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