RingCentral provides a business-class phone system in the cloud that can be accessed from anywhere at a relatively low fixed cost. For a complete review of RingCentral, check out TechRepublic’s IT Consultant blog.
You log into RingCentral’s Web-based administration using your assigned phone number and password. I’d always check the SSL checkbox if I were you.
Image credit: Chip Camden
The administration pages are very responsive, but require JavaScript for the most basic functions (like Submit buttons).
Image credit: Chip Camden
For a complete review of RingCentral, check out TechRepublic’s IT Consultant blog.
You can define detailed rules for answering, different hold music for each rule, and how often to interrupt hold music with a message. Stock music and messages are provided, or you can upload your own. RingCentral also has an extra service available for professionally recorded custom messages.
Image credit: Chip Camden
For a complete review of RingCentral, check out TechRepublic’s IT Consultant blog.
This is the Linksys SPA942 IP phone that RingCentral sent me to test. It was fully configured out of the box — just plug it into the network and go. It has four lines, speakerphone, and lots of nice features. It also has good reception, too, over a 1.5/1.0 mbps connection while doing my normal Web traffic over the same link.
Image credit: Chip Camden
For a complete review of RingCentral, check out TechRepublic’s IT Consultant blog.
The iPhone app lets you manage your account remotely, as well as handling and originating calls.
Image credit: RingCentral
For a complete review of RingCentral, check out TechRepublic’s IT Consultant blog.
The Call Controller desktop app for Windows (shown, actual size) and Mac lets you use your computer as a phone within your business phone system (headset recommended). On Windows, it can sync contacts with Microsoft Outlook.
Image credit: Chip Camden
For a complete review of RingCentral, check out TechRepublic’s IT Consultant blog.
Chip Camden has been programming since 1978, and he's still not done. An independent consultant since 1991, Chip specializes in software development tools, languages, and migration to new technology. Besides writing for TechRepublic's IT Consultant blog, he also contributes to [Geeks Are Sexy] Technology News and his two personal blogs, Chip's Quips and Chip's Tips for Developers.
