Put simply, online voice mail systems are just Internet answering machines. However, when combined with a hosted PBX phone system, you can do so much more than just take messages.

A virtual small business telephone service will give you the ability to use an auto attendant to automatically answer incoming calls and route them to the intended recipient. You get access to virtual telephone numbers that will allow you to be reached regardless of where you are in the world. And this is just scratching the surface of the features you get with this type of phone system.

If your small business needs a receptionist, but you don’t want the overhead associated with such a position, think virtually. By using a virtual PBX service, you can have your calls automatically answered and routed to the correct employee or department, all at the fraction of what it costs you to hire an actual receptionist.

Today’s voice mail services are so much more than just an answering machine. With features such as voice mail email that forward new messages to your email inbox, you will want a business voice mail service that will do more than just take a message, which is what you get from a virtual phone service.

Your business will not be competitive if you just use a plain old small business phone service. In order to best communicate with your customers you must have technology on your side. You must make it easy for them to reach you regardless of where you are. And if nobody is available to take the call, then you must have a robust Internet voice mail service to answer the call when you can’t. It just makes good business sense.