My office is in the process of getting fed up with our current internet provider and have been looking at getting a fibre connection. One of the quotes we received included pricing for a VoIP system, too. The price was waaaaay more than we currently pay though so we disregarded it.   

For a bunch of reasons, we are now starting to wonder if VoIP isn’t such a bad idea.   

We currently have three copper phone lines into the office, and two phone numbers (phone and fax). If one line is used then the system switches to the next available line. We rarely have more than three calls at once in the office so that suits our current needs. There are 7 of us in the office at most, at the moment.  

If we upgrade, do we need to have the equivalent number of VoIP ‘lines’ into the office? We would still want to advertise our primary phone number as the only number, but be able to take more than one call to that number at any one time.   

Essentially we would still like to have a single phone number but be able to answer it from any phone in the office. Then transfer the call to any handset in the office (we don’t have a receptionist so everyone needs this ability). And all while taking second and third calls into the office on the same number.   

As an aside, can a VoIP system handle extensions? As in, we can give a builder a specific persons phone extension so it direct dials that specific phone? Or would this be considered a separate ‘line’ for each handset?  

I’m happy to be linked to articles which provide useful information if it’s easier. We had a bit of a look online the other day but it seems like there are so many different ways it can be set up the answers were pretty well hidden for us.