With approximately 26 million small businesses in the United States and an estimated 650,000 new businesses starting up every year, the need for good quality inexpensive phone systems is increasing. One of the most critical decisions a company can make when starting a business is buying the right phone system. In this article I will review the Panasonic KX-TA824 phone system and why this phone would be a good investment for your home or office.
For years Panasonic has been a leader in the consumer electronics industry. Their phone system Panasonic KX-TA624 was a best seller for seven years and in 2005 Panasonic released their new 824 model. The powerful combination of flexibility, high performance and value has made Panasonic Communication systems number one in Key Telephone/Hybrid systems.

Why Hybrid Phone Systems Are Getting so Popular

One of the most important features this phone system offers is the hybrid design. A hybrid system means that users can connect either Panasonic proprietary telephones or single-line phones and devices (fax, TiVo, modem etc) to any phone jack in the system without the need for special hardware. This is great news for those who already own phones. With other phone systems, you would need to buy special equipment, which would be an additional cost.  Another promise Panasonic makes is that the KX-TA824 system works with standard telephone lines, so users don't need to upgrade their phone service.

Programming Your New Panasonic Phone System

The new Panasonic KX-TA824 can be programmed either remotely or on-site. One of the great things about this phone system is that you can do the programming yourself. Whether you are a novice or a pro, it’s pretty easy to set up this system and get it running in no time. You don’t need to be certified or pay a technician to do the installation and programming for you. If you do need some help, your Panasonic dealer can program the KX-TA824 Advanced Hybrid Telephone System utilizing a PC from their location, which will save you money in house calls.
Setting up Auto Attendant

This great feature makes it easier to find a department or person, using pre-recorded menus for example “Press one for Larry, press two for Moe and press three for Curly.” Some phone systems offer one or two levels auto attendants but having a three-level auto attendant lets the owner really structure a menu offering that will help customers get to the right department or person. To set up the optional three-level auto-attendant feature on this phone system, you will need to purchase the Panasonic KX-TA82491 DISA card.

Voice Mail Options

One of the most requested features in phone mail systems today is voice mail capability. The KX-TA824 is the first Panasonic business phone system to offer internal voice mail and a total of three voicemail options. These options include: interface with phone-company based voice mail services, internal voice mail using the optional 2-port simple messaging card (KX-TA82492), which provides up to 60 minutes of recording time and an external Panasonic voice processing system. When it comes to external voice processing systems, Panasonic recommends the KX-TVA50 which is expandable up to 6 ports and 8 hours of message storage as well as the ability to add an internal modem card so the programming of the voicemail system can be done from remote locations.

Expanding Your Phone System

The phone system also features a base configuration of three central office lines and eight stations which can easily be expanded to up to eight central office lines and 24 stations with the addition of two plug-in cards. As your company grows, your phone system can grow with you, which can save you time and money.

Door phone and Door Opener

A new optional feature of the Panasonic KX-TA824 is the Door phone and Door Opener. With this option installed, the phone system can interface with up to four door intercoms and control up to four electronic door contact closures. If you have more than one door intercom, you can assign specific ring patterns so it is easy to identify which intercom was pressed. To set up this feature you will need a KX-T30865 Door phone and the KX-TA82460 Door Opener Adapter Card.

Toll Restrictions

The toll restriction feature allows you to prohibit certain outgoing calls. It works by letting you select certain system extensions that you will not let you make outgoing calls to specified area codes or exchanges. Toll restrictions can also be set for specific times of day, which is helpful if you want to prohibit employees from making long-distance calls after hours.

Music/Message on Hold

The Panasonic KX-TA824 phone system is equipped with an audio jack for connection to a message on hold device or a music source that will be played to callers who are placed on hold. A message on hold device allows you to play custom recorded messages such as your office hours, important messages or special promotions.

The Bottom Line

Overall I am very impressed with the Panasonic KX-TA824 Advanced Hybrid Phone System. The thing that impressed me the most was the value. When you purchase this system it comes with many built in and optional features, which can save you a lot of money and time. If you are looking for a great low-cost solution for your home or office, you definitely want to consider the KX-TA824.