Hosted VoIP – FAQ
Hosted PBX VoIP: FAQ’s
1. What is VoIP and how does it work?
VOIP stands for Voice Over Internet Protocol. This allows you to make and receive phone calls over your already existing Internet connection.
2. What type of Internet connection and bandwidth is required for Cloudworks services?
Any high speed Internet such as DSL or Cable is recommended for remote users. For offices you will want to contact a sales agent to see what speed would optimize your service.
3. How can I test my upload speed?
Click here for a free speed test. It will also show you your IP address if you need to know that as well.
4. Can I use my existing telephone numbers?
Yes. All of your numbers can be ported over to Cloudworks Hosted VoIP easily. And we handle all of these details for you. No need to reprint your business cards!
5. How do I know if Cloudworks Hosted VoIP is appropriate for my business?
Simply call one of our sales staff and they will give you a number of options to suit your business needs.
6. Can I have my greetings professionally recorded?
Yes, you may have your greetings professionally done and then loaded into your profile.
7. After I receive my phones, how do I get them to work?
After receiving your preconfigured phones simply plug them in. You will want to make sure you plug in the power cord to the wall and your other cord into the Internet. You will see a LAN port on the back of your phone. Plug the opposite end of the cord that you have plugged into the Internet into this port. You should see your phone power on. Simply wait for your phone to register with our system and you will then be able to make and receive phones calls.
8. Can I use Cloudworks Hosted VoIP if I have offices in other states or overseas?
Cloudworks Hosted VoIP has customers all over the world and any one of our sales team members will be more than happy to show you a solution for all of your business needs.
9. Is Cloudworks Hosted VoIP secure? Can hackers listen in on my conversation?
Cloudworks Hosted VoIP is very secure. We have taken many steps to insure you that your conversations are kept private.
10. What is Cloudworks Hosted VoIP?
Cloudworks Hosted VoIP is a leading provider of enterprise-grade On-Demand Unified Communications solutions. We work only with businesses and focus all our resources on providing custom solutions that fit perfectly with each company’s unique communication needs, making traditional phone systems and service obsolete.
11. What is On-Demand Unified Communications?
On-Demand Unified Communications is much more than a new industry buzzword. It is a new way of deploying a wide range of sophisticated IP communications solutions and applications through the Internet rather than installing expensive IP-PBX equipment and the software that goes with it. Below are some of the key benefits of On-Demand Unified Communications
12. What are the key benefits of using Cloudworks Hosted VoIP?
- No upfront capital expenditure
- Lower overall total cost of ownership (TCO)
- Easy Upgrades
- Better service delivery
- Better scalability
- Easier to customize
- Users more productive
- Easier to manage and administrate
- Instant access to innovative new business solutions and application
13. How do I sign up for Cloudworks Hosted VoIP?
One phone call to your Telecom agent or our customer service department is all it takes. We walk you step-by-step through the entire simple process. We will analyze your unique communications needs, evaluate your existing network and Internet connection, and provide a proposal that covers every detail. Call 1-877-271-3268 to get started right away.
14. How reliable is Cloudworks Hosted VoIP?
Cloudworks Hosted VoIP is extremely reliable. We guarantee 99.99% uptime with geographically redundant network operations centers in Denver and Los Angeles. Our switch is redundant and delivers your communications through the most dependable private international network available.
15. How good is the voice quality on your IP phone service?
Outstanding! Literally crystal clear. Our service uses the most advanced systems and switching equipment in the industry, assuring the best voice quality available anywhere at any price. Combining our QoS (Quality of Service) with the proper amount of bandwidth for your enterprise and our new Polycom HD Voice phones is a whole new experience in voice quality. It is unmatched!
16. How does Cloudworks Hosted VoIP compare with residential VoIP service?
There really is no comparison. In stark contrast to services like Vonage and Skype, which are designed to minimize bandwidth needs at the expense of voice quality and reliability, Cloudworks Hosted VoIP is a true business-grade IP Telephony service. Our service works with the best QoS (Quality of Service) available, which in simple terms prioritizes voice traffic over data, so that there is no breakdown in voice quality when data is being transmitted over the same Internet connection. Calls are secure and our service is mission-critical reliable and that is what businesses expect. Also, we provide a full-featured hosted PBX system on the same level with the most expensive phone systems found in Fortune 500 companies (all for a small monthly fee per user!)
17. Does SimpleSignal replace my phone system?
The answer is yes if you are ready to upgrade to a full-featured Hosted PBX IP phone system at this point, but Cloudworks Hosted VoIP is so flexible that it can work with any phone, providing a cost-effective migration to a full IP-capable phone system.
