication efficiency while reducing expenses on long-distance and international calls.

[uk-talk]

What are the benefits of using a hosted VOIP phone system for businesses?

One key requirement for a business to succeed in this competitive online market is robust communication. It has made modern businesses abandon traditional phone lines and adopt hi-tech business communications tools like hosted VoIP. What is a hosted VoIP?

A hosted VoIP (voice-over-internet-protocol) is an internet-based communication service managed by a third-party provider. It can effortlessly support the communication processes of a business and help them thrive in this competitive market. As this unified communication solution is inexpensive and secure, large and small enterprises are replacing traditional phone lines with VoIP. Let us break down how using a hosted VoIP benefits a business. VoIP offers several elements that may help businesses prosper. Some of them include: 1. Call recording facility: It helps businesses record calls for quality and training purposes. 2. Multiple Platforms: Based on the user’s requirement, the same phone line can be used from different platforms such as a traditional telephone handset, a mobile device, or a desktop or laptop. 3. Voicemail-to-email: Voicemail recordings can be sent to email addresses, allowing users to send important messages on time.  4. Call screening: It allows business owners to recognize important callers and even redirect calls to other phones or mailboxes. 5. Video call: It supports video conferencing via the internet. 6. VoIP and unified mobile integration: This is the ultimate feature that lets professionals use the business phone number on their phones and stay connected anywhere and anytime. The above features of hosted VoIP help businesses in many ways. Supports flexible working

Adopting VoIP service can help the team to receive and make calls from anywhere and at any time through the Internet. Enhanced productivity and customer experience

The auto-attendant features allow team members to take calls from anywhere and route calls to the correct person. It enhances the firm's productivity and improves customer experience. Cheaper

They are much cheaper than the traditional phone lines as they neither need expensive equipment or hardware nor do they have to pay any cost as maintenance fees. All they need to pay is a monthly subscription charge. Some VoIP service providers offer generous free call allowances that lower the monthly bills. Future proofs businesses and supports long-term growth.

By 2025, BT will be turning off its PSTN and ISDN networks, so investing in a hosted VoIP is a good investment as it can help a company grow. It supports the futuristic Unified Communications, which is a set of applications that helps companies communicate in real-time or non-real-time. Dependability and Disaster Recovery

Hosted VoIP systems have built-in disaster recovery. It allows team members to connect even during a power cut, and as VoIP systems are located in the UK's resilient data centers, their chances of an outage are minimal. Summing Up

Businesses of different sizes can gain from the futuristic features of VoIP systems. UK Talk offers hassle-free and reliable unified business communications solutions to businesses across the UK.  It helps enterprises access tomorrow’s technology through affordable cloud-based telephony solutions.

[techpunditau]

Why Businesses With Several Offices Or Locations Are Increasingly Using Voip Systems

If your business grows & you need to relocate, rerouting a phone line is not an issue. Once you have a firm grasp on VoIP technology and its operation, you may consider the benefits of incorporating a VoIP system into your operations.

Among these advantages are the following:

Tool Flexibility

VoIP allows your company to choose and use only the technologies that are most suited to your specific requirements, giving you the freedom to manage networks more effectively. You can create a unified communication offering with a range of features, such as a message platform, video conferencing capabilities, and telephone services, by working with one or a few of the available communication service providers.

These choices are appealing since you can choose one or a combination of vendors based on how your business operates on a daily basis. This flexibility lets your business expand without any problems by enabling you to simply change the number of active channels on the network to meet your needs.

The Application's Features

Employee productivity is increased by applications made available through a unified communications suite, which complements computer-based phone calls. Agent efficiency is increased when they can multitask while using features like voice call buttons in emails, presence information, and email voicemail delivery, among others. Client retention rates increase when these phone systems are utilized because they allow employees to give their clients better service.

Backup Plans

Our business voip Brisbane systems today include a wide range of functionality, from networking, storage, and processing power to artificial intelligence and natural language processing, in addition to the typical office applications. Nowadays, practically any service that doesn't require being physically close to the computer hardware being utilized can be provided via the cloud.

