Is this a good idea for a fairly small hosting business just starting out.
If it is where can I get one?

Thanks

Search First. There are alot of threads about this here.

try angel.com they are the best around imo

http://www.kall8.com/ :)

Yeah I'm looking into kall8. Are they any good? Have people had good experiences with them? Would they be the best company to use as I am based in Canada?

With their service, do you have to have a local number to route your toll free number to?

I wouldn't need to have a local number right now. The voice mail system would work fine for me. But I may use the local number routing at some time

Originally posted by macdonaldp
Is this a good idea for a fairly small hosting business just starting out.
If it is where can I get one?

Thanks

Depends on your target audience and if you want to join the competition.

So they actually offer you a service like an answer machine to take customer's messages. They can also route your foll free number to your local number. Is that right?

For recording time, how many minutes? How many messages allowed for the basic plan? I assume you can check message remotely.

Do you offer to record announment message with a professional voice?

What is their security measure to safeguard our toll free numbers? What do they verify to cancel a toll free number? I am concerned that my competitor may pretend to be me to cancel my toll free number and hijack my toll free number.

I'll tell you right now, if you get a toll-free number do not do not direct it to a voicemail or your cell phone. It's very indecent and there is no point to having a toll-free number do such actions.

Have an auto-attendant at least, and then have a local number(s) to route the calls to.

I agree with kyle, Unless you have someone answering the line at all times or at a certain time. Do not get a toll free line.

It is challanging to have a dedicated person to take the phone calls all day since most of us have a day job. But I think having a toll free number may still have some merits to make your company looks a little better/bigger. You may have a real person to take phone calls when you can afford to. Like domain names, a good Vanity Number goes fast and difficult to get one if you wait...

Originally posted by ques526
The challange is that it is hard to have a dedicated person to take the phone calls all day. Having a toll free number may still have some merits to make your company looks a little better/bigger...

Well, I'm going to step in and brag about my phone system set up to ring the main number three times and if no operator is able to assist, the caller is sent to voice mail. It is also good to establish business hours for phone operation.

Setting up automated functions could help reduce the need for a live operator.

I agree. However, even with an auto-attendent, you still need someone to take the call, or it is simply like an answer machine.