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Response: Ok, it is dependant on the provider. With CBeyond for example, the same box can register with the main #, and, each DID number as well. You would still only get 4 calls on a CVA, but they could be to any of those numbers, which of course then means different routing as you want. So, with your provider, you would have to be able to register the DID #, which means they would have to generate a SIP password for the #. if they can do that for you, then, you are fine. Having a DID with a Talkswitch 9133ior 480i also means you can pick which # to dial out on as well.

Imagine you are a caller. I am talking to another person, and, you call me on our Talkswitch system. You are trying to specifically reach me. Since I am on the phone, you are asking can I take your call also. Well, forgetting what phone system for the moment, to do that, I would need to put the person I am talking to on hold, and, talk to you. You should carefully consider if this is a wise choice, many people think it is because they have always done things that way. But, consider the customer point of view. What does the customer I WAS talking to think about them being interrupted, their time wasted, so I could deal with someone who must be more important than them? That is what you are really saying to them whether that is the intent or not. As a consumer, if someone does that to me, I hang up. I consider it rude, especially if I am buying something. But, there are different businesses and circumstances of course. So, if you still think it is important, read on.

Let's go over a few scenarios that might actually be better ways to handle things:

1. Enable Talkswitch call waiting at your extension. By doing so, if I am talking to person A, and person B calls, I will see the second call on my phone, with caller ID info. I can then choose to put the current call on hold, and, take that second call. If I choose not to take the call, it will go to voicemail. But, I do hear a call waiting tone on the phone, so, it can bother some people. Still, to take another call you have to know there is another call, so, you are interrupted one way or another. This certainly works with any regular phone or Talkswitch phone.
2. Enable call queue at your extension. Works similar to the above, but, you can disable the call waiting tone. Also, the caller gets more options. They can hold for you to become free as long as they wish (and thus you can finish the business with the call you are on, or maybe gently hurry up without telling the caller why), they can choose to leave you a voicemail, or, they can choose to go back to ther menu and choose perhaps someone else they know.
3. Perhaps there is someone who backs you up that can generally help a caller. In that case, tell Talkswitch to ring your backup person if a second call comes in.
4. You could of course send the second caller to voicemail and provide no other options
5. Local IP phones attached to Talkswitch as local extensions show call appearances at the extension, which is more intuitive for some people but not a big deal to most customers.
6. Finally, there is the old recepionist strategy. In that environment, you should consider purchasing the attendant (operator) console for them so they can more easily handle a large volume of calls.

With either 1 or 2, if the caller does get to your voicemail, Talkswitch also provides a 0 option, so, you can tell the caller in your voicemail greeting if they need to talk to someone now, hit 0 instead of leaving a message. There are I am sure other ways of handling calls, but, these are the most common.

So, in summary,the larger question is what is the best way to handle calls. If you truly want an all manual system, perhaps you don't really need a real phone system. By allowing it to work for you and your customers, you should be able to improve customer service and reduce effort.

I don't see any good reason why it would be more or less common with VOip. All Talkswitch users have acess to the console, not just that central person.