The capability of remote operation

By providing apps that enable you to set up your phone extension on any device, including smartphones, VoIP providers make device switching easier. Whether you're visiting clients or traveling overseas, you can do more while on the go with your mobile device, which gives you access to all of your necessary tools.

[global-research-report]

2022 to 2028 Market Analysis: Floor Grinding Machines in Focus

The global fixed voice market size is expected to reach USD 121.2 billion by 2028, registering a CAGR of -2.3% from 2022 to 2028, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. Fixed voice service revenue is predicted to decline in the next few years as a result of lower circuit-switched subscriptions among companies and consumers, as well as a drop in fixed voice ARPU. Due to a strong preference for mobile and OTT-based network communication services, fixed voice services revenues will be pulled down over the forecast timeline. Consumers and companies have shifted heavily towards mobile voice and internet voice communication platforms in recent years. As a result, the overall revenue streams for the worldwide fixed voice services industry have decreased.

With the widespread use of 5G technology, an increase in the number of internet-connected mobile smartphones, and consumer interest in next-generation technologies, there has been a significant shift in customer preference for VoIP and mobile voice communication platforms. Furthermore, governments all over the world are launching big campaigns to promote the use of mobile voice technology. The persistent loss in fixed voice service income is not compensating for the steady growth in fixed broadband service revenue, resulting in a drop in fixed communications services revenue.

The telecommunications services industry has shown to be one of the most resilient sectors of the global economy throughout the COVID-19 crisis. Anti-pandemic strategies in several countries have increased the usage of telecom services by forcing individuals to stay at home and reducing face-to-face interactions. The economic impact of company closures, growing unemployment, decreased tourist activities, and decreasing consumer expenditure on non-essential products and services, on the other hand, weakened the market. Fixed voice service spending will continue to decline and will be exacerbated by the pandemic, as consumers are likely to discontinue fixed call services and switch to mobile communication lines.

Fixed voice services revenues in the Asia Pacific have decreased significantly in a couple of years. The regional telecoms service business has seen significant changes in recent years as the region has evolved into a digital business center. To meet their communication and network demands, consumers and businesses in the region are turning to mobile voice services. Furthermore, fixed-mobile substitution and consolidation of various narrowband networks are principally responsible for the loss of voice lines in countries like China, Japan, and India.

In the last several years, the uptake of fixed voice services in North America and Europe has been slow. Since the ongoing 5G revolution in some countries, mobile phones have become the major mode of communication, further reducing the use of public telephone boxes and diminishing the need for businesses to adopt fixed internet connections and fixed-line telephones.    

Fixed Voice Market Report Highlights

North America witnesses a significant decline in the fixed voice services revenue. This revenue decline is majorly due to the consumer shift towards mobile and VoIP telephony services and immigration towards 5G technology

The usage of fixed voice systems has decreased significantly in the consumer/residential sector. Consumers and companies continue to favor mobile voice communication services

The Asia Pacific has witnessed a significant decline in a couple of years mainly due to consumer shift towards broadband and mobile voice services, availability of narrowband services for service providers, and growth of VoIP services

Fixed Voice Market Report Segmentation

Grand View Research has segmented the global fixed voice market based on end-use and region:

Fixed Voice End-use Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2017 - 2028)

Consumer/Residential

Business

Fixed Voice Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2017 - 2028)

North America

US

Canada

Europe

UK

Germany

France

Asia Pacific

China

India

Japan

Central & South America

Brazil

Argentina

Middle East & Africa

GCC

South Africa

Order a free sample PDF of the Fixed Voice Market Intelligence Study, published by Grand View Research.

[drdailers]

VoIP dialer 

Making phone calls with a VoIP dialer requires internet access. Traditional phone lines are no longer necessary when it functions as a digital assistant, VoIP dialer, or VoIP auto dialer. Additionally, it saves time and effort by dialing numbers efficiently. To improve call productivity, the VoIP predictive dialer can even forecast agent availability by analyzing call data. Business systems are smoothly integrated with VoIP dialer software. As a result, it is an effective tool for businesses and call centers.

