Getting Started: The basics behind a VoIP PBX.
Q: What is VoIP service?
A: VoIP stands for Voice over Internet Protocol, or a means to digitally transmit
voice calls over an IP network instead of using traditional analog phone lines.
In most cases, business VoIP service uses a broadband Internet connection and specially-configured
VoIP phones to place and receive calls.
Q: What is a PBX?
A: PBX stands for Private Branch Exchange, and generally refers to a business phone
system. A PBX system is generally designed with special features to handle internal
call switching, such as transferring a caller to another extension or conferencing
in a 3rd party within the same office.
Q: What is a VoIP PBX?
A: VoIP PBX is a special class of PBX systems that uses voice over IP service to
place and receive calls using the Internet. This service is frequently hosted from
remote by the 3rd party VoIP provider, in which case it may also be referred to
as a hosted VoIP PBX.
Q: What is a VoIP phone?
A: A VoIP phone is a specially-configured phone that places and receives calls over
the Internet instead of over traditional analog phone lines. When used as a call
center VoIP solution, the PBX-integrated phone features of a VoIP phone can increase
employee efficiency and help project a professional image. These features can include
call transfer, conferencing, call hold, and much more.
Q: What is SIP?
A: SIP stands for Session Initiation Protocol, a standard protocol used to transmit
voice data over the Internet with a VoIP phone. The servers used by VoIP service
providers are commonly referred to as SIP servers, and the phones used by hosted
VoIP PBX users are commonly referred to as SIP phones.
Q: What is e911?
A: e911, or enhanced 911, is a telecommunications system that pairs a phone number
with a physical address for the purpose of directing emergency dispatch calls to
the nearest Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP). Since VoIP phones and phone numbers
are not tied to a physical address, VoIP solutions such as FreedomIQ
require that users register and update the location of each phone.
Why FreedomIQ?: What a FreedomIQ VoIP PBX can do for your business.
Q: Can FreedomIQ save me money right away?
A: FreedomIQ VoIP service is specially designed to start you saving
money from your initial investment. Since we host the servers that manage your VoIP
PBX, the only equipment you need to purchase to get started are the VoIP phones
which we supply. These phones connect directly to your existing broadband connection
and provide a dial tone within minutes.
Q: Can FreedomIQ save me money down the road?
A: As a hosted VoIP solution, FreedomIQ carries many cost savings
benefits to reduce the total cost of operation (TCO) of your office phone system.
In the short term, you will save on your monthly phone bills with flat rate unlimited
domestic calling and low cost international calls. In the long term, a hosted VoIP
PBX saves you money on call switching equipment that could become obsolete or need
to be replaced.
Q: Can FreedomIQ grow with my business?
A: FreedomIQ is a fully-scalable business VoIP solution. This means
that you can add lines and VoIP phones at any time without penalty. Whether you're
a booming entrepreneur or a steadily-growing enterprise, FreedomIQ
gives you the flexibility to ensure that you're only ever paying for what you need.
We are also constantly adding cutting-edge features, keeping you ahead of the curve
with the latest phone system technology.
Q: Can FreedomIQ protect my business?
A: Hosted VoIP service from FreedomIQ is backed by extensive call
switching server redundancy and over 13 years of providing reliable business telecommunications
services. The top-of-the-line equipment hosting your hosted VoIP PBX is stored remotely
in a secure co-location facility, ensuring your call data, settings, and continued
business operation is protected from natural disasters and local power grid failures.
Q: Can FreedomIQ link my business's remote offices and telecommuters?
A: One of the advantages of a hosted VoIP solution is that it can easily link together
your remote or home offices as though they were in the same building. By switching
calls through the Internet instead of physical phone wiring, FreedomIQ
users can seamlessly receive forwarded calls, transfer callers to another extension,
conference in another user, and much more, even if your offices are separated by
thousands of miles.
Features: Why FreedomIQ is "The Intelligent Phone Solution."
Q: What is an auto attendant?
A: An auto attendant is a pre-recorded professional greeting that welcomes your
callers and directs them to the appropriate PBX extension on your FreedomIQ
phone system. With FreedomIQ service, your auto attendant greeting
is fully customizable. You may make new recordings at any time over the phone, or
upload a new greeting through your WebLINK Internet Control Panel.
Q: What is unified messaging?
A: Unified messaging is the funneling of all channels of messages into a single
place to simplify communication. FreedomIQ contributes to the idea
of unified messaging by creating an email alert item every time a voicemail or fax
message is received by your phone system. We send this alert to the email address(es)
associated with the appropriate extension, along with a file attachment containing
the voicemail or fax contents as mp3 or PDF.
Q: What are call reports?
A: Call reports are easy-to-read breakdowns of the call traffic activity that takes
place on your PBX system. FreedomIQ provides this detailed call
information through the system administrator's WebLINK Internet control panel. Call
traffic is represented both graphically and in plain text, and can be filtered and
sorted to view only missed calls, calls within a specified range of dates, or calls
that came to a selection of extensions.
Q: What is a softphone?
