What are babyTEL Enterprise Services?
babyTEL Enterprise Services are multi-line versions of the babyTEL service, with calling plans that are offered to businesses and organizations other than call centers and other continuous use applications. A telephone number (primary number) used for Enterprise Service can receive calls simultaneously on two or more VoicePaths (virtual lines). You pay for each VoicePath, as you do now for each telephone line you use.
What features are included?
There is a single mailbox that can take voice messages if all the VoicePaths associated with a primary number are in use. If you need separate mailboxes for individual users (extensions), you must use the voicemail function on your telephone system. The 911 service is provided on business lines. Features such as call forwarding and call waiting are not usually used on business lines.
Do I need special on-site equipment?
If you already have a conventional telephone system, you will need a multi-port VoIP gateway that uses the SIP protocol. Each port on the gateway allows you to replace one of your existing telephone company lines.
If you have a SIP-compatible IP-PBX (a VoIP telephone system) or hybrid telephone system, you will not need a gateway to connect to babyTEL.
At sites remote from your office, you can have extensions that use SIP telephones or an ordinary analog telephone that connects to the Internet via a babyBOX ATA.
(If you choose to use the single-line Small Business calling plans that can be ordered on the Residential Services sign-up page, you can use the standard babyBOX ATA to connect such lines to your telephone system.)
Where can I buy the specialized on-site equipment I will need?
babyTEL does not supply telephone systems or multi-port gateways. It is advantageous for you to buy from a local dealer of such equipment to enable you to obtain technical support, including on-site service, when needed. You can use babyTEL service with most of the SIP-compatible VoIP gateways and IP-PBXs available today. We do not recommend one system over another.
Once you have identified equipment of interest to you, send an email to service@babytelusa.com to confirm its compatibility with our service. The manufacturer or national distributor of the system you are interested in can help you locate a local dealer of their products. Alternatively, the interconnect company that sold you your telephone system might be a dealer for an appropriate SIP gateway, or may be interested in becoming one.
Can I use my babyTEL lines to send and receive faxes?
Sending faxes out over babyTEL virtual lines can be done, but if the Internet becomes congested (as may happen at certain hours of the day) multi-page faxes may sometimes fail.
Receiving faxes on a babyTEL number work especially well when that number is set to "do not disturb", resulting in all faxes being received as file attachments to email messages. If fax traffic is light, a "pay as you go" plan might be appropriate. That same line can still be used for outgoing voice or fax calls. If only one VoicePath is needed, it can be ordered on the Residential Services page.
Do I need a special Internet connection?
babyTEL recommends that you use a separate Internet connection for your babyTEL telephone service. At least 32Kbps in bandwidth is needed for each VoicePath used for voice only. 90Kbps must be available for each VoicePath that will be used for conventional fax calls (fax machine to fax machine) and data transmission (financial transaction terminals, alarm systems, modems). The reliability of data and DTMF transmission is totally dependent on the consistent quality of your Internet connection.
To use a connection shared with data traffic, you and your Internet service provider must have compatible routers that will prioritize voice packets in both directions.
Can I keep my existing telephone number?
If your business is in a city where babyTEL offers local telephone numbers, there is a good chance that your existing number can be ported for use with our telephone service. Send an email to service@babytelusa.com to confirm that it can.
If you are in a babyTEL city, or a local call away from one, you can keep your existing number and one line from your current telephone company, and call forward that line "on busy" to a babyTEL number (with some limitations). That makes porting unnecessary, and will ensure that you will have one telephone line working in the case of a prolonged power failure. To use babyTEL, you must have electrical power to your router, SIP gateway and telephone system (or IP-PBX), and IP telephones if you use them.
Do I need more than one phone number?
A babyTEL number can handle multiple calls. You will need another telephone number, however, if you want to use a different calling plan for certain outgoing calls. Your telephone system can be programmed to use the appropriate outgoing lines depending on the call destination.
You may want to use individual numbers (DID) to provide callers direct access to particular departments or individuals. Your telephone system can be programmed to switch calls to the right extension depending on the number that was called.
Virtual numbers in other cities will enable people at those locations to reach your business via a local call.
A DID or virtual number directs its inbound calls to a primary number, using the same VoicePaths as that number.
Does babyTEL offer toll-free (1-800) numbers?
babyTEL will be offering toll-free numbers soon. In the meantime you can keep your existing toll-free number and set it up so that all calls received are forwarded to your babyTEL number. That could be a special DID used just for that purpose to allow your telephone system to switch such calls to your order desk or customer service department.
How do I order my multi-line Enterprise Services?
You can choose the number of VoicePaths you require when you sign up for your babyTEL account (minimum of two VoicePaths). As you require more, you can add them using the self-care web pages.
You must acquire, configure and maintain any on-site equipment you might need other than standard babyBOX ATAs which can be used for outbound-calls-only lines.
