Our customers are amazed by how Tel-Com’s affordable answering service expands their ability to reach more clients while maintaining high standards. They appreciate the flexibility of communicating script changes and business updates directly to our operators, ensuring a smooth and personalized customer experience.

Businesses using Tel-Com’s answering service enjoy an expanded presence while reducing communication costs. Our operators handle changes to scripts and customer information with precision, so companies can travel or attend to other priorities with peace of mind. With seamless communication between operators and businesses, customer expectations are managed effectively, building trust and maintaining strong relationships.

This service empowers businesses to stay connected with their clients even when they're unavailable, providing a tailored solution that aligns with each company's needs. Our operators deliver a consistent customer experience that mirrors your business values, ensuring customer satisfaction and reinforcing your brand's reputation.

Effective communication is at the heart of every successful business. Whether you're a small startup or an established enterprise, staying connected internally and externally is essential. For this reason, businesses must explore telecommunication solutions that meet their unique needs and provide room for growth. One of the most effective ways to achieve this is through unified communications.

Unified communications refer to the integration of multiple communication tools and applications into a single platform. This enables seamless collaboration and enhances productivity across different departments, even if your team is geographically dispersed. Traditional telephony systems and standalone communication apps may no longer suffice as businesses adopt remote work and expand globally. Unified communications can transform your infrastructure by consolidating services such as VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol), instant messaging, video conferencing, file sharing, and more.

The Rise of VoIP Solutions

Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) is one of the most popular components of unified communications. Instead of relying on traditional phone lines, VoIP transmits voice data over the internet, making it a cost-effective and flexible solution for businesses. With VoIP, companies can integrate their existing phone systems with their IT infrastructure, allowing calls to be made and received via desktop computers, mobile devices, and specialized VoIP phones.

By adopting VoIP solutions, businesses can significantly reduce their telecommunication expenses. It also offers features like call forwarding, voicemail transcription, and virtual extensions that can help streamline communication processes. Moreover, scalability ensures that as your team grows, your communication infrastructure can effortlessly expand alongside it.

Managed Network Services: Ensuring Secure and Reliable Connections

A reliable network is the backbone of any unified communication system. Managed network services help ensure seamless and secure connectivity. These services involve outsourcing the management of your IT network to a third-party provider who specializes in maintaining optimal performance.

By utilizing managed network services, your business can benefit from proactive monitoring and support. This means potential issues are detected and resolved before they affect your communication systems. Network optimization ensures that your internet bandwidth is used efficiently, reducing latency and improving call quality. Additionally, managed network services often include security measures such as firewalls, encryption, and threat detection, protecting your data from cyberattacks.

Cloud-Based Phone Systems: Flexibility and Accessibility

Cloud-based phone systems have emerged as a key component of modern telecommunication strategies. Instead of relying on on-premises PBX (Private Branch Exchange) systems, businesses can utilize the flexibility and accessibility of the cloud. This allows employees to make and receive calls from anywhere with an internet connection.

Cloud-based phone systems are particularly valuable for companies with remote or distributed teams. The ability to access the same communication features as on-site employees ensures consistent and reliable collaboration. Additionally, cloud-based systems can be customized with various add-ons and features that suit specific business needs.

Unified Communications: Seamless Collaboration Across Platforms

One of the primary benefits of unified communications is the seamless collaboration it offers. By integrating communication tools like instant messaging, video conferencing, and file sharing into one cohesive platform, teams can communicate in real-time without switching between multiple applications. This leads to increased efficiency and minimizes the friction that often arises from using disparate systems.

For example, video conferencing enables face-to-face meetings, regardless of location, fostering a sense of community and teamwork. Instant messaging provides a quick and informal way to communicate, while file sharing ensures that essential documents are readily available. Integrating these features into one platform means employees can quickly switch from chatting to video calling to sharing documents within the same environment, keeping the flow of communication consistent.

