Comment Re: VPN phone (Score 1) 250
This is how your employer should be configuring you. Since the employer no doubt has a static IP address and VPN capabilities all you really need on your end is the IP phone.
There are many inexpensive products that will plug into traditional PBX's and add this functionality or if you are fortunate enough to work for a company that just recently aquired a newer IP enabled PBX this is a no brianer. Talk to the telecom or IT manager at your company. One of the major advantages is that the company will be able to make this available to many workers, remotes, telecommuters and traveling sales or marketing groups via hard or soft phones. If your company doesn't have an internal IT/Telecom person then you could request a proposal from the vendor of your companies phone system or engage a consultant.
This is a much better solution as it maintains corporate identity (ie. all calls appear to be coming from the company and they are)It also maintains consistency for call accounting software that may be running, creates a virtual office for you within the organizations internal calling numbers and allows YOU to avoid monthly fees that would most likely get expenced back to the company anyway, creating a headache for the accounting dept. Plus the company ends up paying for long distance, you have access to your company voice mail and you can also be portable with the use of a laptop and softphone.
Downside is that you would need to possibly pitch some capital expenditure, maybe something you are not willing to do given the companies already gracious offer to allow you to telecommute (or your wife at least).
There are many inexpensive products that will plug into traditional PBX's and add this functionality or if you are fortunate enough to work for a company that just recently aquired a newer IP enabled PBX this is a no brianer. Talk to the telecom or IT manager at your company. One of the major advantages is that the company will be able to make this available to many workers, remotes, telecommuters and traveling sales or marketing groups via hard or soft phones. If your company doesn't have an internal IT/Telecom person then you could request a proposal from the vendor of your companies phone system or engage a consultant.
This is a much better solution as it maintains corporate identity (ie. all calls appear to be coming from the company and they are)It also maintains consistency for call accounting software that may be running, creates a virtual office for you within the organizations internal calling numbers and allows YOU to avoid monthly fees that would most likely get expenced back to the company anyway, creating a headache for the accounting dept. Plus the company ends up paying for long distance, you have access to your company voice mail and you can also be portable with the use of a laptop and softphone.
Downside is that you would need to possibly pitch some capital expenditure, maybe something you are not willing to do given the companies already gracious offer to allow you to telecommute (or your wife at least).
