Frequently Asked Questions
Questions about Zeracom:
How long has Zeracom been in business?
What standards does Zeracom adhere to?
Questions about Zeracom's services:
We have a project, will Zeracom handle a portion of it or can they handle the whole project?
Were interested in having structured cabling installed, can you provide testing with documentation of the test results?
We are a telecom company, do you partner with companies in other locations?
Our company needs a partner that can manage our IT services, can Zeracom do that?
We have a PBX phone system and need someone to be available for urgent repair issues, will Zeracom do that?
Our company at times needs immediate quick response times for service on their phone system, can Zeracom accommodate immediate needs?
Were looking for a new phone system, would Zeracom consider taking trade on our existing phone system?
What considerations can you suggest when considering a new phone system?
General questions about PBXs and IP telephony:
What is IP telephony?
What is an IP-PBX?
Will an Asterisk based Zerabox deliver more features than a traditional PBX?
What are the advantages of an IP-PBX?
We have heard about a hosted PBX, what is that?
What manufacturers of PBXs does Zeracom sell?
What changes have recently been made to Zeracom's line of telephone systems?
Were interested in a new PBX, but want to lease it, can Zeracom provide leasing options?
How long does it take to install a new PBX?
Can Zeracom handle the sale and installation of a new PBX system for companies in other states?
I would like to get information; what is the best way to contact Zeracom?
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Questions about Zeracom:
How long has Zeracom been in business?
Zeracom is currently in its 16th year of business, having formally operated under the name of InterTelCom and has been involved in the greater Greenville, SC community for our duration.
What standards does Zeracom adhere to?
Zeracom is a proud member or the Greenville Better Business Bureau and holds high the professional and ethical standards of the organization.
Questions about Zeracom's services:
We have a project, will Zeracom handle a portion of it or can they handle the whole project?
Zeracom is a complete one point telephony/networking company and can manage projects all the way from design through to completion. We can handle portions of a larger project or a complete project in its entirety.
We're interested in having structured cabling installed, can you provide testing with documentation of the test results?
Yes, Zeracom can install structured cabling to a customer's specifications and provide test results, if required, showing the results.
We are a telecom company, do you partner with companies in other locations?
Yes, Zeracom will handle jobs for remote companies and adhere to standards and scheduling that will result in the expectations that our partners expect.
Our company needs a partner that can manage our IT services, can Zeracom do that?
Yes, Zeracom is a full service IT/telephony company and can partner with your company to supply your IT needs. By outsourcing these needs, not only will your company get professionals that will handle the required duties, but can save overhead by eliminating the need for an IT department.
We have a PBX phone system and need someone to be available for urgent repair issues, will Zeracom do that?
Our professional staff has experience on many PBX systems and we can schedule service for you depending on availability. We will use best efforts to try to be as responsive as possible to your needs. Ask us about our GSSM™ and realize the benefits that come with establishing a company relationship.
Our company at times needs immediate quick response times for service on their phone system, can Zeracom accommodate immediate needs?
First, outages are priority, with that having been stated, certain companies with which we have contractual service agreements will move ahead in priority for service calls. If your company needs more immediate responses from service related issues, we suggest that you consider a service agreement that will spell out levels of service and response times.
Were looking for a new phone system, would Zeracom consider taking trade on our existing phone system?
Not only will you get a great price on a new system, but Zeracom will look at your current system and provide you with a trade in allowance for your existing system.
What considerations can you suggest when considering a new phone system?
First, size and features are an important consideration. Some companies only need 4 or 5 phones, others need 70 phones with advanced ACD features, so the variations in needs can be great. For the small phone system you might want to see our NEC DSX telephone system an inexpensive, yet feature packed system, that installs easily and will have you up and running in no time. For 10 to 100 phones our Zerabox IP-100 may be the the answer with so many features that you truly will be impressed and at a price that will stay well inside your budget. It's an affordable, smart no-license-fees Asterisk based IP-PBX that compares well with ShoreTel and Cisco's Call Manager, high end Avaya systems and has features that will truly impress you, yet much lower in the initial price and lower costs over time. Call us and we can make suggestions made after a quick review of your needs and budget.
General questions about PBXs and IP telephony:
What is IP telephony?
IP telephony is the transmission of voice over the Internet (VoIP). This transmission can include either the LAN or the WAN.
What is an IP-PBX?
An IP-PBX is a complete telephony system that manages telephones throughout an organization. It acts as a gateway to both voice and data and allows calls to be made over a network instead of a normal telephone infrastructure. This results in increased features with convergence with other network applications and saves money over more traditional based phone systems.
Will an Asterisk based Zerabox deliver more features than a traditional PBX?
Yes, and at a cost that would be far less than anything with comparable features. If you are looking at getting the "most system" for your dollar, than we suggest our Zerabox IP100, which should meet or exceed the expectations of 90% of potential buyers. Understanding that "one size does not fit all", in most cases the Zerabox will deliver more than most other IP-PBXs and put you in the control of your phone system.
What are the advantages of an IP-PBX?
Using VoIP allows for expansion of a business office phone system to include other branch offices or even a remote workers with extension dialing. Calling using the Internet greatly reduces telephone costs, and allows for easy expansion or adding new extensions, a remote worker can just plug into their Internet connection from any location. IP-PBXs enable calls to be made using IP networks from one location to another even if the remote location were located in another country, resulting in significant savings.
We have heard about a hosted PBX, what is that?
A hosted PBX usually refers to a service where the actual PBX hardware/software resides off premise. Customers of a hosted PBX service do not buy, install, nor maintain the PBX hardware, rather they use the equipment from a service provider, who then shares access to the system for a fee. This reduces upfront hardware costs since the traditional PBX is not purchased. Signaling over the Internet allows for the features that one expects from a PBX, such a attendants, extension dialing, and other call treatments to take place.
What manufacturers of PBXs does Zeracom sell?
Zeracom has a line of PBXs that cover a wide range of customer needs. We believe in selling quality systems, each fully backed by a strong manufacturer. Our line of PBXs starts with an affordable office phone system with expansion capabilities, the NEC DSX and NEC SL1100. We also sell an VoIP capable IP-PBX business phone system, our own Zerabox, an Asterisk based open source IP-PBX that comes preconfigured.
What changes have recently been made to Zeracom's line of telephone systems?
Zeracom no longer sells the Comdial/Vertical DX-120 system or Shoretel systems. The DX-120 recently became end of life and Vertical no longer manufactures these systems. Although parts will be available for sometime and Zeracom still services these business phone systems and does Comdial repairs, we no longer sell these new systems. Zeracom also has realized that for larger companies needing a State-of-the-Art IP phone system the Zerbox has been the primary choice by the customer after reviewing features and pricing. Zeracom no longer sells Shoretel, but does offer support for Shoretel in the upstate of South Carolina.
Were interested in a new PBX, but want to lease it, can Zeracom provide leasing options?
Yes, we have several leasing options that should match your budget.
How long does it take to install a new PBX?
Actually, in many cases, an installation and configuration of a PBX can be completed in less than a day, for the SMB, which prevents long down time for your business.
Can Zeracom handle the sale and installation of a new PBX system for companies in other states?
Zeracom regularly works with installers in other locations to complete installations where the distances are too far for our in-house technicians. We only partner with companies who have highly qualified installers and oversee all aspects of the project.
I would like to get information, what is the best way to contact Zeracom?
You can either use our form on our contact page here or call us at 864.676.2170. Or if you prefer email us.
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