Scalability: Growing with Your Business

Unified communications solutions are designed to grow alongside your business. Whether you're expanding into new markets or scaling up your team, these systems offer the flexibility to add new users or features with ease. This adaptability makes it possible to tailor your telecommunication strategy to your business's changing needs without requiring substantial infrastructure changes.

VoIP and cloud-based systems allow for virtual extensions and automatic routing, simplifying the onboarding process for new employees. New phone lines and features can be added with minimal disruption, ensuring smooth integration into your existing workflow.

Security and Compliance

In an age where data breaches and cyber threats are increasingly common, ensuring the security of your communication systems is paramount. Unified communications platforms often come equipped with robust security features, such as end-to-end encryption, secure access controls, and monitoring for suspicious activity.

Compliance with industry standards is also essential, especially in sectors like healthcare, finance, and legal services. By working with a telecommunication provider experienced in handling sensitive data, businesses can maintain compliance with regulations such as HIPAA, GDPR, and PCI-DSS. This reduces the risk of costly breaches or penalties and provides peace of mind that your communications are secure.

Support and Maintenance

Unified communications solutions often include ongoing support and maintenance. This ensures your systems remain up-to-date and any technical issues are resolved promptly. Managed network services further reduce the burden on internal IT teams by handling network optimization, monitoring, and troubleshooting.

Comprehensive support allows businesses to focus on their core operations rather than being bogged down by technical challenges. Furthermore, regular maintenance and updates help optimize performance, keeping your communication systems running smoothly.

Conclusion

Unified communications represent the next step in telecommunication, offering seamless collaboration, scalability, and comprehensive security. By integrating VoIP, cloud-based phone systems, and managed network services into a unified platform, businesses can transform their communication infrastructure to meet the demands of a modern, distributed workforce.
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Investing in a reliable and flexible telecommunication strategy allows businesses to stay connected, collaborate more efficiently, and grow without disruption. By partnering with an experienced provider who understands your unique requirements, you can unlock the full potential of unified communications and empower your team for lasting success.

Our customers love the peace of mind that Tel-Com's answering service brings. It's invaluable for them to know that their business phones are being handled professionally, allowing them to focus on family and unwind after a long day. With this seamless support, customers are gaining new clients and making remarkable strides in projects while enjoying over 2,000 hours of uninterrupted work and personal time.

Tel-Com's answering service provides the flexibility businesses need to thrive. By managing 200 incoming calls effectively, our customers have seen impressive growth, adding new clients, launching more websites, and achieving their goals without sacrificing quality family moments. Our team ensures no call is missed, empowering businesses to deliver top-tier customer service around the clock. If you’re ready to transform your communication strategy and reclaim your personal time, let Tel-Com’s answering service help your business grow effortlessly.
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Our trusted solution allows businesses to handle more projects, nurture new leads, and stay organized without compromising valuable time with loved ones. Customers have shared that this answering service has positively impacted their productivity and revenue, becoming an essential resource for growing businesses. With Tel-Com's unwavering support, clients can focus on strategic priorities and make confident strides toward success while we handle their incoming calls like trusted partners.

Effective and secure communication is vital in today's interconnected business landscape. Companies of all sizes depend on reliable telecommunication systems to facilitate seamless internal and external collaboration. However, the increasingly complex digital environment requires robust telecommunication security measures. Without adequate safeguards, sensitive data and business operations are at risk. This article explores the best practices to enhance telecommunication security and safeguard your business against cyber threats.

Understanding Telecommunication Security Risks

Before delving into specific practices, it's important to understand the main telecommunication security risks businesses face. Cybercriminals use increasingly sophisticated methods to exploit vulnerabilities in communication systems, often resulting in data breaches, financial loss, and reputational damage. Some common threats include:

1. Phishing Attacks: Fraudulent emails, texts, or phone calls designed to steal sensitive information.
2. VoIP Hacking: Unauthorized access to VoIP systems, leading to potential misuse and eavesdropping.
3. DDoS Attacks: Distributed Denial of Service attacks can overwhelm your network, disrupting communication channels.
4. Man-in-the-Middle Attacks: Intercepting data during transmission, compromising the confidentiality and integrity of communications.
5. Malware: Malicious software that can infiltrate and corrupt communication systems, leading to data loss.

