Invented by Alexander Graham Bell in 1876, the telephone has become a necessity in the workplace, connecting people from across the world and, through conference technology, bringing several people in separate locations together at once. For multiple-line phone servers, your office will need a PBX server, a unit that controls the network of phone lines and voice mail. See How-To Understand Telephone Systems to learn more on this subject. A required accessory for a phone system, an answering machine allows messages to be collected while the user is away from the phone. In the office, where there is a need for multiple people to receive messages, a voice mail system is necessary to corral and transfer messages to the proper people.
Most cell phones offer voice mail as a feature.
If someone can't reach you on your phone, either because your phone is out range or is shut off to recharge batteries, they can still contact you. When a page comes through, it alerts you with a beeping noise or a vibration. For more information, see How-To Understand Pagers. They're not just for Ponch and John anymore. These are helpful tools for employees who work in a large area where cell phones and pagers would be inconvenient, such as factories or construction sites.