The Peter C. Alderman Foundation
One of our partners, Ari Disraelly, contacted us about providing equipment and our Hosted VoIP phone system, FreedomIQ, to a non-profit through the FreedomVoice charity arm.
The Peter C. Alderman Foundation (PCAF) is a 501(c)(3) operating foundation whose mission is to heal the emotional wounds of victims of terrorism and mass violence by training indigenous health workers and establishing trauma clinics in post-conflict countries. Founded to honor the life of Peter Alderman, who was killed on September 11, 2001, PCAF runs trauma clinics in Cambodia, Uganda, Liberia and Kenya, and holds annual conferences on psycho-trauma in the US and Africa. Dr. Stephen and Elizabeth Alderman have received the Presidential Citizen’s Medal for their work, and have been featured in the documentary-length feature, LoveHateLove.
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How to Set Up a Softphone on Your iOS Device
Android users: We didn’t forget about you. There are a few differences in the registration on the Bria Android app, and you can check out our install guide here.
By downloading the Bria app from Apple’s App Store, you can take your VoIP phone system on the go with your iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch and either a Wi-Fi or 3G connection.
Just follow these steps!
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How to Set Up a Softphone on Your Android Device
A lot of our customers have read our blog on why we think the Counterpath Bria app is a great tool for FreedomIQ customers and want to know how to set it up on their devices.
By downloading the Bria app from the Android Market, you can take your VoIP phone system on the go with yourAndroid device and a Wi-Fi, 3G or 4G connection.
Looking for an iOS guide instead? No problem, check out our Bria iOS guide on the FreedomVoice.com blog.
Just follow these steps!
What Google ChromeOS Means for Hosted VoIP PBX
Google ChromeOS is innovative, cool, and attracting tons of hype. But what we’re really interested in is its implications for hosted VoIP PBX.
Google ChromeOS is simply an Internet based operating system so it really doesn’t have many repercussions for hosted VoIP. The quality of a hosted VoIP phone service is much more dependent on the service provider, Internet connection, and VoIP phones being utilized. While this is true, Google ChromeOS and the Google Chrome browser could affect hosted VoIP PBX systems in specific ways.
9 Ways to Slash Phone Costs and Increase Productivity
9 Ways to Slash Phone Costs and Increase Productivity – Apr 21, 2009
FreedomVoice, creator of the FreedomIQ® Hosted VoIP PBX, has announced nine recommendations to help business leaders slash phone costs and increase productivity during a recession.
“Small businesses in California – and across the nation – are facing this downturn by controlling their costs that are within their grasp. That’s a sound strategy for weathering 2009,” said Aida Alvarez, the former head of the Small Business Administration during the Clinton Administration.
“The year-over-year data shows that 2008 was about accepting the downturn. Now 2009 is about survival,” said Joseph Benoit, Union Bank’s small business banking executive.
Business owners across the nation are looking for ways to cut cost, and the process of reevaluating their business phone system is providing them with that opportunity.
In particular, the hosted VoIP solution is being recognized as the answer. When asked why, Peter Radizeski, President of RAD-INFO, Inc., and frequent blogger for TMCnet had this to say:
“Hosted PBX is gaining share in this economic turmoil because it increases business productivity and it saves money. With Hosted PBX, there isn’t a large capital outlay for a PBX phone system, nor is there a maintenance contract to keep that PBX up and running.”
When it comes to hosted VoIP PBX service, the FreedomIQ product by FreedomVoice is an industry leader and an attractive option for cost cutting.
“We’ve seen businesses achieve 30 to 70% total cost savings by switching to the FreedomIQ Hosted VoIP PBX,” says Eric Thomas, CEO of FreedomVoice.
In an effort to help business owners realize the tremendous savings and productivity benefits a hosted VoIP PBX phone solution can provide, FreedomVoice has compiled a list of 9 ways to slash phone costs and increase productivity in a recession. By subscribing to the FreedomIQ hosted VoIP PBX service, you’ll be able to save money in the following ways:
1. Switch to VoIP
No matter what your industry, call costs for business VoIP service is significantly cheaper than call costs for analog phone service. Also, almost all VoIP providers promote a free 30 day money back guarantee and offer domestic long distance calls at no additional cost. According to Jay Schukoske, President of Beach Associates Inc, Beach Associates saved over 50% by switching to VoIP.
2. Use a Hosted PBX Service
Your phone equipment no longer has to be physically located on site. Electing to go the hosted VoIP PBX provider route allows businesses to forgo the large expense associated with purchasing an onsite phone system, as the hosting company will keep the equipment at their location and allow you to access it via the Internet. Users appreciate a hosted system because they don’t have to set aside precious office space for the phone system equipment. The only equipment that needs to be purchased with a hosted solution is the VoIP enabled phones. Using a hosted VoIP PBX solution also means that the business does not have to maintain expensive on-site call switching hardware. Overall, a hosted VoIP PBX saves businesses time, energy, and money.
