VoIP Providers & Business Phone Companies in Arlington Heights, IL

Overview

iTeleco, which also operates under the Excel-Tel name, is a business telephone company based in Arlington Heights, Illinois. It works with organizations across Chicago and the surrounding suburbs. The firm combines cloud calling with hands-on care of older on-premise equipment. That makes it a practical option for companies that are not ready to discard a working PBX but want a path toward hosted voice. Its focus is the Chicago region, and it will travel farther for larger projects.

Hosted VoIP

For buyers moving to the cloud, iTeleco resells and supports Broadvoice Unified Communications, a hosted platform aimed at small and midsize companies. The switching equipment sits off-site, so the customer does not maintain a phone server in its own building. The platform includes a web portal for administration, browser-based video meetings built on WebRTC, a softphone for PCs and laptops, and mobile apps for iPhone and Android devices. Call handling tools include:

• Unlimited auto attendants with schedule-based routing
• A visual call flow designer, ring groups and call routing
• Call recording, call reporting and a receptionist console
• Voicemail delivered to email, custom on-hold music and a conference bridge
• Park, pickup, paging, busy lamp field and multisite connectivity

The provider also points to encryption for security, a 99.9 percent uptime target, international dialing plans and multilingual documentation for firms with staff abroad. Users can be added or removed as headcount changes.

Legacy systems and on-site work

Much of the company's work involves keeping traditional digital and hybrid systems running. Technicians diagnose and repair equipment from Nortel (including Norstar), Panasonic, Avaya/Lucent, NEC and Vodavi, replace failed hardware and carry out upgrades. iTeleco presents itself as one of a shrinking number of shops still willing to fix aging systems that other vendors have written off.

This can let a business postpone a costly replacement. It sells VoIP, hybrid and digital equipment in new or refurbished condition, with installation, programming and staff training for brands such as Avaya, Panasonic, Nortel and AT&T. Other field services include:

• Office relocations
• Additions of lines and extensions
• Extension name updates
• CAT5e and CAT6 cabling for phones, computers, printers, fax lines and card terminals

How they work with clients

Engagements usually begin with a free consultation. The team reviews the existing setup, discusses requirements and proposes options, which may be repair, a refurbished system or migration to hosted VoIP. Online inquiries are answered within a day. Outages flagged as system-down get priority, and technicians are available around the clock for power failures, line problems and hardware crashes. Support covers remote troubleshooting, emergency dispatch and preventative maintenance, and the company says it explains pricing for after-hours calls up front.

Background and credentials

The company reports more than 25 years in the business telephone field and says its technicians hold certifications for Nortel, Panasonic and Avaya equipment. It describes itself as licensed and insured for installation work and cites a client base of over 3,000 businesses. For buyers deciding between a full VoIP switch and extending the life of a current PBX, iTeleco's main distinguishing trait is that it offers both hosted service and legacy repair.