FAQ - Features Question: What feature does Virtual Number Service replace? Answer: Virtual Number Service replaces Remote Call Forwarding. Question: What is call screening? Answer: Call screening is the process of evaluating the characteristics of a telephone call before deciding how or whether to answer it. Question: Does VoiceManager IP Centrex support extension dialing? Answer: Yes, IP Centrex supports extension dialing. Question: What is Unified Messaging? Answer: Unified Messaging sends voicemails to your email address. Question: When the Call Barge-In feature is used, do all parties hear the conversation? Answer: Yes, everyone can hear the conversation. As an option, you may wish to turn on an alert tone to remind you of the feature s activation status. Question: What is the benefit of Multi-location Extension Dialing with IP Centrex? Answer: It includes high-definition audio which is a higher codec and allows for superior voice quality.
FAQ - Benefits Question: What are the benefits of VoiceManager IP Centrex? Answer No upfront capital expenditure Lower overall total cost of ownership (TCO) Easy upgrades Better service delivery Better scalability More productive users Easier to manage Question: What additional value-add is there between VoiceManager and IP Centrex? Answer: IP Centrex is a completely managed end-to-end service and provides the best reliability and advanced IP features such as Shared Call Appearance, Hoteling, and Busy Lamp Field. Question: What is the value of Cox installing the switch? Answer: Cox manages a turn-key solution without the need for a third party, thereby streamlining the entire process. Question: Does IP Centrex support 911 emergency services? Answer: Yes, VoiceManager IP Centrex is fully compliant with all 911 emergency service regulations.
FAQ - Device Question: Can I forward calls to my mobile device? Answer: Yes, the VoiceManager IP Centrex service allows you to forward calls to your mobile device or any other phone number. Question: Can I have my greetings professionally recorded? Answer: Yes, you may have your greetings professionally done and then loaded into your profile. Question: Can I make the IP Centrex solution mimic the key system I currently have in place, for example 3-digit extensions? Answer: Yes, you can mimic most key system functionality. Question: Can I move desks and simply log in to the phone and have it recognize me? Answer: In the same office, you can move a phone to another desk. Question: Can I forward the line to my mobile phone when I log out (Hotel Host and Guest)? Answer: Yes, by using the Toolbar or portal. Question: What restrictions are there for extension dialing (within and between locations)? Answer: Three - six digits with some restrictions on numbers, such as 911, 411, 0xxx, 1xxx. Question: Can I take the IP Phone home, plug it in and use it? Answer: No, the phone requires a private network which is only available in the office.
FAQ - Cost Question: Does a PBX or IP PBX cost less in the long run than using IP Centrex service? Answer: The maintenance and overhead required to operate the PBX or IP PBX create a higher total cost of ownership. IP PBX systems require you to carry extra inventory, both in ports, server capacity, and phones which are mean extra costs. IP Centrex requires no extra inventory. Many enhanced services require extra equipment, right-to-use licenses, and added maintenance. Vendors may expect you to replace the equipment in three years versus seven years or more which can double the cost of an IP PBX solution. Question: How does IP Centrex (IPC) compare to ILECs and CLECs from a capital expenditure and total cost of ownership perspective? Answer: IP Centrex has no capital expense, support, or maintenance costs where ILECs and CLECs have expensive upfront capital for setup, phones and network equipment and the total cost of ownership is more expensive when you factor in their higher transport costs. Question: How does IP Centrex compare to over the top offerings from a capital expenditure and total cost of ownership perspective? Answer: IP Centrex has no capital expense, support, or maintenance costs. Over the top offerings has expensive up-front capital expenses for phones, but can be cheaper than IPC overall. Question: How does IP Centrex compare to premise-based PBXs or key systems from a capital expenditure and total cost of ownership perspective? Answer: IP Centrex has no capital expense, support, or maintenance costs where premise-based PBXs or key systems have a large initial investment and also has high cost of maintenance and support. Question: Am I required to get new phones if I renew my contract? Answer: No.