[saif12tele]

Cost-Effective Connectivity for Businesses

Transforming the Telecom Industry for a Connected Tomorrow

In today’s fast-paced, interconnected world, businesses demand more than just voice calls—they need seamless, cost-effective, and feature-rich communication solutions. Enter Mobile VoIP: the game-changer in modern business communication.

✅ Cut Costs: Say goodbye to expensive international calls and traditional phone systems. ✅ Boost Flexibility: Work from anywhere with internet connectivity. ✅ Enhance Collaboration: Enjoy features like video conferencing, unified messaging, and virtual numbers. ✅ Scale with Ease: Grow your business without worrying about infrastructure costs.

At Saif Telecommunications, we’re at the forefront of this revolution. Our Mobile VoIP solutions empower businesses to connect smarter, faster, and more affordably—helping you focus on what matters most: growth and innovation.

Did you know that the mobile VoIP market is projected to reach a staggering $327.5 billion by 2031? 😮 Such growth underscores a seismic shift in how businesses are reimagining communication in the digital age. The advantages of mobile VoIP are profound: - **Cost-effectiveness**: Slash phone bills and eliminate long-distance charges with internet-based calling. - **Advanced Features**: From voicemail transcription to video conferencing, VoIP systems are packed with functionalities unavailable in traditional systems. - **Global Reach**: Platforms like CloudTalk offer over 160 international numbers, enhancing customer engagement worldwide.

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[virtualphonesystems]

Understanding VoIP Solutions: Enhancing Your PBX Phone System with Modern Technology

In today's fast-paced business environment, effective communication is paramount. One of the most significant advancements in this area is the integration of VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) solutions with traditional PBX (Private Branch Exchange) phone systems. This article explores how VoIP enhances PBX systems, making them more efficient and adaptable to modern business needs.

What is VoIP?

VoIP technology allows voice calls to be made over the internet rather than through traditional telephone lines. This shift not only reduces costs but also increases flexibility and scalability for businesses. By utilizing a VoIP phone number, companies can easily manage their communication needs without being tied to physical infrastructure.

The Role of PBX Phone Systems

A PBX phone system serves as a central hub for managing incoming and outgoing calls within an organization. It enables features such as call routing, voicemail, and conference calling. Modern PBX systems can be either on-premises or hosted in the cloud, offering businesses various options based on their specific requirements.

Benefits of Integrating VoIP with PBX

Cost Efficiency: VoIP solutions are generally more cost-effective than traditional phone services, especially for long-distance calls. By integrating VoIP with a PBX system, businesses can significantly reduce their telecommunication expenses.

Enhanced Features: Modern VoIP systems offer advanced features such as auto attendants, call queues, and voicemail-to-email capabilities. These functionalities improve customer service and streamline internal communication.

Scalability: As businesses grow, their communication needs evolve. VoIP solutions allow for easy expansion of phone lines and features without the need for extensive hardware upgrades.

Remote Work Compatibility: With the rise of remote work, having a flexible communication system is crucial. VoIP-enabled PBX systems allow employees to make and receive calls from anywhere with an internet connection, maintaining productivity outside the office.

Unified Communications: Integrating VoIP with PBX systems facilitates unified communications by combining voice, video, messaging, and collaboration tools into a single platform. This integration enhances teamwork and improves overall efficiency.

Choosing a Business Phone Service Provider

Selecting the right business phone service provider is critical for successfully implementing VoIP solutions within your PBX system. Look for providers that offer:

Reliable customer support

Competitive pricing

A range of features tailored to your business needs

Scalability options to grow with your organization

Providers like Vitel Global offer comprehensive solutions that integrate seamlessly with existing systems while providing robust support and feature sets tailored to various business sizes and industries (Vitel Global).

Conclusion

Integrating VoIP solutions with your PBX phone system is a strategic move that can enhance your business's communication capabilities significantly. By leveraging modern technology, organizations can achieve cost savings, improved functionality, and greater flexibility in their operations. As businesses continue to adapt to changing environments, embracing these technologies will be essential for maintaining competitive advantage in the market. For more insights on how to optimize your business communication systems, visit Vitel Global.