| If you own a business, don't want your | | | | years. Some voicemail service providers offer this |
| employees' time spent fielding incoming calls or | | | | as a standard option, while others charge a fee |
| just want to cut costs in a changing economy, an | | | | based on messages or megabytes stored. This |
| Internet-based voicemail service may solve some | | | | service usually includes the ability to manage and |
| of your problems without breaking the bank. | | | | organize the messages online as well as view the |
| Increasingly, both startups and established | | | | queue history. (You can see who called but didn't |
| businesses are turning to a growing array of | | | | leave a message.) |
| Internet-based voicemail services. The ability to | | | | Another service that is gaining popularity is |
| review voicemail messages at their leisure is | | | | transcribed voicemail. Thanks to transcription |
| attractive to business owners or anyone who | | | | services, users can get the text of the voicemail |
| wants to efficiently manage their time and | | | | messages they have received delivered to them |
| voicemail. By using an Internet voicemail service, | | | | via email, pager or SMS (text messaging), which is |
| users can "batch" the task of checking messages | | | | convenient both when you're in a setting where |
| by going online or even getting voice messages | | | | listening to voicemail wouldn't be appropriate, or if |
| via email while traveling. They can listen to | | | | you'd like your mail to be archived and searchable |
| voicemail as an audio file on the computer or, in | | | | by keyword. Expect to pay more if your |
| the case of some services, opt to have their | | | | voicemails are transcribed by a real human rather |
| messages transcribed and delivered as text. | | | | than a voice recognition program. Voicemail |
| Voicemail services can give small businesses the | | | | services have become so sophisticated that some |
| appearance of a much larger company, which can | | | | firms offer conference call and call recording |
| be helpful during the growth stage or even as a | | | | features. |
| long-term cost-saver. Even business owners who | | | | Frequently, voicemail service plans include the |
| don't have to tighten their belts love voicemail | | | | ability to fax via the Internet as part of the |
| services because they save time and make for | | | | recurring fee. Faxing over the Internet is |
| smoother operations. | | | | becoming the standard for many industries, |
| Call management is one of the most useful | | | | because it is so convenient to bypass standalone |
| features of Internet-based voicemail services. Call | | | | fax machines as well as to allow sent and |
| screening, virtual calling cards, advanced routing | | | | received faxes to be stored on a computer for |
| features and other services may be included in a | | | | reference indefinitely. |
| standard plan, or available as an add-on feature at | | | | Perhaps surprisingly, Internet-based voicemail |
| an additional cost. An auto-attendant and | | | | services can be quite affordable, and certainly |
| dial-by-name lookup feature may be an option as | | | | cheaper than keeping a full-time receptionist on |
| well. The most elite services provide a live | | | | staff. Plans are typically offered for a flat |
| receptionist to serve your customers. | | | | monthly, quarterly or annual fee, or customers |
| Many voicemail plans include multiple extension | | | | can opt for a per-minute plan, usually on a |
| numbers, or offer them for an added fee, which | | | | pre-paid basis. Note that some companies allow |
| means callers can have their calls routed to the | | | | for free online message retrieval, but charge per |
| proper employee or "inbox" without the need for | | | | minute if the calls are accessed via a phone call. |
| a human-operated switchboard or a receptionist. | | | | When choosing among the variety of |
| It's also often possible to have calls to a number | | | | Internet-based voicemail services, be sure to pick |
| you designated automatically forwarded to your | | | | one that matches your particular needs so that |
| mobile phone or another landline. Custom call | | | | you get the best value for your investment. Don't |
| greeting messages are considered standard, while | | | | pay for features you don't need, consider any |
| some companies offer custom on-hold music or | | | | setup and minute overage fees, and get down to |
| messages as a premium service. | | | | the business of doing business-- without worrying |
| Depending on the service, voicemail messages can | | | | about having to answer the phones. |
| be stored online for weeks, months or even | | | | |