TalkSwitch offers phone routing hardware and phones to small businesses. Talkswitch ‘boxes’ allow you to send multiple phone lines to multiple extensions, depending on the number of users you need.
Talkswitch equipment
TalkSwitch 240vs unit connects 2 standard phone lines, to 16 extensions, with a 24-extension upgrade option (Talkswitch PowerPack), for $695 (all prices are Canadian). If you want to use up to 8 VoIP lines, you need unit 280vs and you’ll pay $995.
TalkSwitch 480vs unit connects with 4 lines and 24 extensions. The price for 480vs, again, varies based on the number of VoIP lines. No VoIP lines? You pay $1295 for the equipment. Up to 8 VoIP lines with the 488vs unit? You pay $1595.
TalkSwitch’s 840vs unit comes with 8 lines and 32 extensions. Without VoIP, you pay $1495; for 8 VoIP lines with the 848vs unit, $1795.
TalkSwitch’s maximum upgraded capacity is 32 lines, 64 extensions and 32 VoIP lines per ‘box’. These upgrades, of course, are at an additional cost to you, depending on what you’d like to do. The main upgrade package is...
TalkSwitch Power Pack
TalkSwitch’s PowerPack is an additional $300. You get:
- 8 IP extensions
- 6 remote extensions
- 11 auto attendants
- 10 voicemail broadcast groups
IP extensions allow you to use VoIP or the standard phone company with the TalkSwitch box, whichever you choose. The remote extensions allow you to have your system linked to mobile phones so that your business goes with you. It essentially forwards calls to a remote phone.
TalkSwitch also offers other upgrade package options at an additional cost. These are great options if you need more memory or more lines.
Memory upgrades start at $100; adding 8 VoIP trunks to a TalkSwitch unit costs $400; and adding 2 traditional phone lines and 4 local extensions to a TalkSwitch costs $900.
Talkswitch positives
- Use TalkSwitch with any phone
- Easy installation
- Standard phone or VoIP- the choice is yours
- Warranty and a money back guarantee
- Call cascade
TalkSwitch works with any phone you have be: IP phone, cordless, or rotary (just kidding!). TalkSwitch also offers a variety of phones that work specially with their equipment.
Installation is easy and can often be done without a technician. If you do need help, though, TalkSwitch will help you find an authorized reseller to install the equipment for you.
TalkSwitch runs off a standard telephone line or with VoIP. You get to choose what kind of plan you’d like to use. FYI: TalkSwitch is only an equipment provider; TalkSwitch does not provide calling services.
TalkSwitch also offers a 1-year limited warranty, an extended warranty for 1,2 or 4 years, and a 30-day money back guarantee if you purchased the equipment directly from them rather than an authorized reseller. The guarantee is effective from the day of purchase and you must pay the return shipping cost.
Call cascade is another feature offered by TalkSwitch. Call cascade routes calls through a series of options if the targeted extension isn't available. This ensures that your calls will be answered by someone.
Talkswitch negatives
You can only use a certain number of lines with TalkSwitch. If your call volume exceeds the number of available lines, callers will receive a busy signal. You can retain up to two standard telephone lines for voicemail; instead of hearing a busy signal, they will be directed to voicemail.
Conversely, if all your phone lines are in use, that’s it. No one else will be able to call out. So make sure you have enough phone lines/SIP trunks to accommodate your office.
Call waiting does not work well with TalkSwitch because the auto attendant can’t respond to waiting callers.
Because TalkSwitch is only an equipment solution, you still have to pay for phone service (and phones!) in addition to the equipment purchase. Business VoIP providers offer all the features of TalkSwitch and more, without the expensive equipment. It’s a better and cheaper alternative to purchasing TalkSwitch’s expensive equipment.