Implementing End-to-End Encryption

One of the most effective ways to secure telecommunication systems is through end-to-end encryption. This practice ensures that data is encrypted from the moment it leaves the sender until it reaches the recipient, preventing unauthorized access during transmission. Encryption is particularly vital for VoIP and cloud-based communication platforms, where sensitive data such as voice recordings and messages are frequently shared.

By utilizing strong encryption protocols, businesses can ensure that their communication remains confidential, even if intercepted. Look for platforms that offer automatic encryption or allow users to manually enable it for specific channels.

Using Multi-Factor Authentication

Relying on passwords alone to secure telecommunication systems is not sufficient. Implementing multi-factor authentication (MFA) requires users to provide two or more forms of identification before accessing communication networks. This reduces the likelihood of unauthorized access by adding an extra layer of security.

Common MFA methods include one-time passcodes sent via SMS or email, biometrics (fingerprint or facial recognition), or physical security tokens. By requiring multiple verification steps, your communication systems remain protected even if passwords are compromised.

Network Segmentation and Monitoring

Network segmentation involves dividing your business network into smaller, isolated segments, each with limited access rights. This practice restricts the movement of potential threats within your communication systems, reducing the impact of a breach. For instance, VoIP networks can be separated from data storage networks, preventing unauthorized access to sensitive files.

Network monitoring plays a crucial role in identifying unusual activity and potential security breaches. Proactive monitoring can help detect phishing attempts, unauthorized VoIP connections, or unusual data traffic patterns. Advanced network monitoring tools can automatically alert your IT team to respond swiftly to threats.

Employee Training and Awareness

Even with strong security protocols in place, human error remains one of the most significant vulnerabilities in telecommunication security. Comprehensive employee training on recognizing and avoiding common threats, such as phishing emails or suspicious phone calls, is essential.

By regularly educating employees about emerging cyber threats, they become the first line of defense against attacks. Provide guidelines for creating strong passwords, avoiding suspicious links, and reporting unusual network activity.

Regular Security Audits and Assessments

Conducting regular security audits and assessments is critical to maintaining robust telecommunication security. Audits involve a systematic review of your communication systems, identifying vulnerabilities and ensuring compliance with industry standards. Security assessments can range from simple vulnerability scans to comprehensive penetration testing.

A security audit provides insights into potential gaps in your network that could be exploited by cybercriminals. Once vulnerabilities are identified, you can prioritize them based on the level of risk they pose and implement targeted measures to mitigate these risks. Consider partnering with a cybersecurity firm to perform penetration testing, where ethical hackers attempt to breach your network to uncover weaknesses.

Updating Software and Firmware Regularly  

Telecommunication platforms rely on software and firmware that must be kept up-to-date. Software updates often include security patches that address known vulnerabilities, while outdated versions remain susceptible to cyberattacks.

Create a consistent update schedule for your communication systems, and ensure your team stays informed about new patches or updates released by vendors. Automating this process can reduce human error and ensure that all systems are running the latest, most secure versions.

Implementing Secure Access Controls

Access controls play a crucial role in telecommunication security by limiting who can access your network and what level of access they have. Implementing the principle of least privilege ensures that users have the minimum level of access required to perform their roles. This prevents unauthorized employees or external actors from gaining access to sensitive communication systems.

Secure access controls may involve role-based permissions, where user roles are defined, and corresponding access rights are assigned. Additionally, organizations can use access control lists (ACLs) to specify which devices or applications are allowed to connect to the network. This minimizes the risk of unauthorized devices compromising your communication infrastructure.

Securing VoIP Systems 

VoIP systems are increasingly becoming targets for cybercriminals due to their popularity and the sensitive information often transmitted through them. To protect your VoIP system:

1. Secure Network Configuration: Segment your VoIP network from other networks and apply firewalls to restrict unauthorized traffic.
2. Encryption: Encrypt both signaling and media traffic to prevent eavesdropping.
3. Authentication: Require strong authentication for users accessing VoIP systems.
4. Monitor Call Logs: Review call logs regularly to detect unusual patterns that may indicate fraudulent activity.

