Frequently Asked Questions

VoIP stands for Voice over Internet Protocol, or a means to digitally transmit voice calls over an IP network instead of using traditional analog phone lines. In most cases, business VoIP service uses a broadband Internet connection and specially-configured VoIP phones to place and receive calls.

PBX stands for Private Branch Exchange, and generally refers to a business phone system. A PBX system is generally designed with special features to handle internal call switching, such as transferring a caller to another extension or conferencing in a 3rd party within the same office.

VoIP PBX is a special class of PBX systems that uses voice over IP service to place and receive calls using the Internet. This service is frequently hosted from remote by the 3rd party VoIP provider, in which case it may also be referred to as a hosted VoIP PBX.

SIP stands for Session Initiation Protocol, a standard protocol used to transmit voice data over the Internet with a VoIP phone. The servers used by VoIP service providers are commonly referred to as SIP servers, and the phones used by hosted VoIP PBX users are commonly referred to as SIP phones.

A VoIP phone is a specially-configured phone that places and receives calls over the Internet instead of over traditional analog phone lines. When used as a call center VoIP solution, the PBX-integrated phone features of a VoIP phone can increase employee efficiency and help project a professional image. These features can include call transfer, conferencing, call hold, and much more.

E911, or Enhanced 911, is a telecommunications system that pairs a phone number with a physical address for the purpose of directing emergency dispatch calls to the nearest Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP). Since VoIP phones and phone numbers are not tied to a physical address, VoIP solutions such as FreedomIQ require that users register and update the location of each phone.

FreedomIQ VoIP service is specially designed to start saving you money from your initial investment. Since we host the servers that manage your VoIP PBX, the only equipment you need to purchase to get started are the VoIP phones which we supply. These phones connect directly to your existing broadband connection and provide a dial tone within minutes.

As a hosted VoIP solution, FreedomIQ carries many cost savings benefits to reduce the total cost of operation (TCO) of your office phone system. In the short term, you will save on your monthly phone bills with flat rate unlimited domestic calling and low cost international calls. In the long term, a hosted VoIP PBX saves you money on call switching equipment that could become obsolete or need to be replaced.

FreedomIQ is a fully-scalable business VoIP solution. This means that you can add lines and VoIP phones at any time without penalty. Whether you’re a booming entrepreneur or a steadily-growing enterprise, FreedomIQ gives you the flexibility to ensure that you’re only ever paying for what you need. We are also constantly adding cutting-edge features, keeping you ahead of the curve with the latest phone system technology.

One of the advantages of a hosted VoIP solution is that it can easily link together your remote or home offices as though they were in the same building. By switching calls through the Internet instead of physical phone wiring, FreedomIQ users can seamlessly receive forwarded calls, transfer callers to another extension, conference in another user, and much more, even if your offices are separated by thousands of miles.

Hosted VoIP service from FreedomIQ is backed by extensive call switching server redundancy and over 13 years of providing reliable business telecommunications services. The top-of-the-line equipment hosting your hosted VoIP PBX is stored remotely in a secure co-location facility, ensuring your call data, settings, and continued business operation is protected from natural disasters and local power grid failures.

If you need help configuring your VoIP PBX or experience any issues while using the service, a FreedomIQ technical support representative can be reached Monday through Friday from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM PST by calling 1-888-955-3520 ext. 2 or by emailing support@freedomvoice.com. Our support staff operates in-house and works closely with the network engineers who design and maintain your service.

An auto attendant is a pre-recorded professional greeting that welcomes your callers and directs them to the appropriate PBX extension on your FreedomIQ phone system. With FreedomIQ service, your auto attendant greeting is fully customizable. You may make new recordings at any time over the phone, or upload a new greeting through your WebLink Internet Control Panel.

ACD stands for automatic call distribution, and refers to the ability of a PBX to forward incoming calls using pre-set rules. With FreedomIQ service, these rules include ringing a group of phones simultaneously, sequentially, round-robin, and more. Call queue is a feature which allows your callers to await the next available representative in the event that all are on a call. Queued callers will hear hold music instead of being directed to voicemail.

WebLink is FreedomIQ’s customizable interface that allows you to check messages, change settings, update account information, add new phones and users, pull in-depth call reports, and more. If using FreedomIQ as a call center solution, WebLink also includes an advanced employee scheduler tool that will let you tailor your call center staff schedule to most closely fit your call traffic patterns and minimize missed calls and average hold times.

Unified messaging is the funneling of all channels of messages into a single place to simplify communication. FreedomIQ contributes to the idea of unified messaging by creating an email alert item every time a voicemail or fax message is received by your phone system. We send this alert to the email address(es) associated with the appropriate extension, along with a file attachment containing the voicemail or fax contents as mp3 or PDF.

Outlook integration, in terms of VoIP PBX systems, is the ability to quickly call your common contacts directly from Microsoft Office Outlook. FreedomIQ service provides a free Outlook software add-in that allows you to right-click on a contact from within Outlook and choose a phone number you have pre-configured for that contact. Your Polycom VoIP phone will ring and once answered will immediately ring out to the phone number you chose.

A softphone is software that allows you to emulate many of the features available through your PBX phone from any location with an Internet connection. FreedomIQ is integrated with CounterPath to enable users to download the X-Lite 3.0 softphone for free. This program appears as a phone dialing console complete with graphical display and can be used with microphone and speakers to place and receive calls in place of your Polycom VoIP phone.

Business VoIP solutions in an office setting typically require a broadband Internet connection (T1, Cable, etc.) in order to ensure professional call quality. Internet connections such as dial-up or low end DSL connections can cause problems when experiencing high call traffic. As part of our free consultation, FreedomIQ can perform a simple speed test diagnostic to determine your VoIP capacity.

In the event that you temporarily lose your Internet connection, you will be unable to receive or place calls using your VoIP phones. If possible, we recommend contacting a FreedomIQ technical support representative at 1-888-955-3520 ext. 2 to have your forwarded calls re-routed until your Internet connection can be restored. This re-routing can also be done through your WebLink Internet Control Panel.

One of the main advantages of a VoIP solution for your business PBX is that your phone system is not tied to any physical location. Since all call switching happens over the Internet, your PBX system can be dispersed across several offices all over the nation. This linking of remote offices is completely transparent to your callers, to whom you appear as one large centralized office.

Our experienced team of certified networking specialists have a proven track record of delivering highly customized telecommunications solutions. If you have a specialized request for your VoIP PBX system, please sign up to receive a free consultation. As a part of your consultation, we will examine your custom request and look to provide you with an implementation timeline.

Yes. Whether you wish to transfer local area or toll free numbers, we can provide you with the simple forms necessary to have your existing carrier release these numbers to us so that we may apply them to your FreedomIQ VoIP service. This transfer can take up to 30 days to process and is subject to the terms and conditions you have with your existing carrier.

No. Since FreedomIQ is a scalable hosted VoIP PBX, you do not need to implement a company-wide phone system change all at once. In some cases, administrators of larger companies find it easier to transition a handful of individuals, departments, or offices at a time. For more information on the best deployment strategy for your business, please contact us for a free consultation.