3. Reduce Staff
If you’re using a hosted VoIP PBX system, then all IT support, maintenance and upgrades will be handled by your solution provider. This will allow you to reduce your staff and cut costs in IT. But making use of a PBX also lets you reduce staff in the administrative department. With today’s VoIP phone system technology, you’ll never need to have someone answer your phone again. After setting up an automated attendant greeting and automatic call transfer, customers will be easily routed to your line without the assistance of a live employee. This means you’ll be able to eliminate the phone receptionist position, this is of course if you want to. Hosted PBX services are very flexible and can typically be set up however is best for your company.
4. Avoid System Software Maintenance
Forget purchasing upgraded firmware for your phones. Hosted VoIP PBX providers regularly update your VoIP phones so that you don’t need to. You’ll love having the latest features on a consistent basis. With a traditional PBX, it’s virtually impossible to upgrade to new features and functionality without a forklift to haul out your old system and replace it with the new.
5. Growth Made Easy
Ready to expand? A hosted PBX solution allows you to add or remove phones at will. This means you don’t need to purchase a fixed large phone system in hopes of growth. Instead, you can simply order a new line when the time is right. If for some reason you experience a loss in employees, canceling a line is just as easy.
6. Encourage Telecommuting
A. Reduce Travel Expense
With a hosted VoIP PBX, it becomes easy to access the advanced features of your phone system from a remote location. All a user has to do is connect to the Internet and log in to their VoIP phone and they’ll be able to immediately utilize the same digital phone tools available at the office. With no need to commute, you and your employees can save on fuel costs.
B. Use Visual Call Reports and Recorded Calls
to Manage Remote Employees.
Many hosted VoIP PBX providers enable call record and call reporting. Recorded calls and call reports allow business owners to closely manage remote employees and resolve disputes. Through these means, employers can ensure employees are doing their job and providing quality customer service.
C. Save Money on Office Space
Today’s business VoIP service make the virtual office more attractive than ever before. After switching to a hosted VoIP PBX, you’ll be able to work as a team no matter where you and your employees are located. Even if you’re dispersed across the nation, the seamless PBX transfers will lead customers to believe that you’re all working from one office. With no need for an established location, you’ll be able to save on office space costs.
D. Save Money on Utilities
If your employees are telecommuting, then you’ll be able to cut back on utility usage and reduce expenses. By reducing energy consumption you’ll help the environment.
E. Pull from a Greater Talent Pool
When telecommuting becomes a part of your companies culture it opens up a world of opportunities, one of those being the opportunity to pull from a greater talent pool. With no need for a central office, you can recruit from locations around the globe. The larger your talent pool, the better chance you’ll have to get the perfect fit for your business. This can also result in reduced costs, as income levels fluctuate based on region.
7. Unify Your Communications
Hosted phone systems let you more easily unify your communications. For instance, the FreedomIQ hosted VoIP PBX allows you to have voicemails and faxes sent straight to your inbox. It also lets you integrate your outlook contacts. Unifying communications saves time and increases productivity.
8. Utilize a Softphone
In the case that you don’t want to buy a digital phone, but have access to a computer, many VoIP providers can now integrate with a softphone. Softphones are software applications that let you use your computer as a telephone. Certain softphones, such as the X-Lite 3.0 Softphone from Counterpath, are available at no cost.
9. Increase Productivity with Voice-to-Text
Voice-to-Text technology transcribes voice messages and sends them to your email with the audio file attached. Access to voicemail messages in text form allows a user to clearly determine what was said in a message. With this feature you’ll be able to quickly scan voicemails on your phone and PC without having to listen to the actual message.
Each of these services is available through the FreedomIQ® Hosted VoIP PBX. To learn more about FreedomIQ visit www.freedomiq.com.
FreedomIQ Adds X-Lite Softphone
FreedomIQ Adds X-Lite Softphone – Mar 03, 2009
FreedomIQ has added the X-Lite 3.0 Softphone from CounterPath to its list of included features. This lightweight software application allows users to place and receive calls from any computer with an IP network connection.
“Now our users don’t need to be near their desk phone to access the many features of their FreedomIQ system,” says founder and CEO Eric Thomas. “Users can conduct business and manage calls from anywhere they can access the Internet.”
Thomas says the softphone software has become indispensable to many people who work in remote offices or telecommute. He adds that it is an especially attractive option for low traffic users who want to avoid the expense of buying landline phone equipment.
“The X-Lite software is available at no cost to FreedomIQ users,” explains Thomas. “We are offering the integrated X-Lite softphone to give our users a new level of freedom and personalized communication through FreedomIQ.”
Once launched, the X-Lite softphone appears as a phone console on the user’s screen. The friendly interface allows users to dial outbound calls or receive inbound calls with the click of a mouse. Additional features include mute, do not disturb, call history, and a contact management console. FreedomIQ users can easily forward their PBX calls to the softphone, providing an effortless way to stay connected when a landline phone is not available.