Collaborating with Trusted Providers

When partnering with third-party telecommunication providers, it's essential to verify their security practices. Ensure that they follow industry standards and have a proven track record of protecting their clients' data. Clear communication and collaboration with your provider will help identify potential vulnerabilities in their systems that could affect your network.

Conclusion

Telecommunication security is a fundamental aspect of any business’s communication strategy. By understanding the risks and implementing best practices like end-to-end encryption, multi-factor authentication, and network segmentation, businesses can protect their telecommunication systems from cyber threats.

Regular security audits, employee training, and collaboration with trusted providers further strengthen your security posture. By taking proactive measures to secure your communication systems, you not only protect your business's data but also ensure seamless and efficient collaboration across teams, empowering your organization for lasting success.

Our customers inform us that they are thrilled with Tel-Com's answering service. In just three months, they've gained new clients, managed numerous projects, and enjoyed uninterrupted time for design, sleep, and family. When it comes to staying productive, Tel-Com is the trusted choice.

Tel-Com’s answering service has proven to be a game-changer for businesses looking to enhance productivity and client satisfaction. According to reviews, companies can now focus on critical tasks like design, project management, and developing new websites, all while our team ensures no incoming calls go unanswered. This seamless phone management service has empowered companies to gain more clients, deliver exceptional service, and increase revenue by capturing every opportunity, even during peak hours or after business hours.

Our customers have reported incredible results, including onboarding new clients, completing multiple projects, and gaining thousands of hours of uninterrupted time for creativity and family. Tel-Com’s dedicated answering service keeps businesses connected while providing the flexibility needed for growth. With a reliable and personalized touch, our service enables companies to thrive, ensuring customer interactions are handled professionally while business owners focus on what matters most. Reach out to us today and experience how our answering service can transform your business’s communication and productivity!

The switchboard was one of the first pieces of equipment used by original owner Gayle Roberts and much of our original staff.

We have evolved with technology to include (however are not limited to) live operator answer 24/7, automated customers assistance with operator option, text with reply confirmation and HIPAA compliant secure texting.

Do switchboard operators still exist?
Short answer: yes. The job just looks much different than it used to. Today’s telephone operators are specialty agents, working directly in customer service to manage large volumes of phone calls in facilities that may have their own internal phone systems. Instead of manually placing calls, today’s telephone operator is likely juggling multiple lines, performing triage on incoming calls in a call center or other multi-line phone operation. They’re also employed in emergency dispatch centers and other places where a human voice and expertise is needed to route calls quickly and efficiently to the right place.

Original owners, Donald and Sharon Cortez (along with Gayle Roberts, not pictured) started their first answering service on August 27, 1985 and are now part of the parent company Tel-Com (which they acquired on May, 17, 2000).

Don Cortez is from the Oakland Bay Area.  He earned his master’s degree from San Francisco State University in 1973 and went on to coach college football.  Don brought his family back to the Bay Area in 1985, became a licensed real estate agent and founded AA Professional Communications in Hayward California.  After growing the business with his partner from 4 clients to hundreds, Don began acquire answering services from the Bay Area to Reno, NV.

Don and Sharon continue to find new and innovative ways to serve business owners.

Waking Girl Web Design, a Reno company, came to us twice. The first time, this one-woman show turned us down, wanting a service that would dive a little deeper into the every day operations of her business. She hired an assistant at $2000 a month, and handed off the business phone and some of the responsibilities of the business. The new found freedom from the phone felt great, but after a few months, was not a justified expense. The phone was not answered reliably, as the assistant was just one human--who got sick, had family issues, and couldn't possibly answer 3 clients all calling at the same time. The business owner took the phone back and reviewed Answering Service options again. The low rates of Tel-Com made for an easy decision, especially after footing the bill for 20 times more than her qualified package.

