| The telephone is probably the most important and | | | | phone systems for answering phone calls by way |
| the most used method of communication today. | | | | of automatically generating electronic messages. |
| All over the world, telephones are being used | | | | Using this accessory or tool, callers will be allowed |
| extensively, whether in homes or in offices. When | | | | to route themselves within the phone system |
| it comes to office phone systems, the system is | | | | through a series of menu prompts. Office voice |
| particularly designed so that any number of users | | | | mail systems are usually equipped with a basic |
| can use and share the same telephone lines, | | | | automated attendant system. |
| rather than having to use individual phones. | | | | Automated Call Distributor Another phone |
| Telephone systems like these are specifically | | | | accessory commonly used in office phone |
| designed for use by several people in a single | | | | systems is the Automated Call Distributor or |
| location, like companies and large offices. Using | | | | ACD. This accessory provides an efficient way of |
| these types of phone systems can mean lesser | | | | routing all incoming calls between programmed |
| expenses for businesses, since it is proven to be | | | | extension numbers. The most common locations |
| more cost-effective than using regular telephone | | | | for Automated Call Distribution systems are call |
| systems. | | | | centers, or any other office or location that has |
| PBX The PBX telephone system, or Private | | | | to process several incoming calls all at the same |
| Branch Exchange, are phone systems which are | | | | time. |
| designed specifically for corporate use in offices. | | | | Computer Telephony Integration The CTI, or |
| The main purpose of a private branch exchange | | | | Computer Telephony Integration tool, is used for |
| system is to create a private communication | | | | connecting an existing phone system to a |
| network among all those who use and share the | | | | computer, or computer network. Important |
| external telephone lines. PBX systems are ideal | | | | information is automatically retrieved from |
| for large and medium-sized companies and | | | | incoming calls, routed to the computers, where |
| businesses. What makes this phone system | | | | the data is processed for practical business |
| cost-effective is that users can now share a few | | | | purposes. There is another tool called the Key |
| external phone lines, as compared to having all | | | | System Unit, or KSU, which contains useful |
| individual users having their own external lines. | | | | features like call forwarding, extension dialing, and |
| Using a PBX phone system allows a person to | | | | options for using voice mail. VOIP systems, or |
| communicate with another user on the telephone | | | | Voice Over Internet Protocol, allows users to |
| network by just dialing a 3 or 4 digit extension | | | | communicate with other VOIP systems and use |
| number. Plus, PBX systems also have additional | | | | digital data through the Internet. |
| features like voicemail, reminders, screen displays, | | | | These office telephone systems are incorporated |
| and options to screen all calls. PBX phone services | | | | into the standard system of analog telephones, |
| for offices may also include automated answering | | | | fax machines, cordless and cellular phones, using a |
| services, auto-generated messages for callers, | | | | traditional telephone network, and they also have |
| and live call transferring. | | | | the option of communicating through the Internet |
| Automated Attendants The Automated | | | | using VOIP. |
| Attendant is an accessory used in most office | | | | |