18. How do I know if Cloudworks Hosted VoIP is appropriate for my business?
Cloudworks Hosted VoIP makes sense for any business, but particularly those businesses that don’t want the added headaches and management associated with on-premise hardware and software. Even companies with on-site IT staff have begun to see the benefits of on-demand or hosted applications such as Cloudworks Hosted VoIP. Also, because Cloudworks Hosted VoIP is provided as Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) it has no capital expenditures which makes it much more appealing to most businesses that don’t want to spend thousands of dollars on equipment that likely will be obsolete in just a few years. Smaller businesses love the big company image Cloudworks Hosted VoIP provides through the automated call attendant, and the features they would never be able to afford with traditional PBX systems.
19. What is Broadband?
In the data and telecommunications industry, broadband is a term that refers to a signaling method that includes or handles a relatively wide range of frequencies. Broadband is always a relative term, understood according to its context. The wider the bandwidth, the greater the information carrying capacity. In general, it is this broadband capacity that makes VoIP and hosted PBX possible and practical.
20. How is Cloudworks Hosted VoIP technology Software-as-a-Service (SaaS)?
Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) is part of a growing trend in business that eliminates many of the drawbacks to the installation, maintenance, and upgrades demanded by premise-based systems or software. SaaS has been perfected over the last few years to the point that it is a trusted, reliable, cost-effective alternative. Cloudworks Hosted VoIP is a fully hosted service and manages all of the software and systems it takes to provide your business with rock-solid, dependable IP communications. No software to install, no upgrades to keep up with, no additional costs.
21. How do I move, add or change voice lines?
It’s as simple as logging into your administrator dashboard and following the instructions. With a few clicks of your mouse, the changes or additions have been made! If you need help, just contact our support team and they will be more than happy to assist you.
22. Can I use Cloudworks Hosted VoIP if I have offices in other states or overseas?
Absolutely! Cloudworks Hosted VoIP is the perfect solution for multiple offices and locations. Anywhere with a quality Internet connection can be on your network and share features as if they were in the next office. Also, all your calls between offices can be dialed direct with four-digit dialing and are free anywhere in the world!
23. Is Cloudworks Hosted VoIP secure? Can hackers listen in on my conversation?
Cloudworks Hosted VoIP is on a fully encrypted network. Your conversations are secure.
Pricing and Rate Plan Questions
1. How is Cloudworks Hosted VoIP priced?
Very competitively! We price our service on a low flat monthly rate that includes unlimited domestic calling, free unlimited on-network calling (calls to other Cloudworks Hosted VoIP users) and extremely low international rates (Ask about International Rate Plans)
Startup and Equipment Questions
1. What software do I need to install?
None. Cloudworks Hosted VoIP is a hosted on-demand unified communication service meaning that you don’t ever have to download software or try and keep up with upgrades. Aside from Cloudworks Hosted VoIP hosted service, there are some neat add-ons such as a toolbar, which allows you to make phone calls and control your phone system from Microsoft Outlook. These require a small download to activate.
2. What type of Internet connection and bandwidth is required for Cloudworks Hosted VoIP services?
A good Internet connection is an absolute must for reliable service and clear voice communication. It is the one area you should not compromise to maximize your experience. You can test your Internet speed by clicking here. We can help you evaluate your network and connection by calling us at 1-866-434-4404.
3. What type of equipment do I need to use Cloudworks Hosted VoIP services?
A typical installation requires a small box called a QoS router. This little piece of equipment is what keeps your phone calls from breaking up or “stuttering” when large files are being transmitted over the same Internet connection. In addition to that, just your IP phones which connect directly to your IP network through an Ethernet cable. We provide everything you need and recommend Polycom IP phones as our system is optimized for them.
4. Who provides the IP phones and how much do they cost?
We provide a wide range of Polycom IP phones that range in price from about $100-$300. We also provide easy lease options that eliminate the up-front investment.
5. Can I use any IP phone that I want?
Yes, but we can’t guarantee the quality or that all the features of our system will work unless the phone has been tested.
6. Can I use any regular desk phone or mobile phone?
Yes. Any number can be registered with the PBX to act as an extension of your phone system, but to maximize and use all the features of our hosted PBX service, we recommend a Polycom IP phone.
7. How much time does it take to set up my hosted PBX service?
Very little time (less than 3-4 weeks). The longest timeframe is usually just waiting for your existing phone numbers to port over from your old carrier to Cloudworks Hosted VoIP.
8. How much technical skill is required?
Little to none. We will explain everything to you when you receive your equipment. Your Polycom IP phones come in the box “pre-provisioned” meaning that all you have to do is plug them into your network and they find their IP address and set themselves up, ready to make phone calls. Of course, whatever network changes need to be made would be made by your IT consultant, just as you would if you were not installing our phone system.
9. How do I get Cloudworks Hosted VoIP to work on my cell phone?
If you want to call in to your voice mail from a cell phone you would dial your Cloudworks Hosted VoIP number. When you hear your voicemail message you would then hit the * key. It will then ask you for your password. You would enter your password followed by the # key and listen to your messages.