How to Install a Business Phone System
Proprietary business phone systems can be expensive to install and maintain. If you are technically proficient and want to save money, you can install your own phone system. Many types of business phone systems are available. Voice over Internet protocol, or VoIP, phone systems can provide a wealth of features and leverage the most current telephone technology to give your business a competitive edge.
Things You'll Need
- Turnkey phone system
- VoIP extension telephones
- Cat 5 patch cables
- Cat 5 data cable (if needed)
- Cat 5 data ports (if needed)
Instructions
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1
Choose your turnkey phone system and compatible VoIP telephones to be used as extensions. "Turnkey" means that all the required software comes preinstalled in the system and configured with the supplied hardware. The system merely needs to be physically connected with all the phone extension handsets to become fully functional.
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2
Determine how many handsets and additional data ports you will need. Your VoIP handset can plug into the same network data port your business computers use. You may also choose to construct a separate network specifically for your phone system. Either way, you will have to consider what changes should be made to your network infrastructure before installing the phone system. Make sure you have enough data ports for each phone you add and that you have enough network router capacity to support adding the additional telephone devices.
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3
Locate your phone system. Because your phone system is essentially another computer, you may want to colocate the equipment with your existing computer systems.
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4
Install additional data cables if needed. You can hire a professional data cable installer, or do this job yourself. Either way, for every telephone extension, you'll need a data port cabled from the extension to your phone system. Once the cabling and data ports are in place, plug in the telephone extension units using Cat 5 data patch cables.
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Configure your phone system software and handsets. You will need to consult the system documentation for instructions on how to personalize the phone extensions and assign extension numbers.
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Tips & Warnings
Most VoIP business phone models also offer an expansion module with physical extension buttons for use by a receptionist.
Be sure to explore the features of your phone software. Many VOIP systems offer interactive voice response (IVR) programming, email or text messaging to be sent when a voice message is left, and notifications when system maintenance is required.
Connect the telephone main system computer and all handsets to an uninterruptible power supply. One disadvantage of VoIP systems is their vulnerability to power failures.
