PCS VoIP UC Client is a Unified Communications solution that combines calling, chat, meetings, voicemail, video, screen sharing and enterprise contacts into a single, easy-to-use interface to improve everyday communications and collaboration for businesses.

If you have questions or need assistance with UC Client features on your PCS VoIP account, please contact PCS VoIP support by calling 844-PCS-VOIP (844-727-8647) or contact us online at support.pcsvoip.com or via email to support@pcsusa.com

If you are not currently using PCS VoIP for your business communication and you’d like to get access to these features, please contact PCS VoIP sales by calling 844-PCS-VOIP (844-727- 8647) or send an email to sales@pcsusa.com

We’re writing to reach out with helpful information and resources. As we all navigate the personal and business implications of COVID-19, continuing to meet your unique needs in these uncertain times is of the utmost importance to us.

The spread of COVID-19 is having a broad impact on people across the country including their ability to work and manage daily activities.

Public policies, procedures, and personal choice will significantly change the way we live and interact for the coming weeks and possibly longer. PCS VoIP is committed to continue providing the same level of service to our clients, regardless of COVID-19 implications.

To support this, PCS VoIP has implemented internal policies to minimize the possible spread of the virus while also maintaining normal business operations and keeping our staff fully available to you.

While we are temporarily halting all non-critical meetings and travel both in and outside of our offices, you should continue to contact our team as you have in the past. In summary, we are open for business and are fully available to you in the same way we were prior to the heightening impact of COVID-19.

We understand many of you are or will be adjusting the way you do business including working from home, possible mandatory shutdowns and more.

We want to make you aware of the ways you can utilize PCS VoIP hosted features to help minimize any potential difficulties of voluntary or government-mandated modifications to business operations.

• You will likely be receiving more calls asking if your business is open. Using Auto Attendant and voicemail features will help provide your customers with consistent answers to common questions, while managing your increased call volume.
• You may have some or all of your staff working from home. The PCS VoIP UC Client and mobile application provide productive and efficient solutions for remote workers.
  • UC Client enables you to make and take calls, manage voicemail, chat and conduct video calls from anywhere they have a desktop computer, laptop or tablet connected to the internet and running Chrome. This is an ideal solution for the many work from home scenarios individuals are facing today. The mobile application provides some of these same capabilities on your mobile phone, with the added flexibility to answer and make calls on the go, without ever revealing your personal phone number to your customers.
• You may need to change or reduce your hours of operation, and perhaps you want to route incoming calls to a remote worker outside of your business hours, so that your customers can still reach a real person. PCS VoIP time frames and other call routing solutions can streamline this process for you.

If you have questions or need assistance configuring any of the above features on your PCS VoIP account, please contact PCS VoIP support by calling 844-PCS-VOIP (844-727-8647) or contact us online at support.pcsvoip.com or via email to support@pcsusa.com

If you are not currently using PCS VoIP for your business communication and you’d like to get access to these features, please contact PCS VoIP sales by calling 844-PCS-VOIP (844-727-8647) or send an email to sales@pcsusa.com

What is VoIP?
To really understand how VoIP can help your business, you must first know what it is. VoIP stands for Voice over Internet Protocol. In other words, it means that you can talk to others over the Internet connection instead of the traditional telephone line. Yes, you can continue to use your tablet or computer, as well as your actual phone handset. The most important difference is the way the call is forwarded.

VoIP lowers costs
The biggest advantage of VoIP is that your business registers a package for costs. VoIP takes efficiency to a whole new level. Since you will receive phone calls over the Internet, you will eliminate the costs of a telephone line completely, and instead combine your Internet and voice communications costs. However, you will need to switch to a high-speed Internet connection if you don’t already have it. Of course, this will cost extra money. However, lowering the cost of your phone line will generally be more cost-effective for your business.

If your business regularly conducts international calls, VoIP is not more courageous. With VoIP, international calling costs are significantly reduced and in some cases free. Skype, which looks like VoIP, is a perfect example of the latter.

Statistically, VoIP services have helped many businesses significantly reduce costs. For some, the cost of local calls has fallen by up to 40% and up to 90% for international calls.

No expensive international calling rates

For the companies who depend primarily on verbal communications for interactions – making work related decisions and much more – getting a business hosted VoIP system for all employees sounds great. This greatly cuts costs for your business. The relevant calls for every department can be received by the employees and handled effectively. Moreover, there are no extra charges for international calls.