FAQ - Sales Question: What is VoIP? Answer: Voice over IP (VoIP) is a means of transmitting analog voice signals over a digital network. SMBs are increasingly turning to VoIP solutions as an alternative to traditional public switched telephone networks (PSTNs.) Instead of your voice being transmitted over analog phone lines, your calls will be routed through networking equipment and travel by way of Internet Protocol. Since phone calls are placed through the internet, phone companies and long-distance charges are bypassed. Commercial users of VoIP technologies can save money and cut costs by installing VoIP hardware instead of using telephones which can accumulate hefty long distance charges. Question: How does VoIP work? Answer: Voice over IP (VoIP) is a method by which voice is digitized and transmitted in digital packets rather than using traditional circuit-committed protocols of the PSTN. The IP concept is similar to the PSTN, except that computers take the place of telephones, and an IP address is used as the telephone number. Perhaps the most significant difference with VoIP, as compared to PSTN, is that backbone-trunking resources are not assigned in a dedicated, predictable manner to support a voice call. Instead, trunk bandwidth for a VoIP telephone conversation is assigned on a random, as needed basis, via packet switching. Advanced IP telephony includes many features, such as voicemail, conferencing, presentation viewing, and unified messaging for cell and PDA devices. The overall quality and reliability of VoIP makes it comparable to the level of service provided by PSTNs. Small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs) are attracted to VoIP because of cost savings they can incur by leveraging a single IP network to support both data and voice services. Voice protocols have also evolved to offer more robust features, value-adds, and high-margin services that are all critical to SMBs. Question: Is IP Centrex secure? Can hackers listen in on my conversation? The IP PBX vendor stresses the value of keeping the switch behind the firewall. Answer: IP Centrex is very secure. We have taken many steps to insure you that your conversations are kept private. Success of SaaS and Cloud-based services has proven security solutions. IP Centrex offers you better security than IP PBX systems. Consider that most IP PBX systems operate on Windows or LINUX, subject to most of the viruses and attacks. IP Centrex service monitoring and network management provides security for your entire telephony solution, not just a single piece. IP Centrex is SIP-based and uses an authentication to validate the end device and credentials. Question: How does IP Centrex offer stability with my phone service? Answer: IP Centrex service does not travel over the internet. Your voice stream travels only on private, highly managed networks. In contrast, IP PBX service typically goes through a processor intensive gateway on your site. It is far more likely to experience problems. IP Centrex is backed by carrier-grade engineering. It will always stay at the leading edge and put equipment through the most rigorous testing. Question: If I am under contract and require a new phone, do I get the latest models available or the model I originally received? Answer: You receive the most current phone model. Question: Can I sell outside of rate centers with IP Centrex if I provide another phone for 911 calls? Answer: Not at this time.
FAQ - Service Question: What is VoiceManager IP Centrex? Answer: VoiceManager IP Centrex replaces traditional on-premise phone systems and analog phone service by hosting the phone system in the cloud and sending calls over our network using Voice over IP (VoIP) technology. The system is managed from a web-based portal, and all network equipment and IP phones are supported and managed by Cox. This saves small businesses money on the startup cost, on phone system maintenance, and ongoing support. Question: Does an on-premise PBX or IP Centrex provide more features? Answer: IP Centrex offers as many user and group features as an IP PBX and more. Many of the features listed by IP PBX systems are administrative functions that Cox manages as your service provider. IP Centrex spans across all sites and can serve non-ip lines. Many of the IP PBX features end at site boundaries. Question: Do I have more control with an on-premise PBX or IP Centrex? Answer: IP Centrex gives you MORE control. You can administrate services through a user-friendly web interface. You are not limited by ports or the capacity on your IP PBX. You can provide and manage services across multiple sites, including services for telecommuters and remote services from a web interface. Question: Can I use star codes with IP Centrex? Answer: Yes Question: What directory does the DIR button reference on the soft key access? Answer: A local directory created by the customer. Question: Do I get to keep the phones if I leave Cox? Answer: No.
FAQ - Support Question: Does IP Centrex typically work well in an environment that historically used Key Systems? Answer: Yes, the IP Centrex system can emulate most Key System functions. Question: Can I switch my current toll free number to VoiceManager IP Centrex? Answer: Yes. Question: How do I make calls over a VoIP connection? Answer: The same way you do with an ordinary telephone. The only difference is that you use an IP phone that is plugged into an Ethernet connection instead of a phone jack because the call is made over an IP Network. Question: Do I log in via an access code/password or does an administrator have to log me in (Hotel Host and Guest)? Answer: You can log in and use hoteling, but it has to be setup by an administrator.