| Internet companies and online retailers are steadily | | | | business functions, telephone systems are moving |
| adopting small business phone systems (Virtual | | | | away from the "in-house, high initial capital spend" |
| PBXs in geek-speak) like RingCentral's small | | | | to outsourced, "software/systems as a service" |
| business phone system. | | | | model. |
| These retailers' fast adherence is no surprise, as | | | | The real beauty is the explosive advantages that |
| Virtual PBXs' price/benefit ratio (from $9.95 | | | | these solutions -- all of them -- provide to |
| month for virtually everything you need in a | | | | ambitious organizations like the retailers that are |
| phone system) mirrors that of other services | | | | using RingCentral Now, ambitious startups and |
| those Internet companies likely also purchase. | | | | small business owners can really start out in a |
| Think: | | | | garage, and receive all the assets much bigger |
| >> Web hosting: No Equipment, low monthly | | | | firms can employ for a fraction of the cost. The |
| fee | | | | moniker "virtual", combined with the fantastic |
| >> Internet access: Minimal equipment, low | | | | Internet, telecommunications, and software |
| monthly fee | | | | solutions available to the layman, are inspirational |
| >> Online support interface for customers: | | | | motivators for budding entrepreneurs. |
| No Equipment, no software, low monthly fee | | | | Look for Virtual PBXs (or "Hosted" Small Business |
| >> HR Management ASP (Application | | | | Phone Systems) to supplant the traditional, more |
| Service Provider) solutions: No software, low | | | | expensive "box with wires" PBX solution very |
| monthly fee | | | | quickly in the coming months. |
| >> Internet Faxing: Low monthly fee, no | | | | You can read online retailers' impressions of |
| hardware. | | | | RingCentral and other virtual voice services here. |
| Do you see a pattern here? Like other critical | | | | |