Business Telephone Systems ?

Edwards Finance > Phones

Q. When a business has multiple telephone lines, how do they come into their office? I assume if they have 4 incoming lines BT (or whoever) dont physically run 4 sets of wires, or do they?

A. Multiline phone systems can start from as low as a couple of hundred quid and go up to many thousands of pounds. It will depend on your requirements and the number of extentions etc. For a typical small business installation, lets say 2 numbers and 3 lines (one number handling two lines), into an analogue/hybrid such as a Panasonic system. If you place the order for all three lines at once and tell BT that you want them terminated at a distribution point, the likelyhood is that BT would run in a single bundle (possibly ten pairs of wires running in a single cable). They would then terminate all ten pairs, and make the first three pairs active. The reason for this is that any future orders you place for more lines dont require more cable runs and BT still charge you the full installation price simply to activate more pairs. Sound business sense on their part. You then have responsibility for everything on your side of the DP. However, for exactly the same system, if their are existing lines coming into the building terminated at standard wall boxes, and you simply place an order for an additional line, the likelyhood is that BT will run in another 2 pair cable and terminate it at another wall outlet. Digital and DDI block orders can be as complex as the systems that hang off the back of them. My humble advice would be to talk to one of the numerous companies that specials in advising small business on data/comms. Many of these will do all the leg work in sorting out the ordering and systems installation at reasonable cost. Even if you only go for a simple consultancy session it will probably save you money and heartache in the long run.

Ask Edwards a Finance Question

Other Questions:

Why does cell phone service cost more than wired?

I really wanted another dedicated line for my computer, with no frills. What I found out was that it would cost almost $40 a month, with NONE of the services I already had on the other line. My regular line, with the "Complete Choice" plan, i...

Came across this itemWell, according to this update...

I used to buy telephone cards to use for long-distance calls within the USA. The cards were good for state-to-state calls or in-state cards. The only cards I can find now are for state-to-state calls only. If a person uses one of the state-to-...

Birch Telecom completely screwed up my call notes/answering system (The number dialed is no longer in service), so its time to fire them and hire --- gee, whom?? I mean, I dumped Southwestern Bell because they screwed up last year ... I was...

We have a one man physicians office with a 20 year old NEC 6/16 phone system which is on its last legs. We want to replace with a new system incorporating voice mail, automated attendant etc. We don't need a system that is too complicated o...

Edwards Finance Menu

Ask a Question
About Us / Me
Contact Me
Privacy Policy

Sitemap

My Favorite Sites

PFBlog
Google Finance
Yahoo Finance
Motley Fool
Nveille's Financial Blog
AllFinanceMatters
Free Money Finance
2MillionBlog
The Terror Finance blog

Q&A Subjects