Enjoy high-end services free of cost

Using VoIP phones can increase workflow and will give a huge push to the productivity of the company because you can enjoy different services like voicemail, email, video call, auto attendant, and much more without having to pay for them separately.

Your phone can travel with you

Using a VoIP system for your business doesn’t deprive you of the benefits linked with the previously popular PBX based features. While using VoIP, you are still able to connect or disconnect your mobile phone. You can also plug it in at any place without any restriction. This dramatically helps the users save money on the phone installation. Moreover, other customer services like Skype can also be incorporated in the DR plan in order to reap maximum benefits for your business.

Therefore, with the concept of VoIP spreading rapidly, the concept of phone bills has been completely eliminated. You should really consider getting VoIP for your business!

• Security issues
  In the case of any potential cyber attacks in VoIP, the responsibility of the attack would be on the university, and this can cause a great deal of problems for management. However, in the case of a hosted PBX, the responsibility of countering the attack and providing security to the users will lie with the host. The host company will be responsible for using firewalls and reliable cyber attack detection systems for this purpose.
• Traffic management
  Another important factor that could impede the smooth workings of on-site Voice over IP systems is the excessive amount of traffic. If the university has a large student population, then it is possible that the traffic volume will get too huge and the data networks will be flooded. In the case of a hosted PBX, the host company will be able to solve the problem and scale up the system according to the student population and the needs of the university.
• Scalability
  It is harder to scale up the on-site PBX system because it requires you to change the entire setup. If slow dialing and bad voice quality occurs, it is easier to ask the host company to scale the system up for a better VoIP experience.
• Set up and maintenance
  If you are going to use a hosted PBX service for a university, it has the potential to save you quite a bit of money. A hosted PBX doesn’t need a separate place for working and operation, so there is no need for any rooms or cabinets for the installations. Most importantly, the maintenance is handled by the host company.

Try a different location
If you have a business that has outlets/offices at different locations and all of your offices use Voice over IP systems, then you should resort to simply redirecting your service to a different location. In case you have just a single location, you can start by checking the setup/equipment and network providers for recommendations or feasible solutions.

Always have a backup
Backing up your Voice over IP system is yet another practical solution in case of disasters. You can also rely on different trustworthy third-party service providers who supply their services of backing up your VoIP system. Just in case the Voice over IP system is not working properly at the time of disaster (VoIP and disaster recovery) then the third-party service provider will keep your system functioning properly.

Stay prepared
You should check your VoIP recovery abilities beforehand to avoid any unforeseeable trouble. If you are unable to get access to the Internet or your Voice over IP system is down, you will have to make use of a managed service arrangement. This will assist you in redirecting the VoIP service from your office to some other alternative location. You can contact your local carrier for that purpose as they will help you in redirecting the data traffic to the new site.

Too much hassle
If your company is aiming to switch over to a VoIP PBX, then you need a personnel for installing the VoIP systems, updating the systems for increased bandwidth for VoIP calls, and new IP phones for the whole company. But, if that sounds like too much of a hassle, you can resort to relying on a business hosted VoIP system in order to free yourself from the responsibilities of setup and maintenance.

No scalability
The business hosted VoIP systems are recommended specifically for medium or small scale businesses. Even for the larger businesses, or franchisers (How to manage multiple locations or brands efficiently for franchisors) the VoIP system is going to multiply the efficiency of the company once installed. However, in the case of an on-site PBX, you can’t scale your system up or down.

Need of professional installation and support
As you have your company with a wide range of employees, it can get really hectic for you to get the on-site VoIP system installed. Moreover, the installation of a VoIP system requires professional knowledge and expertise. In order to install your own hosted system for your company, you need to have the technical skills and know-how regarding installation. Therefore, you would have to hire an enterprise-grade hosted VoIP provider for your company which can make on-site installation possible for you. Most VoIP providers are responsible enough to give your company all the handsets and routers with settings already customized for you. They also provide you with answers to your queries and customer friendly service (How to make your customer care service better with VoIP).

Therefore, it is evident why most small businesses prefer to use hosted VoIP services rather than enterprise phone systems. Regardless of size or industry, you should also get a hosted VoIP phone service for your business and enjoy its many enterprise features at a very low cost.

