Save by making Outbound Calls with VOIP

Majority of UK businesses whether a small or large, the normal protocol would call for any business to do a brief follow up as a precaution to make sure that their clients and customers are satisfy with the service or product they have recently purchased. The normal follow ups that are conducted by any type of business, the preferred method of communication is still making a simple phone call. While the average businesses can make anywhere from a few hundred to over a thousand calls a year. Finding better ways to save costs, and being more proficient on the costs of outgoing calls is becoming increasingly ever important for any type of business. Reviewing which areas of your business could be reduced, from a financial point of view, means that you may become more efficient with your overall business spend. The same idea should apply to your existing telecoms set up.

Some businesses have the impression that it would be a hassle to switch from their existing telecoms service, as their business would need a new telephone number and it could disrupt potential sales while being switched. However with new age of digital technology, most telephone networks have made significant improvements, which means most likely you have not notice these improvements, as they were gradually phased in. With the new frontier service of  Voice Over Internet Protocol as known as VOIP, is set to eventually take the place of the current Public Switched Telephone Network also know as PTSN.  Public Switched Telephone Network is also known by many Brtians as landline telephone service. Thwe current landline system was created over hundred years by a Canadian named Alexander Graham Bell, which is his name is present on Canada's telecommunications company which is called Bell. Bell is the equivalent of Britain's BT which is also known as British Telecom. Bells new telephone system eventually took the place of the telegragh system, which was phased out over time, and the last telegraph service was used in 1959. As the new technology called VOIP, it will not take too long for it the catch up to PTSN model. 

VoIP telephone service at businesses level has evolved into unified communications services. Unified Communications  is defined as the meaning all business communications such as phone calls, faxes, voice mail, e-mail, and web or phone conferences. Few telecom companies can delivered these services by all means of communications, including mobile telephones. VoIP also allows both voice and data communications to be run over a single network, which can significantly reduce infrastructure costs.The prices of extensions on VoIP are lower than for Private Branch Exchange or PBX. VoIP switches may run on commodity hardware, such as personal computers.

There are also several advantages for using VoIP over a Publicly Switch Telephone Network. The biggest single advantage VoIP has better advantage over standard landline telephone systems by the means of cost. In addition, international calls using VoIP is usually much cheaper than the traditional landline and mobile. Another advantage, which will become much more common as VoIP telephone usage climbs in popularity is that calls between VoIP to VoIP users are normally free.

While saving money in some areas of your business, VoIP may also be able to give your business more efficient service in some areas as well. However, your first port of call could be to decide whether you want save money on outgoing calls on using a VoIP solution before you can decide if your business operations could be more efficient. Running a profitable business is all about being efficient, it’s worth seeing how your Telecoms set up and outgoing business calls could be improved upon too.

In addition, it is likely that you can keep the same number too, as many telecom companies also you to transfer your telephone number from your old provider for a small one off porting charge. So there is no need to worry about losing out on customers by the means of having a completely different business phone number.

0871 Numbers considered Premium Rated?

0871 regulations you need to know

You should be aware that an 0871 telephone numbers, are now considered premium rated numbers, which charges the caller by the minutes. These rates are significantly higher rate from a non BT landline, and calls from mobiles tend to be overcharge by astronomical proportions from most mobile operators in the UK. There is an huge advantage to you, and your business from having a 0871 telephone number. 0871 telephone numbers tend to generate a reasonable payout for calls made to that particular number. In 2009, Ofcom has reclassified the 0871 range from national to premium rated number. So for now on the 0871 number ranges are now subject to special rules and is now regulated by PhonePayPlus, the same UK phone-paid services regulator of the 0900 number ranges. The most important thing to know is that if you are asking customers to call your 0871 Fixed rate premium number, you must state the call rate you will charge clearly and straight forwardly. Also mentioned that price to call your 0871 number is if you were calling from a BT landline. Also 0871 calls from mobiles, and other providers charge more for the same call. So do not waste money printing stationery and marketing materials that could get you in trouble with the regulator.

