FAQ's?

What is Aptela?
Aptela is a web-based communications service that makes traditional phone systems and service obsolete. It provides a professional phone presence by answering your calls, providing callers with automated access to common information, and routing calls to employees regardless of their physical location. It lets you replace your traditional phone carrier with Business Voice over IP at a huge savings. It manages e-mail messages, fax and voice-mail, and provides relationship management capabilities typical of Fortune 500 call centers that any business can use.

Does Aptela replace my phone system?
Possibly. With Business VoIP, Aptela can replace your phone system. It can also work with your existing phones or phone system. You only need a basic phone, either regular or wireless to receive calls, and Aptela can provide you with inexpensive "SIP" handsets to replace what you currently have. With only basic handsets you get the kind of features you'd get with complex and expensive in-house PBX systems. Aptela also replaces many other services your business might use such as answering services, integrated voice response systems, "find-me" service, voice mail and unified messaging, e-fax services, e-mail managers, and customer relationship management software packages.

Do I need to change my local or long distance carrier?
No. However, you may want to, as Aptela can save offer significant savings via our Business VoIP service.

Can I use my existing telephone number?
Absolutely. It only takes a few days to "port" your number from your existing service provider, and Aptela can provide you an interim number to forward to so you're up and running right away.

How much time does it take to set up Aptela? It usually takes less than a half an hour; the time it takes depends on how comprehensive you want to make your call tree.

How much technical skill is required?
No technical skill is needed. Setting up and modifying Aptela can be done by just about anyone. It's a web-based service and configuring it and using it is only slightly more involved than buying a book online.

What software do I need to install?
None. Aptela is a completely web-based system. You log into it over the Internet to set it up and to access your company information and personal messages.

What do I need to use Aptela?
An internet connected computer running most any web browser. You also may want a microphone connected to your computer to record voice prompts or if you'd like to use a "soft-phone" to take calls on your computer. If you want to use Business VoIP, you also need a broadband connection along with a "telephony adapter" or "SIP" phones that Aptela or one of our partners will provide.

Can I have my greetings professionally recorded?
Absolutely. We provide this service for no added cost at service startup if you like. If not, you can record your own.

Once I set up Aptela, how can I change it?
You can change it by logging in as long as you have privileges to do so. The original system purchaser is designated as the system administrator and decides who can change access and change company information.

How reliable is Aptela?
As or more reliable than your regular phone service. Thousands of public companies have used Aptela's enhanced communications services since 1998 with virtually no down-time. Our systems are fault tolerant and redundant, and we have multiple network and carrier partners with bulletproof infrastructure and impressive reliability records.

Is Aptela appropriate for my business?
Aptela is useful to virtually any business. It's particularly valuable for smaller businesses that don't have the tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars to invest in information systems and telecommunications, or large dedicated technology staffs. Aptela provides businesses of any size the productivity, image, mobility and customer service benefits of advanced call routing, message management, and customer relationship management systems that up until now only very large businesses could afford.