Waking Girl Web Design experienced an immediate and dramatic boost in sales and uninterrupted work time. Don't believe us? Take a look at our client's review:

We asked Waking Girl Web Design to tell us a little bit more about how our Answering Service has helped her.

Q. What has surprised you the most about using an Answering Service?
A. I knew that phone calls made me anxious, but I didn't realize why. I don't like being caught off guard. I'm a people-pleaser and I like to have answers and information for people on-demand. Now that I can call people on my terms and my time, I'm able to call back with confidence. Usually there's enough information left in the message for me to find the answer or just solve the problem before returning the message. I'm also able to respond to people by email, which saves me a lot of time.

Q. How has it affected your personal life?
A. I didn't realize how often my family and friends were calling during the work day. Since I work from home, it's easy to blur the lines of business/pleasure time. Now I get really polite text messages from my family asking if I'm available to chat. And the super cool thing about taking a break and chatting with my mom mid-day--our conversation is never interrupted by the beep beep beep of an incoming call! That's a relief! I can truly take breaks now and focus on the person I'm talking to.

Q. How have your clients responded to the change?
A. I'll admit, a few VIP clients were confused and offended at first. They really wanted to feel like they could get a hold of me whenever they wanted. I showed them the benefits--by fixing the problem within minutes of their phone call, and then calling them back and directing them to their website to see the changes. That resolved their view on the Answering Service real fast! New clients absolutely love it, and know from the get-go that my time is valuable and that most of our work will be completed through email.

Waking Girl also commented on her move to a new timezone. Because we are a 24/7 answering service, our clients are free to switch timezones without end-users even noticing!

All Tel-Com clients are invited to share their success stories.

24 Hour Answering Service How would you like to boost your profits and get a little free time starting this week? Tel-Com has been answering phones since 1985. We have the knowledge and experience to be the voice of your company! We take great pride in representing your company over the phone, assisting your customers and helping your business grow.

So how does that boost my profits? 85% of new callers will hang up and move on to your competition if the phone is still ringing after 5 tones or worse, if it goes to voicemail. Caller confidence and trust begins the moment they hear a real person and that translates into doing business with you. Just the crucial business step of having a person answer your callers live, even if only to take a message and reach the intended person with a text message or email, will guarantee you the opportunity to gain a new customer.

I've got doubts. An answering service is not for everyone, and we will be the first to tell you that Tel-Com may not be the right fit for you. Our retention rate is 99% because we hand-pick businesses that we know will succeed in our program. Your success is our success. Neither of us benefit if we are a mismatch and we’ll be the first to help find what does work for your business. We support each client’s business success through our 30 years of experience in Best Practices and superior customer service.

 “I don’t know what I ever did without Tel-Com,” says Lori Ann Stone, sales manager at A1 RV Sales and Body Shop. A1 provides sales, service, and parts for recreational vehicles.

With a very busy staff, there was no way to meet the demands of answering every phone call or even listening to the answering machine.  “Many walk-in clients require our complete attention,” Stone says. “We did not want to ever miss a call.”

Like being open 24/7.
When people take their RVs out on the weekends, A1 needs to be available in case there is an accident. With Tel-Com, the body shop was not only open during business hours but available 24/7.  “With Tel-Com answering our phones, we are now able to get with anyone who is in need when they are in need,” says Stone.
 
How the answering service works.
When a customer calls, and A1 staff are unable to pick up by the fifth ring ( with clients, after hours or holidays) the call is automatically forwarded to the answering service. Tel-Com picks up, takes the message and immediately sends it to the designated A1 team member. “Whether we are meeting with customers, it’s after hours, or on weekends, Tel-Com captures all the business that we might otherwise have missed out on.” 

·        phones are forwarded 24/7
·        Rings 1 – 5 to A1 shop
·        6th ring forwards to Tel-Com
·        message taken and immediate dispatch
 
An answering service you can count on.
Stone says she would not do anything different in regard to using Tel-Com answering services. Not only does she appreciate what Tel-Com does for A1 business, she has a great relationship with their staff. “They are really terrific!”