For more information contact PCS VoIP (blog) today for a free quote (get a free quote today) or call 844-PCS-VoIP now!

Changing Phone Number
The 1996 Telecom Act provides guidelines regarding different telecommunication services that are provided by various telecom companies. It provides a strategy for the communications industry so that different small phone service providers can be integrated into a single provider. Moreover, it also lets the phone service users to keep their previous telephone number even if they wish to change their service provider. This act allowed for the portability as you can keep your previous phone number when you go to a new provider.

Long Distance Businesses
The 1996 Telecom Act has revolutionized the communication services as it allows all the local phone service providers to set up their businesses in remote areas. This allows them to compete the other companies by conducting a long distance business. All they need to do is meet the certain specified criteria and they can open up their local service in different areas without facing any legal complications or consequences.

Single Phone Bill
Before this act, there was no chance or opportunity for the local providers to enter into the long distance business. Moreover, it allowed the service users to get a single phone bill instead of separate phone bills for each service. It allowed for the inter-connectedness of all the local service providers in order to facilitate the Americans with faster communication service without any interruptions.

Therefore, the 1996 Telecom Act allowed for advanced information technology services in the United States and provided rules and regulations for different communication services companies to follow regardless of their size. This allowed for smooth and unified working of IT industries all over the United States.

How it still helps businesses today
Today the Telecom Act still protects companies by helping ensure they are not required to spend a certain amount of money per contract. If you have a contract with a phone provider and they are charging you way too much for your office phones, then you can keep the internet with them, but move the telephones without breaking contract. It is considered a Term Contract. If you keep your internet with the company you are still technically holding up your end of the agreement to the term contract. Due to the telecom act they are not able to require you to have a certain number of phones with them or that you spend a certain amount every month. If you choose to switch from Analog or Digital to VoIP you are protected by the term contracts rule.

Pricing
You can save a lot of money that you normally have to spend on making phone calls. You use Wi-Fi to avail VoIP even if you are travelling by road or are out of town. Therefore, Voice over IP lets you cut a lot of cost on phone calls. The old analogs system phone service is undoubtedly expensive and uses a lot of your hard earned money.

Scalability
Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) works by converting the sound signals into digital signals and then using Internet broadband to transfer these signals. VoIP telephone system lets you save money especially when you have to make long distance phone calls. One of the best features about VoIP phone service is that it is multi-functional and therefore, you can also conduct videoconferencing calling by using a VoIP phone. You can switch on different VoIP features on and off without any compulsion.
You can use VoIP for your convenience to connect to your clients and dealers. You can also use internet to set up important business deals and meetings. VoIP also lets you share your files and documents in different formats, without charging an extra money.

Mobility and Geographic Spread
You can be present in a lot of business meetings by using a VoIP system without having to be physically present in these meetings. VoIP has a multi-location phone system. Even if you’re currently in some other city and your business is based somewhere else, you can still utilize VoIP to receive voice calls and faxes through your email.

Therefore, VoIP is a technology that lets you move around the country easily without any worries. You can conveniently interact with your business clients and customers without any restriction of location. Getting a reliable and high quality business-hosted VoIP which will not expand your business but will also help you save money on your phone bills.

How VoIP helps?
Answering the calls and better customer experience

VoIP comes with a virtual receptionist that provides a welcome message and tells the callers more about your business without having to allot an actual receptionist to answer the phones for your business. VoIP software features allow you to record the information regarding your business e.g. the location and services of your business, with just the click of a button and save.

Businesses with remote offices minimize expenses
Running a business with remote offices can be difficult and require a great deal of overhead expenses. When a company has multiple locations sometimes it can be difficult to fill positions. With an auto attendant companies are able to use the call forwarding feature to organize calls for multiple locations without needing a secretary at every location. This will improve your communications and allow for an enhanced customer experience. You can streamline the call routing according to the week day or the night/day shift with the time frames feature (How to get the latest features). The Voice over IP allows you to integrate different software systems easily with the phone service.

Budget-friendly
VoIP allows you to manage small businesses without needing a secretary to answer every call. There are a number of VoIP phone service providers nationwide that come with an auto attendant option. VoIP makes it affordable and easy for any business to have a phone service with an auto-attendant even if they have a smaller budget.