Please take a look at PhonePayPlus and their Code of Practice for 0871 number regulations to check whether you are compliant to the current regulations with your 0871 number.

Telephone Preference Service

Stop unwanted calls

Looking at telemarketing, but unsure about the red tape?

Have no fear: our handy bluffer’s guide to staying on the right side of the regulators will see you through – and could save you time and money too.


What is the deal?

Under the Privacy and Electronic Communications Act 2003, individuals and businesses can choose protection from unsolicited marketing calls, by opting out through the Telephone Preference Service (TPS) and Corporate Telephone Preference Service (CTPS).


Tell me there is some good news!

The TPS actually saves you time you might waste calling people who do not want to talk to you. By cleaning your contact list of contacts who have stated they do not want any telemarketing calls, it is easier to focus on real prospects. Why would you pay your telemarketing team to call people who have already said they are not interested?


What is the worst that could happen?

Well, there is some bad news too. Calling a TPS registered number is an offence, and you could be liable for up to a £5,000 fine if you do so.


What should I do?

The Telephone Preference Service offers a telephone number checking service, with both high and low volume options: contact CTPS for more information. Alternatively if you search online there are a range of number checking services available catering for large and small businesses alike. Check your numbers! And if you are considering buying a telemarketing list, or using a telemarketing service, make sure your supplier uses lists are TPS/CTPS checked.


How long and how much?

Checking numbers should take at most a few minutes it is usually just a matter of uploading a list of numbers to your chosen number checking service, and noting which if any are flagged up as TPS registered. Reckon on paying up to twenty five pence per number, depending on the size of your list and the service you use.



How often should I check?

If you are making telemarketing calls on a regular basis, you should check new additions to your list every twenty eight days, or at the minimum before beginning a telemarketing campaign. As for existing customers, it is recommended that you don’t make marketing calls to them if they are TPS registered, unless they have clearly opted in to receiving your calls (eg by ticking a box on a form).


Do not be put off by the current telemarketing regulations?
Telemarketing can be a great addition to your growth strategy. But do not put it off either, your brand or even business reputation may depend on it!



For read more about the Telephone Preference Service, Click Here.
For a summary of UK regulations governing direct marketing, Click Here.

Top Five Myths About VoIP Busted

VOIP Telephony Myths Busted

What does VoIP stand for? 
VoIP stands for Voice over Internet Protocol, a method of sending voice communications over the internet rather than the ‘traditional’ Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN).

5. Myth: Very few people use VoIP for telephony
Fact: Much of the backbone of general telecoms is run over VoIP these days. VoIP services such as Skype have become hugely popular. In fact, lots of people use VoIP without realising that they are using the service.


4. Myth: The person you are talking to needs to be using VoIP as well
Fact: Media gateways, also commonly referred to as VoIP gateways, are devices which bridge PSTN telephone networks and equipment to VoIP telephone networks and vice versa. So the person you are talking to does not need to be using VoIP as well.

3. Myth: You ca not use 'normal' PSTN lines and VoIP at the same time
Fact: With the right service, you can combine VoIP and PSTN and even use both simultaneously – meaning there’s no need to install a whole new system to take advantage of the cost savings of VoIP!

2. Myth: VoIP call quality is never as good as PSTN
Fact: VoIP call quality can be compromised factors such as a highly compressed codec (the way the sound is packaged for transmission), a poor internet connection or a low quality microphone. But with the right equipment VoIP can be the same or better quality as PSTN: for example Blue Penguins uses the same codec to transmit VoIP as PSTN calls, meaning you don’t need to compromise on quality.

1. Myth: You are tied to a computer if you’re using VoIP
Fact: There are lots of ways of making VoIP calls. You can use a dedicated VoIP handset, a DECT/VoIP hybrid, an analogue telephone adaptor (ATA – a device that adapts a ‘regular’ PSTN handset for VoIP) or a ‘softphone’ program that runs on your PC along with a headset. You certainly don’t have to be tied to the computer unless that suits your needs!