Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) is a universal term for the technologies involved in the transfer of voice communication over an IP network.  For the most part, VoIP system users can make and receive calls just as they would from a traditional telephone network with only a home or business broadband internet connection.  Here are eight features that make VoIP attractive to the average user:

1. Price: With a basic service package for a VoIP phone system, you are provided with unlimited local and long distance calling within the United States (some offer unlimited calls to Canada and selected countries within Europe and Asia) for a low flat rate.
2. One Network:  Because VoIP systems use broadband connections you can run both your voice and data communications via one network which means you may be able to cut costs by getting rid of your traditional telephone connection.
3. Easy and Efficient:  VoIP systems are very simple to use.  For the most part, using a VoIP system is the same as using a traditional phone system—just pick up and dial.  The main difference between a VoIP and a traditional phone connection is the way the data is sent.  Since with a VoIP the data is sent via the internet, calls can be managed like data files on your computer as well as from a traditional hand phone set.
4. Features:  Many of the same paid features that the traditional phone companies offer are free with many VoIP services, such as voicemail, speed dialing, call forwarding, automatic redial, caller ID, caller ID block, and conference calling, as well as many other convenient features that are not available with a traditional phone network connection, such as the ability to forward voicemail to email; the ability to send data versions of voicemail messages, and the ability to manage address books and contacts from your computer.
5. Adding Lines:  By using a VoIP system, you are able to send out more than one telephone call over the same broadband internet connection which means that adding additional lines is simple and does not require an additional fee.
6. Fewer Location Restrictions:  With a VoIP system, only a broadband internet connection is needed; therefore, you are able to work from anywhere there is a fast enough internet connection allowing you fewer restrictions on your choice of calling environments.  Not only can you make calls from just about anywhere, you are also able to manage your VoIP system account from just about anywhere as well.  This means, those attractive features I listed earlier are able to be used on the go and not only in your home or office.
7. Compatibility and Integration:  Since VoIP uses one network, other internet services are compatible and integrate with your VoIP system, such as video conversation, message or data file exchange, internet gaming communication, and audio conferencing to name a few.  Also as mentioned in the features, you can also manage your address books and client information through your VoIP account from any computer with broadband internet.
8. Maintenance:  Overall, maintenance and troubleshooting are less complicated because of the simple fact that there are fewer devices to manage.

We have adapted our “on the go” lifestyle with our need for more efficient technology and the VoIP system is just one of the ways to make our lives simpler.  With the many attractive features of a VoIP system, it makes one wonder whether the traditional telephone service will soon become obsolete and instead we will all be conducting our communications on VoIP systems.

To learn more about VoIP systems, read Resource Nation’s buyer’s guide.

iPhones are high-quality, stylish, user-friendly mobile devices that offer a variety of efficient, easy-to-use applications. Business professionals are jumping on the iPhone bandwagon because of the phone’s assortment of valuable business applications.

If you are a business owner and need phones for your business in addition to the iPhone, visit our resource center and compare quotes from phone system providers.

Appealing business iPhone applications can include the capability to accurately monitor income and expenses, effectively organize details, tasks, and contacts, easily convert currency, and more. While there are several business iPhone apps, below is a list of the Top 11 best iPhone applications for businesses.

JustAddMoney Expense Tracker - this business application allows multiple users to track money in real-time. Users can enter receipts, checks, credit card purchases, and cash purchases at the moment of the purchase, customize income and expense categories, transfer money from one account to another, and generate financial reports. Because this is a multi-user application, users can share financial information and get updated instantly upon someone’s tracking entry. This is an ideal solution for businesses requiring constant updating of financial dealings, particularly if colleagues spend from the same account.

Mobile Password Safe – with the advances in technology, it is necessary to have a secure location to store multiple passwords. Mobile Password Safe allows only the user to gain access and passwords are decrypted into the browser, which means they can’t be hacked by third parties. This is the best iPhone application for business professionals with various accounts, codes for computer programs, and other hard to remember passwords. This application keeps passwords organized allowing users to specify labels, categories, and searches. It’s ideal for keeping business passwords separate from personal passwords and it is convenient and secure.

Goal-Tracker is designed to help the business professional reach his or her various goals. This application allows users to enter goals, hold themselves accountable, track progress, and separate and organize personal versus professional goals.

Currency Convert – this iPhone business application offers a quick and easy way to convert amounts of money between 23 currencies. Instant updating with the tap of your finger shows you up-to-date conversion rates on the go. Additionally, you can sort the currencies to keep your most used currencies on top for quick access and convenience.

