Agent: General reference to answering service employees.
ANI (Automatic Number Identification): A service that identifies the telephone number of the calling party, while the phone is ringing.
ASP (Application Service Provider): Company that provides software available via the Internet, responsible for maintenance, upgrades and backups.
Call Center: A location to which calls can be directed, answered and processed.
Call Forwarding: A service that permits the redirection of phone calls automatically from one number to another number.
Client: The customer of a telephone answering service.
CSR (Customer Service Representative): The employee of an answering service providing phone support to customers.
Digital Switch: The actual device responsible for directing or routing calls.
Flat Rate Service: An unlimited number of local and/or long distance calls included in the monthly service fee.
Headset: Device allowing one to talk on the phone while keeping both hands available for typing.
Inbound Calls: Reference to calls where customers or prospects call a company for assistance.
Measured Rate Service: A service where each local call is counted and billed to the calling party.
Operator: A general reference to someone employed by an answering service company to handle phone calls and messages.
Queue: A number of calls on hold, or ringing, and waiting to be answered.
Voice Mail: A device that informs the callers, records messages, and allows the messages to be retrieved.
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