This article will explain options available to Extenteam partners ( clients) in regards to their phone system choices.
Extenteam is a software / phone system agnostic provider.
1. Use the Cloud Based VoIP System
Extenteam will use the same phone system as the partner ( client). If the partner is on Ringcentral, 8x8, Dialpad or any other VoIP provider that allows softphones, partner will assign Ringcentral (or other VoIP) extensions and configure the phone system the same way they configure it for their in house employees.
If the client is using Zendesk Talk, Navis, TrackPulse or any other VoIP enabled web phone system - Extenteam Team Members can use those IP based web phone systems as well as long as partner grants access to Extenteam TMs.
Extenteam TMs ( Team Members) are located overseas, so it's not feasible to ship physical IP phones - and all TMs will use "softphones" that are installed on their PCs.
Most, if not all, VoIP providers such as Ringcentral, 8x8, Dialpad, Vonage for Business etc offer softphones for no extra cost.
2. Use on-premises VoIP System
Some of our partners ( clients) have an on-premises ( locally hosted) phone system - such as 3CX, AvayaIP office, Mitel etc) that requires all endpoints ( phones) to be located on the same network. In those situations, our partners ( and their IT vendors) work with Extenteam IT department do install VPN clients on Extenteam Team Member computers. This enables remote working Extenteam Team Members to be on the partner network, thus enabling the softphones to be on the same "network" as the local office of the client.
While Extenteam has several clients using this method, Extenteam IT Team has limited knowledge on different on premises phone systems and cannot support / take responsibility of success of the system - and if this route is selected, partner and partners IT team should own the implementation and setup and make sure that the system works correctly.
3. Utilize Extenteam Phone Systems
In rare cases, our partners opt in to use this method.
Typical use case scenario for this is one of the below:
- partner is a small business operating on a cell phone with no phone system
- partner is an older business using POTS ( plain old telephone service) provided by legacy phone providers ( Pacific Bell, AT&T etc)
- partner is using residential / or non expandable VoIP/ cable phone system through their internet operator ( Cox, Spectrum, Xfinity, Comcast etc)
Since these phone systems do not have the ability to intelligently route calls to multiple extensions at multiple locations, partner needs switch to Option 1 or Option 2.
If partner does NOT want to do this on their own, Extenteam can set up and configure a Cloud Based phone system ( on Ringcentral or 3CX based on client's needs)
There is a $500 one time initial set up fee to configure this on behalf of the client.
There is a $100/ hour fee for any additional system changes after the initial configuration of the phone system, billed at 30 minute increments.
There is a $50/month/ extension ( # of users) ongoing fee to cover the cost of the service.
This is not a profit center for Extenteam, but purely to cover the cost of setting it up on behalf of our clients and to cover internal IT expenses.