Telecom Handbook, The: Understanding Telephone Systems And Services

Telephony encompasses all the varied and complex aspects of managing an organization's telecommunications resources, such as PBX (traditional phone), automatic call distributors, voice mail, automated attendant, interactive voice response, fax retrieval, call accounting and cost allocation, facilities management, cabling, local access, and long distance services. Telephony functions make possible applications that streamline many common business practices. Customer service is improved. Sales people are more productive. Employees are more efficient. A thorough understanding of telephone systems and services is essential for any business that wants to get the most effective communications capabilities for the least investment. The Telephony Book is being successfully used by over 20,000 people who need a quick, basic understanding of the telephone systems and services used by today's organizations. This book covers the basics of purchasing and managing telephone equipment and services, presented in easy-to-understand terms. The author focuses on the functional and practical side of telephony - how businesses can best use telephone systems to help their companies operate successfully. The book helps new telecom managers understand the basics of telecommunications. Among the questions this book answers: How do we order equipment and services? How do we know we are paying a fair price? How do we ensure good service to our customers? Are our monthly bills correct? How can we keep our systems flexible to changing business requirements?