Line 2 - Android / iOS second line Softphone

[Marlow Wilson]

So for the past four years I've carried two cellphones, one for business and one for personal use. In the last year, that's meant two iPhones which is a bit silly, but I only had a data plan on one phone. Fast forward to 2011, and I've signed up for a Line 2 service through Toktumi. For the full featured account it's $14.95/month or $79.95/6 months. A basic service for mobile app use only is less ($10/month I think). Mobile plans in Canada are outrageously pricey, so this represents a significant savings. The 30 day trial is free to get you started as well (if you do sign up, you can skip entering your CC info if you look for the 'I'll enter this later button')

The iPhone app is tri-mode, meaning you can place a call over 3G, wifi, or through your cell service. For me the last feature is not useful for outgoing calls as it routes to a US number which would result in LD charges, but incoming calls are fine. (I have enough data with my existing phone plan to let me make 3G calls for a long time and am in wifi zones for the most part anyways). It also lets you set up a virtual assistant with custom greetings and a menu (Ie '1' for sales, '2' for hours, etc). If I don't answer the softphone, it will hold the caller and try me on my cell phone (or whatever forward-to number you select). It asks for the callers name, so when I answer my cell I can here who it is before taking the call. If I don't answer, they are prompted to leave a message which is sent to my email as an MP3.

I used the service while I was in Panama last week and am very happy with it so far. It's also nice to have the toll free number as I operate in two different markets and LD is not generally free in Canada as it is in the US, so it's an imposition to ask someone to call an out of region number.

We don't have as many options in Canada as the US for free (or cheap) VOIP services (no Skype-In, no google voice numbers) so this is really a step forward for me that will save me about $600 this year and let me offer better customer service as well. It's also not ad supported like some of the cheap services, which is unacceptable for a professional solution IMO.

With fuel, storage and insurance prices rising, it's nice to cut costs AND improve service.

My new toll free number is in my signature, so feel free to call me anytime.

Cheers!

Marlow

(PS, there is a referral service - where I get one free month for referrals - but that wasn't the purpose of my post. If you're about to sign up for 20 lines, maybe let me know and help a brother out though!)

 

[Silas Pradetto]

Re: Line 2 - Android / iOS second line Softphone

Interesting. It sounds extremely similar to Google Voice, which is free. I have an 888 number that forwards to my cell, along with a GV number that forwards to it, plus my usual cell number. Some people get confused...

My 888 number is hosted by PowerNet Global, and it's like 6 cents a minute or something, flat rate. I usually pay $10 per month for it.

Overall, sounds useful to have. I wish one of these services offered a menu with 'extensions' that called different cell phones, so I could sound like a 'business' with different people working here, and yet the people could be anywhere.

edit: you clearly mention there's no GV in Canada.

 

[Marlow Wilson]

Re: Line 2 - Android / iOS second line Softphone

Interesting. It sounds extremely similar to Google Voice, which is free. I have an 888 number that forwards to my cell, along with a GV number that forwards to it, plus my usual cell number. Some people get confused...

My 888 number is hosted by PowerNet Global, and it's like 6 cents a minute or something, flat rate. I usually pay $10 per month for it.

Overall, sounds useful to have. I wish one of these services offered a menu with 'extensions' that called different cell phones, so I could sound like a 'business' with different people working here, and yet the people could be anywhere.

edit: you clearly mention there's no GV in Canada.

There are cheap alternatives to GV in Canada, but most are advertising supported to some degree (Ads while on hold for example). Google voice is also heavily ad based as a business model, most just don't know it yet ( See this: http://www.gomonews.com/google-applies-for-voice-advertising-patent-to-make-money-from-voice/ ).

At $13 per month, the cost is really a non-issue for me as well. I was going to look into a pay-per-use service like you describe but the app functionality really sealed the deal for me and configuring everything for a 3rd party app was a bit daunting for negligible savings.

The toktumi service does allow for extensions to be forwarded to other numbers (see pics)...

Edit (You can also add additional lines for $50/6 months)

 

[Jeffrey Knorr]

Re: Line 2 - Android / iOS second line Softphone

Interesting. It sounds extremely similar to Google Voice, which is free. I have an 888 number that forwards to my cell, along with a GV number that forwards to it, plus my usual cell number. Some people get confused...

My 888 number is hosted by PowerNet Global, and it's like 6 cents a minute or something, flat rate. I usually pay $10 per month for it.

Overall, sounds useful to have. I wish one of these services offered a menu with 'extensions' that called different cell phones, so I could sound like a 'business' with different people working here, and yet the people could be anywhere.

edit: you clearly mention there's no GV in Canada.

Silas - I'm not currently using it, but I believe my toll free service through Phone.com can offer extensions.

Jeff 1-855-COBRASND

 

[Lee Dickinson]

Re: Line 2 - Android / iOS second line Softphone

I wish one of these services offered a menu with 'extensions' that called different cell phones, so I could sound like a 'business' with different people working here, and yet the people could be anywhere.
.

We use and absolutely love Onebox. It's more expensive at $75/month with ten extensions.

I absolutely do not give out my cell phone number to customers anymore. They get my extension, which rings to my cell phone until about 8pm. After that, we have an emergency extension that rings everyone's cell phones in the company.

But it works great. The phones at the office ring for 5 rings, and if no one answers there, they get dumped in to the extension system which rings out to cell phones.

We can transfer calls to peoples cells ("Sorry, Lee's not in the office right now, but I will transfer you to him."), or dump calls in to voice mail if we don't want to take it at the time.

The demo videos on the Onebox website give a good overview.

 

[Marlow Wilson]

Re: Line 2 - Android / iOS second line Softphone

We use and absolutely love Onebox. It's more expensive at $75/month with ten extensions.

I absolutely do not give out my cell phone number to customers anymore. They get my extension, which rings to my cell phone until about 8pm. After that, we have an emergency extension that rings everyone's cell phones in the company.

But it works great. The phones at the office ring for 5 rings, and if no one answers there, they get dumped in to the extension system which rings out to cell phones.

We can transfer calls to peoples cells ("Sorry, Lee's not in the office right now, but I will transfer you to him."), or dump calls in to voice mail if we don't want to take it at the time.

The demo videos on the Onebox website give a good overview.

Thanks Lee,

These were just the type of comparisons I was hoping for. I'm pretty new at all this, but am very impressed so far. I should comment, that as a media based business, one weakness of Toktumi is that you can't upload your own hold messages/music. This means you are stuck with elevator music on hold. For me it's not an issue, but if you are trying to be on the cutting edge of cool, clients might question your music taste.

I'll post further negative and positive feedback as I familiarize myself with the software and I look forward to hearing about other solutions.

Cheers,

M

 

[Jason Lavoie]

Re: Line 2 - Android / iOS second line Softphone

Being in Canada as well and not having many of the new options the US has, we've been using Bell's Single Number Reach service.
I think it's $15/mo without voicemail. it's a virtual number that can be forwarded anywhere on a schedule if you like, and can rink multiple phones at once. the coolest part is that it will also receive faxes at the same number (even while you're on the phone)
faxes are available online as PDFs
for an extra $5-10 you can add call director (multiple extensions) although the base package comes with one 'dial 0 for assistance' which can be forwarded to one number other than the main forward line.
the extra package will also automatically forward your faxes to email but there's no way I'll pay that much just to have a PDF emailed to me.

but Bell is so behind the times that I wouldn't expect any app functionality to come along soon.

Jason