Image via WikipediaWhat has evolved in the last several years is the concept of "cloud-based" services and cheap Internet connections. A cloud-based service basically means that the service is provided to the business just like a "utility." This is similar to how electricity is provided to your home or your office. You do not have to worry about where it is coming from or maintaining it because the service provider maintains the whole infrastructure for you and then charges you a per month fee.The advent of cheap Internet connections allows businesses to now get their business telephone service inexpensively because the telephone calls run over the same lines as the Internet access. This is often called voice over Internet protocol or VOIP for short. The wonderful thing about these new services is that there really is no hardware to install. And, maintenance costs essentially drop down to practically nothing because the service provider is maintaining all of the hardware at their location. All of this is provided to the business for one low monthly fee, including an 800 number and fax number, if you wish.
