1300 numbers

[W00DY]

Hi All,

Has anyone setup a 1300 number lately?

I need to research and find the most suitable option for my wife's business so I thought I would start in the DSLR knowledge base

1. I need a new phone line connection to a residential address
2. I need a 1300 number connected to that line
3. I need whatever facilities required so the customers do not hear an engaged tone (maybe a messge bank servie?)
4. I need to be able to divert the 1300 number to different mobile phones when required (obviously one at a time).

I know there are a few people on here that run their own business so thought there might be some info that could be passed on, it is more confusing then mobile phone plans!!!

Cheers,
Andrew

[gstark]

Andrew,

You might like to look at MyNetFone.

If you have a reasonable broadband connection, this could be the go for you.

[W00DY]

Andrew,

You might like to look at MyNetFone.

If you have a reasonable broadband connection, this could be the go for you.

Thanks Gary, unfortunately the residential address they are working out of does not even have ADSL, only wireless will work there (of course EVERY other block in the suburb works with ADSL just fine... just not their's

so they need a physical landline connection.

[Geoff]

Andrew,
I have not needed/used a 1300 before for any business purpose, but I just googled '1300 numbers + setup' ...it's your friend..

http://www.1300numbersaustralia.com.au/

[W00DY]

Andrew,

but I just googled '1300 numbers + setup' ...it's your friend..

Your kidding right...

You forgot to list the other 1000+ companies that also offer 1300 numbers in Australia. As I said it really is worse than researching mobile phone plans.

Some have connection fees, some don't. Some have monthly charges, some don't and of course ALL have the most complex per minute (or sometimes per second and even sometimes more with free minutes and seconds!!!) billing charges.


This is one of those times that Google can do more harm than good.

[Geoff]

I thought I was helping Andrew...
I would imagine calling/reading a handful of these sites and working out which seemed best.
Ignore my post if you so desire.

[W00DY]

I thought I was helping Andrew...
I would imagine calling/reading a handful of these sites and working out which seemed best.
Ignore my post if you so desire.

Sorry mate, didn't seem to come over a little harsh, forgot the little after your kidding...

Thanks for your help, but once you read a few of the rates from these places there is such a difference in cost and a lot of companies have hidden charges in the fine print that it is one of those times were recommendations are much better than spending 8 hours researching. You know what i mean.

Anyway, once again, sorry for coming across harsh it was not intentional just a quick little rant

[Geoff]

No worries mate.
I think Glen may know a little about this stuff.
Good luck in your hunt though

[W00DY]

No worries mate.
I think Glen may know a little about this stuff.
Good luck in your hunt though

Then let's hope Glen stumbles across this thread

Problem with Glen is last time he helped I ended up buying another lens luckily it was only the 50mm 1.4 not to much $$$

[Glen]

http://www.smartnumber.com.au/help/tuto ... -index.htm

Andrew it is really enjoyable seeing the steps of your business, I even had your site come up under a Google search through adwords. (though I thought your choice of adwords is amusing, when I put in "bad family photography" in Google and tick Aus sites only you can guess what comes up true, just joking around but shows computers aren't always right) I first saw it with another search so it is working as some feedback for you.

The above link takes you to the government site, smartnumbers. The only thing smart about this is that we used to get these numbers for free from Optus, Telstra, etc or use a bit of sweet talking to get them, then Austel decided it's budget was low so took control and started selling them. If you don't think it is a rip off, check the minimum reserve they have on some numbers like 1300 911 911 is $40K! Ouch. The absolute minimum you will pay is $500 and you will have a number. If you want one start now, as they auction them like ebay (true, I cannot believe it) and it takes quite a few weeks. The system is you register with 'smartnumbers', they charge about $75 (again I can't believe a government department charges you to register to do business with them!) then nominate a number, say 1300 follan for auction. It then goes into the next auction batch, say 2 weeks away with a minimum bid (in this case) of $500. You bid $500, hope no one else bids on it, wait 7? days for the auction to end and it is yours.

You then approach you favoured service provider and tell them you have a 1300 number (compare rates first). The 1300 is then directed to an existing landline for termination. Your provider will charge for the price of the incoming calls, less the 25c contribution by the caller. It usually takes a while to change the termination point (unless you use a set up like I used to have where it would answer in my Syd office from 8am and at 5pm would go to our Perth, etc - you may say 9-5 landline 5-9 mobile) so I would just divert the landline. Yes you can get messagebank and you can also direct it to a rotary group (2 or more lines in rotary).

Depending on the business you can choose the area you want the 1300 to operate in, say 02 only, NSW only or Aus wide.

Good luck and ask any further questions.

[Geoff]

I knew u were the man for the job Glen

[W00DY]

Thanks for all the info Glen.

That is really funny re the google adwords it does not take them as a phrase (well I think you can set them up like that if you want) so the "bad" at the beginning just gets thrown in for free

The 1300 number is actually for my wife's business not mine (my mobile is good enough at the moment). Interesting what you typed though. I know you could buy/bid for a particular 1300 number but then some of the service providers also just have free ones (the ones that don't spell out any words), so Sarah was just thinking about one of those.

It seemed like you could just sign up with a service provider and get the 1300 number connected to your telstra or optus landline. I guess my query was more on which service providers would anyone recommend. I don't expect anyone to go searching but if you have a 1300 number and are happy with the rates etc... then maybe let me know. As I said there are thousands out there and to sift through them to save a few dollars is a waste of time. Problem is the prices are so different you could save hundreds.

Cheers,

ps: why were you searching bad family photography??? looking for some tips

[Glen]

I use Optus, they are ok but I am sure there are cheaper rates. Having had many different service providers over the year I didn't want a provider just providing me with 1300 service as I wanted them to fix it promptly if there were problems and a big single line account would really make them jump.




Bad photography would be a step up for me I first noticed it on another search, can't remember what, but you are definitely getting noticed

[ebarra8]

Woody have you looked into Telstra? As my old company I use to work for used them. The 1300 number was pretty easy to use and you could set most of the basic settings that you've listed via the web. Bad thing if you required more features it would cost you more . Unfortunately I can't give you a cost as I was on the user end but I wish you the best of luck in finding a the cheapest company

[W00DY]

Thanks for the reply guys.

Yeah I looked into Optus and Telstra and they are much more expensive than some of the other companies, mainly because they have setup and monthly fees were a lot of the other companies don't.

Glen's point about support is a good one though. It is a hard decision for a new startup business to pay a lot more to get better support when money is quite tight (until they have been trading for a while) but then of course if something does go wrong you want it fixed.

[Glen]

Andrew, one other thought about getting a basic number now to save money. I had a business which started with a std number then when we grew and expanded interstate got a 6 digit 13 number, at great expense (then it was $18k per year just for the 6 digit number rental). I kept the original line with a trunk termination and diversion on for a little while. Eight years later we were still getting 25 calls a month from the diversion! So if you do decide you want a 1300 which better matches the business in a years time, you may need to keep two 1300 numbers, just so you don't miss the calls from the first number. I would think through your number strategy carefully

[team piggy]

I would reccomend having a chat to (Another) Glenn @ Suretek.
I use these guys for a lot of my phone and also control room backup solutions (Security control room). I also have a 13 rebate number with them.

He does a lot of different setups for 13 / 1300 etc, and is super knowledgable.

http://www.suretek.com.au Phone: 1300 65 44 33

[digifrog]

My Net Phone is my choice too