Tel-Com appreciates the opportunity to work with time-critical businesses like A1 RV Sales and Body Shop. We are honored to be your support team! Please contact us for more information about taking advantage of Tel-Com's services.

Three years ago Mark, owner of Carpet Cops, returned a customer's call only to find that in just ten minutes the competition had already been contracted to handle the $20,000 water damage restoration project. Mark knew it was time for a change. The profit incentive of using an answering service was now painfully obvious.

In the carpet cleaning business it is important to answer the phone right away, but in the water damage business it is mandatory! Carpet Cops handles water damage restoration claims; when these customers call they're in the middle of an emergency and need an immediate solution. 

"Using an answering service has added significant sales to my business. In this industry people go through the phone book and just keep calling until they reach someone," comments Mark who was once confident in his ability to return calls right away. 

Every business is slightly unique in their reasons for using an answering service. Because carpet cleaning takes Mark and his staff on the road and to residential areas with poor reception, they don't always hear the phone ring or can't have a proper conversation with the customer over the static. 

How is your Answering Service set up?
Carpet Cops uses multiple phone numbers to advertise to all the different regions they service; all of these calls are directed to one line. The phone rings four times before the line is directed to Tel-Com, giving Mark the chance to field customer calls personally.

The phone rings four times before the line is directed to Tel-Com, giving Mark the chance to personally field calls from known customers and area codes he recognizes.

If a caller sounds distressed or mentions water damage Tel-Com immediately puts out an APB for Mark: they text him and call his home number until he is reached. This allows the Carpet Cops staff to connect and schedule with customers in crisis.

The addition of Tel-Com has helped Mark manage his time more efficiently. He can easily sort through non-critical messages (sales calls and blind phone solicitations) and return those calls as his schedule allows, while giving him more time to call his actual VIP customers (and his family!) who are calling for service. The other benefit Mark has realized is that most "robo-dial sales calls" never leave a message with Tel-Com! 

"I want to thank Tel-Com for helping me grow my business. I receive the critical calls that are so necessary to be responsive to my clients. I want to thank Corrie and the whole group for answering the phone and relaying an exact message which is so important for making my business grow." Mark, Carpet Cops

Tel-Com appreciates the opportunity to work with time-critical businesses like Carpet Cops. We are honored to be your support team! Please contact us for more information about taking advantage of Tel-Com's services.

​Dr. Sasse is a nationally recognized expert in Bariatric surgery, colorectal surgery, minimally invasive hernia and gallbladder surgery, and regenerative wound healing. Dr. Sasse performed the first laparoscopic colon resection procedure and the first laparoscopic gastric bypass procedure in northern Nevada more than 14 years ago. More recently, Dr. Sasse is credited with performing the first daVinci Single Site gallbladder procedure in late 2013. 

Anyone spending on advertising is continually wondering if what they are spending is truly driving business. Without some analytics, it’s a perpetual crap-shoot. When Sasse Surgical came to us they were looking for a way to confirm that their advertising dollars were being well spent. We set Sasse Surgical up on our Ad Response Intel System. This program gives a business a variety of local and toll free tracking numbers to put on billboards, digital marketing and print marketing. 

Mark Conte, CEO of Sasse Surgical shares his inside tips on how to use the Ad Response Intel System for advertising negotiations and benefiting the bottom line. "We'll give a tracking number to the radio station or advertising company. This way we know exactly where new business is coming from. We can then come back to the advertising agency to lower the cost on the next round of ads, or as justification for not renewing a contract. The other hidden benefit is that the analytics provided give us a monthly report of who called and more importantly what their phone number is and we use this to call every single person back to insure that they’ve received everything from us. It allows us to ensure that we are closing the loop and taking care of commitments.”

The Intel Reports offered by Tel-Com's ARI can shave hundreds or even thousands off a company's advertising costs.

Sasse Surgical has been using ARI for three years. They utilize two to four different phone numbers at any given time. The numbers are easy to reassign for new marketing mediums. Most important, ARI helps Sasse Surgical identify the optimal path for finding the patients who need them most!