Just getting started with the research

[Paul H]

Hi All,

I am researching the possibility of setting up some kind of VoIP 'network' which will also allow for emergency/catastrophe contingency planning. The proposed set up is as follows:

Central offices based in London.

50-60 Agents/homeworkers based around the country.

Customers to be able to call the agents, but, if the unexpected happens, and there is some kind of catastrophic event which puts one or more agents' 'hub' out of action, then the 'hub' needs to be able to automatically re-direct all incoming calls to the London Head Offices.

Therefore, my questions are these:

1. Is this possible?

2. If so, is this possible with any/all providers and hardware?

I am just starting out doing the research into VoIP so any advice from experienced users would be gratefully accepted.

Thanks

Paul

[mattpark]

Hi Paul,

Welcome to the forum!

50-60 Agents/homeworkers based around the country.

VoIP is ideal for this situation. So to answer your questions:

1. Yes, more than!

2. There are many providers out there, good and bad. I've had experiences with many of them. Your obviously are using this for a business setup, so you need to be able to get in touch with someone should something go wrong (a lot of voip providers had terrible support, and even more only offer email support... i always look for companies that you can definitely get on the phone).

We now have a new sponsor of the forum (so new i haven't even had chance to add their banners everywhere yet), a company called Gradwell who specialise in business VoIP. I can personally recommend them as a solution for your needs (i now run my business calls through them too). Head over to their site and grab their number. Ask for a bloke called Derek Swindell, great guy who heads up sales over there - he'll sort you out.

If you find any solutions/companies that you would like me to comment on for you, be sure to pass them by me!

Hope this helps.

[Paul H]

Hi Matt,

Thanks, I have e-mailed Gradwell, and am awaiting a reply. The guy you suggested was not available.

Thanks again.

Paul

[mattpark]

Be sure to let me know how go get on!

Good luck!

[Paul H]

24 hours later, and no response from Gradwell - maybe 50-60 'hubs' is not enough business!!! ;)

The company I am doing the research for would require faster response times than that, and if they can't respond to potential new customers in good time, then that does not bode well for expected service levels.

Are there any major players out there that have the infrastucture to handle, what we considered to be, a fairly small account??

Or are all VoIP suppliers simply SME's trying to make it big?

I don't know what to expect from the industry in general, but do expect faster response times to new business enquiries.

Thanks

Paul

[mattpark]

Hi Paul,

Oh dear indeed! Not like them at all, they usually get back to people right away.

Did you email them? I've sent a message to Peter who most likely get in touch.

Have you found any other potential companies yet?

Matt