ACTPrinter – this application is the most innovative and helps save the environment by not wasting paper. It allows a user to “print” any document from a Mac PC to an iPhone or iPod Touch. Essentially, it stores documents electronically so people can take documents with them on their phone and view them easily and conveniently without sorting through a stack of papers.

Timewerks – this is a time-tracking and invoicing application for all types of business professionals. From freelancers to consultants to lawyers to salespeople and contractors, users of this business iPhone application can track billable hours and create invoices. With Timewerks, you can manage and organize the time you spend on various projects and get detailed reports, easily filter through invoices, clients, work items, hours, etc.

iBeam – this application allows you to instantly send items such as contact information and photos directly to another iPhone. iBeam saves time and frustration by allowing iPhone users to instantly “Beam” information to each other as opposed to saying it, repeating it, and typing it into your phone or contact management system.

Ledger – with this, the best iPhone application for businesses seeking a money management application, you can record purchases, money transfers, loans, and receipts. Additionally, you can easily view transactions and details for all accounts, record simple or complex transactions, and edit account and transaction information.

TouchCall - iPhone users can conveniently, easily, and quickly find business information on the go. Say you need the phone number or address for a restaurant you were supposed to be at for a meeting and you’re running late, simply click the easy one-touch buttons on the interface and the information is provided to you.

Task2Gather – this application is ideal for maintaining all your business, personal, and family tasks. You can organize tasks, separate them, and share them with iPhone users and non-iPhone users. Additionally, the tasks are always accessible from your iPhone and your computer. Tasks can be divided into subtasks so you can delegate to colleagues.

Contact Hero – this business iPhone app is more than just a contact manager and online address book. You can collect, merge, organize and manage all your contacts from various contact management systems, such as Outlook, Gmail, or Yahoo!. You can manage your list of calls to make, keep a list of contacts you have made, and keep a detailed list of contact history for each contact. There are various ways to identify your contacts, for example numbers, colorful icons, or country flags. Also, you can schedule email messages to go out to any of your contacts at anytime in the future.

While you were sleeping the world changed. You might not know it for a few months or years, but new technologies were discovered or perfected, and those technologies will be refined into tools that will offer your business further growth and efficiencies. This process is almost as fixed now as sunrise and sunset. Those who deny technology has moved to the forefront of how businesses operate on a daily basis are being eclipsed by those embracing the advantages technology offers. To ensure your busy is the latter and not the former, ask yourself…

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“How can my business benefit from technology?”

The final answer to this question isn’t known until you actually implement a solution, but there are iterative answers that will lead to a positive outcome.

1. Know your business processes. This might seem redundant but it’s common that small companies know how to work the business but don’t know how the business works. It can be a time consuming process to document your procedures, policies, and work flows, but your business must drive technology decisions (not vice versa). Start with a simple outline of how you get from A to Z; that outline will be your guide when selecting the technology right for your business.

1. Prioritize your technology decisions. Your process outline will highlight areas of need for technology: phone systems, network security, e-mail, file sharing, and so on. Your goal with this step is to build a wish list of technology solutions (go crazy, wishes don’t cost anything) from which you can establish a schedule of which solutions you require now, later, and nice-to-have. And in all honesty, budget plays the most significant role in this phase; allot yourself a certain dollar amount and stick to that figure (give or take 10%). This will force you to focus on just that technology which will do the most for your business now and later.

1. Know what you don’t know. Don’t expect to know any technology by reading articles, books, or blogs. Technology is supposed to make your life simpler, but it takes complex technologies, such as advanced VoIP phone systems, to do that. Look in the mirror and tell yourself the truth about your technology aptitude. Now you’re ready to investigate the right solution for your business. This is where you Google to find resources; ask colleagues or competitors or friends for contacts; talk to manufacturer’s of the technology in which you’re interested. You’re looking for those who know the technology like you never will, but who will be able to translate that technology into benefits for your business. This is a leap-of-faith moment, but if the resource you find asks you more about your business than tells you about the solution, you’ve found the right resource. (Remember, business drives technology.)

1. Prepare the troops. Your employees will be the primary user of the phone systems, or any technology solution you implement. Let them in on the process as early as possible (outlining the process stage is about right). The input you’ll receive will be invaluable to determining a final selection. Once you have chosen a tool, put employees in charge of implementation (to a certain extent). You build rapport with the vendor this way that will be invaluable later when you require support or have follow up questions; you also empower employees to make the tool their own – it’s much easier to adjust technology than it is employees’ processes and habits. Your odds of a smooth and success install rise dramatically with a team-based approach.

This is a much abbreviated list of to do items when selecting a technology, but it touches on four vital points that will help ensure you benefit from implemented technologies.