SynapseDirect

Interesting ?

sipgate has launched a new “Team Edition” of its U.S. telephony service. The entirely web-based service replaces both phone systems and phone lines, allowing small and mid-size companies to move their corporate phone service to the cloud. sipgate team starts at $2 per user per month, and a 30-day free trial is available.

sipgate “Team” provides each employee with online access to their inbox containing phone logs, faxes, recordings and voice mail messages. Collaboration features like forwards, labels and comments allow co-workers to be more productive. It also allows employees to return calls at the click of a button, or sign and send faxes through a WYSIWYG interface on the company letterhead. Most functions such as call forwarding, call recording, and 3-way calling can be activated with a single click on the interface, making features previously hidden in phone systems accessible for employees and, consequently, businesses more productive, according to the company.

Each employee stays in control over where to answer calls and even have their VoIP, landline and mobile phones ring in parallel; the call is routed through to whichever handset is picked up first. While on a call, it is simple to bridge-in other callers, transfer the call or even record it. Those employees given administrative privileges can add new users, office locations and blocks of phone numbers at the click of a button, with new additions available to use from the moment ordered. The system has been designed to be simple for administrators to set up and maintain, cutting down the time, effort and cost of traditional telephony systems. 

source

Google Voice ?

http://www.pocket-lint.com/reviews/review.phtml/4183/google-voice-voip-software-review.phtml

Set to make Big Strides ?

Could be ... but I can't test it as it is for US residents only

ooma (www.ooma.com) is anther VoIP service in the US.  I just set up a business account with it (not for myself).  ooma sells their fancy VoIP router/"answering machine" with a second "scout" router at electronic retail stores (Best Buy, Radio Shack, etc.) for about $250, then one phone line is free for life.  "Premium" service with second lines, etc, is $13/ month, unlimited calls to anywhere in the US.  You get local area code phone numbers (if you want), but faxing is iffy.  Very easy to set up.

They are using Google Voice.  Google Voice is free, but only functional for users of the "Grand Central" service so far.  Since ooma was all engineered up to use Grand Central, apparently they were in business when Google Voice went public.

Sounds like the cheap option is a free phone line (VOIP) with a sip phone ( or POTS phone with adaptor ). 

Faxing out is free, but otherwise $2.50 a month for a fax line ... which is presumably is via a web application. 

I bet for this price they don't offer an API for faxing but maybe it can be "hacked".

jparkdo:

ooma (www.ooma.com) is anther VoIP service in the US.  I just set up a business account with it (not for myself).  ooma sells their fancy VoIP router/"answering machine" with a second "scout" router at electronic retail stores (Best Buy, Radio Shack, etc.) for about $250, then one phone line is free for life.  "Premium" service with second lines, etc, is $13/ month, unlimited calls to anywhere in the US.  You get local area code phone numbers (if you want), but faxing is iffy.  Very easy to set up.

They are using Google Voice.  Google Voice is free, but only functional for users of the "Grand Central" service so far.  Since ooma was all engineered up to use Grand Central, apparently they were in business when Google Voice went public.

Great Tip.

I can't wait til "Grand Central" Google Voice is opened to all.

Do you think it is going to be popular ?

The future OOMA phone

http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/07/oomas-telo-steps-up-to-dect-6-0-still-free-calls-in-the-us/