What is a multi-channel number?

Any company in the course of its expansion increases the number of customers and faces the need to organize communication. Continuing, the number of incoming and outgoing calls is growing. This increases the risk of losing a potential buyer for the reason that instead of an answer he will hear short beeps indicating that the number is busy. Just for such situations are multi-channel phone numbers. They allow you to simultaneously answer a large number of calls.

Benefits

Surely every person at least once in his life called customer service and has an idea of how this service works. First, dial the company number, after which the voice menu is launched. When you select the desired command, the operator is connected to the conversation. Here such a system is created with the help of multi-channel communication with the participation of an automatic telephone exchange. The principle of operation is very simple: all calls to one number are redirected to the devices of operators that are free at the current time. If all the lines are busy, then the subscriber is put in the queue, and the first free operator answers it.

Companies very quickly realize that there was a need for such a solution. After all, first the telephone line supports only one channel for communication. And if there are more customers, and they call at the same time? Often faced with a busy number, the buyer can return irretrievably to the company whose telephone communication is organized more qualitatively. To prevent this, you just need to create more channels for receiving calls.

Analog connection

Multichannel phone number can be connected with both a conventional PBX and a virtual one. The first case entails a significant expenditure on equipment, configuration and its further maintenance. A big problem can be the limit number of lines, since PBXs have their own set limit of devices. Connecting an additional phone within the capabilities of the station is worth a lot. Another drawback of analog communication is the limited territory.

Virtual connection

The virtual station makes it much easier. And still allows you to save money, because all equipment is on the side of the provider. The client firm gets all its opportunities and uses it for its own needs. You do not need to have any special knowledge. You just need to choose the phones that will be allocated calls. Operators can be in the same room or in different places on the planet, and calls will be received from the same number. The number of calls processed at the same time can reach several hundred. The costs here are quite small: the payment for the multi-channel number itself and the monthly subscription fee.

Which number to choose?

There are three types of multi-channel phone numbers that are convenient and popular: direct city and federal with codes 8-800 and 8-804. Each of them has its own peculiarities:

• Direct city number connect those companies that want to gain the trust of customers. Even when the company has just appeared, and it does not yet have an office, and there are only a couple of people in the staff, such a number will help create the image of a good company. The main advantage is the economy, since the connection of a phone with such a code is cheaper than with a federal one, and incoming calls for the company are completely free. In the same is a drawback: customers from another region, as well as those who call from mobile, can shy away from firms with city numbers due to unwillingness to pay for the call.
• Number with code 8-800 is the most popular option for all interregional firms and call-centers, as well as for organizing hotlines. Just a couple of years ago this number was considered something new for customers. But today they are already perceived as well as the city numbers. This is proven by practice. The main advantage is convenience for the client, as he does not need to pay for calls to similar numbers. And it does not depend on what region these calls are made from. The disadvantage is the higher price for connection and maintenance. But if you use a virtual station, the costs are significantly reduced.
• The multi-channel number with the code 8-804 is mostly similar to the previous version. There is only one difference: when an incoming call, the number of the subscriber is highlighted. This is a plus for a large number of organizations. But some still want to remain anonymous. Connect this number is cheaper than 8-800.

Connecting a multichannel virtual number

In order to organize a multichannel communication line, it is necessary:

• Choose the provider. This is necessary, since it will depend on the quality of communication and comfort when using a virtual station.
• Decide on the equipment. As it was said, complex technical means are not needed here. A computer or a mobile device with an Internet connection with an average speed (512 kilobits per second), an ordinary phone or a SIP device, and a VoIP adapter will do.
• Choose a tariff and a single multi-channel number. This is done with an eye on the scale of the company and its needs. A provider can often provide a range of options for both small businesses and large ones.
• Register with your service provider.
• Make adjustments to the equipment, as well as the cloud telephone exchange. There will also be no need for specific skills. An application is installed on the computer, and an internal number or several numbers are created on the provider's website. Then, the rules for redirection and other necessary parameters are configured.

Results

After all this, a virtual multi-channel phone number is available. Customers now will not go anywhere because of the busy telephone line.

In the event that the company already has a number that you do not want to refuse, and you want to connect the virtual PBX due to its advantages, you just need to connect your line to the VoIP adapter and then sign the contract with the provider company. After that, the already familiar number will turn into a multi-channel number. In Russia, all major mobile operators provide such a service. Therefore, you can easily access them and connect a multi-channel number. "Megafon", "MTS", "Beeline" allow you to serve a lot of customers on one phone number.