Businesses Finding Hosted VoIP Provides Flexibility as They Grow Their Way Out of Recession

Updated: January 06, 2011

NEW YORK, Sept. 22 /PRNewswire/ -- Slowly, the storm clouds are parting. After one of the most intense recessions in U.S. history, companies are beginning to once more take small steps to expand their operations and grow their businesses. And oftentimes, one of their first priorities is to elevate the role of their phone system.

M5 Networks, a New York City-based provider of hosted VoIP phone systems, is seeing the change firsthand. The company has experienced an upsurge in requests from customers opening new offices, expanding their customer service operations or adding employees. Sales over the last ninety days, in fact, were 31.8% higher than the previous ninety, underscoring the shift in focus.

"We're finding that customers across the spectrum, from media and construction to retail and high-tech, are adding phones or enhancing their services with us," said Heather Bennett, marketing director for M5 Networks. "We believe we're experiencing the increase in business before many other communications companies because of our unique approach that makes service additions both fast and inexpensive."

As a leading provider of Internet-based phone service, M5 Networks can accommodate requests for incremental expansion in days or less, versus the multiple weeks mandated by traditional phone companies. M5 Networks' hosted, IP-based architecture means that whether a new phone is required in the next cubicle or across the country, the process is the same.

Accommodating remote and SOHO (Small Office/Home Office) workers is just as easy; all workers do is plug their phone into an Internet router and it is automatically configured as part of the system. In fact with hosted VoIP, a receptionist in the company's headquarters can use his or her browser screen to manage incoming calls to all employees, regardless of their whereabouts, just as if they were in the same physical location.

Bennett noted that several M5 customers have recently executed mergers. "When companies combine operations, it's often difficult to quickly establish a consistent phone presence across multiple locations. Our hosted 'voice-as-a-service' platform enables customers to create a seamless phone Infrastructure--supported by the same auto-attendant and feature set--in a matter of days, regardless of how many locations are involved."

M5 Networks has seen an evolution over the past several years in the way business users perceive VoIP. Where price was once the driver for companies seeking Internet-based phone service, today those same companies are seeking a greater range of functionality and expert advice. Bennett says this is a natural progression for the industry, and one from which M5 Networks has benefited.

"Call quality has improved immensely with VoIP. Because the technology is more mature, customers' priorities have shifted. Now they look for expertise and value-added services," she stated. "Our proactive customer support is one example--another is our ability to provide critical data and applications. Our clients can even integrate call data with their CRM system to analyze sales conversions and see which employees are using their phone most effectively. That kind of knowledge wasn't available even a few years ago."

About M5 Networks

M5 Networks provides Voice-over-IP managed phone systems delivered as a disaster-proof service. M5's delivery model facilitates the rapid deployment of advanced phone system functionality and features that drive a consistent voice experience as businesses elevate service levels and employees become increasingly dispersed. M5's pay-per-profile pricing model offers companies a low cost-of-entry to feature sets that traditionally have required large capital expenditure and dedicated IT resources. By leveraging M5's network infrastructure, customers have a voice platform that frees all voice-related data and commands to mash with other applications. The result is a competitive edge for driving business intelligence, improving customer service, and enhancing enterprise application effectiveness. M5 has numerous industry awards and recognitions and is headquartered in New York City. To learn more about M5, visit www.m5net.com.

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