A: A softphone is software that allows you to emulate many of the features available
through your PBX phone from any location with an Internet connection. FreedomIQ
is integrated with CounterPath to enable users to download the X-Lite 3.0 softphone
for free. This program appears as a phone dialing console complete with graphical
display and can be used with microphone and speakers to place and receive calls
in place of your Polycom VoIP phone.
Q: What are ACD and call queue?
A: ACD stands for automatic call distribution, and refers to the ability of a PBX
to forward incoming calls using pre-set rules. With FreedomIQ service,
these rules include ringing a group of phones simultaneously, sequentially, round-robin,
and more. Call queue is a feature which allows your callers to await the next available
representative in the event that all are on a call. Queued callers will hear hold
music instead of being directed to voicemail.
Q: What is WebLINK?
A: WebLINK is FreedomIQ's customizable Internet control panel that
allows you to check messages, change settings, update account information, add new
phones and users, pull in-depth call reports, and more. If using FreedomIQ
as a call center solution, WebLINK also includes an advanced employee scheduler
tool that will let you tailor your call center staff schedule to most closely fit
your call traffic patterns and minimize missed calls and average hold times.
Q: What is Outlook integration?
A: Outlook integration, in terms of VoIP PBX systems, is the ability to quickly
call your common contacts directly from Microsoft Office Outlook. FreedomIQ
service provides a free Outlook software add-in that allows you to right-click on
a contact from within Outlook and choose a phone number you have pre-configured
for that contact. Your Polycom VoIP phone will ring and once answered will immediately
ring out to the phone number you chose.
Q: What is voicemail transcription?
A: Voicemail transcription is a service that takes your voicemail messages and converts
them into text format so that you may save time by scanning instead of listening.
FreedomIQ is integrated with PhoneTag to empower users to have
their voicemail messages intelligently transcribed in this manner and then delivered
either as an email or as a text message.
Transitioning: What you need to know about moving to a VoIP PBX.
Q: Is my Internet connection ready for VoIP?
A: Business VoIP solutions in an office setting typically require a broadband Internet
connection (T1, Cable, etc.) in order to ensure professional call quality. Internet
connections such as dial-up or low end DSL connections can cause problems when experiencing
high call traffic. As part of our free consultation, FreedomIQ
can perform a simple speed test diagnostic to determine your VoIP capacity.
Q: Can I have a FreedomIQ phone system tailored to my business needs?
A: Our experienced team of certified networking specialists have a proven track
record of delivering highly customized telecommunications solutions. If you have
a specialized request for your VoIP PBX system, please sign up to receive a free
consultation. As a part of your consultation, we will examine your custom request
and look to provide you with an implementation timeline.
Q: Can a FreedomIQ phone system connect my multiple physical locations?
A: One of the main advantages of a VoIP solution for your business PBX is that your
phone system is not tied to any physical location. Since all call switching happens
over the Internet, your PBX system can be dispersed across several offices all over
the nation. This linking of remote offices is completely transparent to your callers,
to whom you appear as one large centralized office.
Q: Can I transfer ("port") my existing business numbers to my FreedomIQ service?
A: Yes. Whether you wish to transfer local area or toll free numbers, we can provide
you with the simple forms necessary to have your existing carrier release these
numbers to us so that we may apply them to your FreedomIQ VoIP
service. This transfer can take up to 30 days to process and is subject to the terms
and conditions you have with your existing carrier.
Q: Do I need to switch over all of my employees to FreedomIQ at once?
A: No. Since FreedomIQ is a scalable hosted VoIP PBX, you do not
need to implement a company-wide phone system change all at once. In some cases,
administrators of larger companies find it easier to transition a handful of individuals,
departments, or offices at a time. For more information on the best deployment strategy
for your business, please contact us for a free consultation.
Configuration: How to set up your FreedomIQ Hosted VoIP PBX.
Q: What equipment do I need to get started?
A: FreedomIQ hosted VoIP PBX requires a high-speed broadband Internet
connection (e.g. T1, Cable, business DSL) and VoIP phones from Polycom. The Polycom
SoundPoint IP family are well-integrated with FreedomIQ VoIP service
and are available directly from FreedomIQ at a low cost. No additional
call switching, server equipment, or PBX wiring is required.
Q: How do I change my settings for my FreedomIQ service?
A: Changing the PBX settings for your FreedomIQ service can be
done through your WebLINK Internet Control Panel. You may log in to this secure
web console from www.freedomiq.com
FreedomIQ business number, your user name (email address), and
password. From within WebLINK, go to the Settings tab for system changes or the
Account tab for billing and contact information changes.
Q: How do I add new users to my FreedomIQ service?
A: To add a new user to your FreedomIQ service, first log in to
your WebLINK Internet Control Panel through
www.freedomiq.com. From the WebLINK home screen, click Add User. This will
display a full list of all users currently on your FreedomIQ PBX
system. Click Add New User and fill in the user's display name, email address, extension,
password, and user type. When finished, click Update.
Q: How do I check my FreedomIQ voicemail?
A: To check voicemail online, log in to your WebLINK Internet Control Panel through
www.freedomiq.com. To check
your voicemail through most Polycom VoIP phones, simply press the Messages key.
If using a Polycom 330 VoIP phone, instead access your messages by pressing Menu
> Features > Messages.
Freedom Voice User Guides