Last week we changed from our old analog lines to a new E1 connection provided by CAT. We now have 30 new channels, and we decided to stick with only 30 numbers instead of the 100 normally provided with an E1 connection. This gave us savings of Baht 4,500 a month.

To go with the new numbers we are using a new Switchvox VoIP PABX and this gives us a lot of functionality as regards our telephone connections. We have an automated attendant for out of hours as well as Interactive Voice Response menus for certain incoming line combinations. We use Direct Inwards Systems Access so we can get a dial tone from outside the office, thus enabling us to make international calls though the office system, and to zealously guard our mobile phone numbers from those we don’t wish to let them know!

We are taking advantage of TOT NETcall for a lot of our local calls and have reduced our outgoing local charges from around 9.5k a month to about 1.5k, so all in all, worthwhile.