What should I look for in a virtual PBX system?

Your virtual PBX should adapt to your needs as a business. The features you need therefore depend mainly on your business and the communication tools that you would need. Here are some features that can prove to be helpful to you and your business:

• Extensions. Your virtual PBX system should have enough capacity to handle all the extensions that you would need. It is best to look for one which has the number of extensions you need already included in their plan. That way, you would not have to pay additional for extra extensions. In addition, it is also advisable to get a virtual PBX system that can accommodate additional extensions of you need to add more. With this, it is important that you also consider the price of additional extensions, and if the company offers phone units that are powerful and reliable for your communications.
• Call forwarding. A reliable virtual PBX system has sophisticated and highly functional call forwarding features. FollowMe and FindMe are two features that every business or professional can use. With FindMe, calls are sent to a series of preset numbers until it reaches the one that is being used by the number owner. FollowMe, on the other hand, overrides the settings and instead sends all calls to a single number. This feature can be useful if you are using a temporary number when you are out of the office or in a different location.
• Answering rules. Answering rules are features that enhance call forwarding. Especially if you would use your virtual PBX for your customer support services, you need to define how your incoming calls are handled. You can set the answering rules of your virtual PBX according to time of day, day of the week, and other situations or settings. You can also base your answering rules on details of the callers like the area code or the specific number of the calling party.
• Call screening and blocking. Your phone system should enable you to screen callers and block them according to your preferences. Especially for toll free numbers which are charged for every incoming call, it is important that you do not get unwanted calls to waste your minutes and cost you more. Service providers give call screening capabilities such as caller ID display. You can then block callers based on the call screening features of your virtual PBX. Different options for call blocking include directing them to voicemail, or never letting them get through by giving them a busy tone when they call.
• Dial-by-name directory. This works by using the auto-attendant to read the names of employees and departments along with the extensions assigned to them. With a dial-by-name directory, you can project a more professional image. You can configure how the names are read, in what order, and other settings. Some virtual PBX providers let callers enter the first or last name of the employee for the auto-attendant to recognize and supply the corresponding extension to be dialed.
• Internet fax. Internet fax is possibly the most in-demand virtual PBX feature now. In fact, there are service providers that offer fax services alone. However, it would be best if you can get a virtual PBX provider which has Internet fax included in its package. If you send a lot of documents, then you can get one that can provide you a separate Internet fax number, whether local or toll free. This would also add up to your total expenses, so you also need to look into the prices and monthly fees carefully.
• Text message alerts. These alerts can apply to missed calls, new voicemail messages or new faxes. If you are running an office and you travel a lot or spend most of your time talking to clients and partners, then you would surely find this feature highly helpful. If you are waiting for an important fax to arrive, you do not have to worry about leaving the office, since you would get a text message informing you as soon as it arrives. You can then go to any Internet-connected computer to retrieve your document.
• Voicemail. Even your regular phone subscription has voicemail, what more your business phone system? But with your virtual PBX, you should expect more than your regular voicemail system. Additional and functional features include voicemail by email, text message alerts, visual voicemail and longer storage time.
• Online account management. Get a virtual PBX service that has an easily manageable online account management feature. You need a no-frills dashboard, one that would easily take you to whatever setting you have to adjust and whatever detail you have to review.