LCR and Broadband

Calls

Carrier Pre Selection – the route to cheaper calls
CPS or Carrier Pre-Selection is an indirect voice service that enables the routing of calls via a carrier other than BT, without the need for any equipment on site or programming telephone systems.

Through a range of tier one UK carriers Lowcoms can offer CPS.
Note: CPS is only available to customers with a BT landline.

Lowcoms place an order with BT and their engineers reprogram at the customers local exchange. This service is available free of charge and keeps slippage through the BT network to an absolute minimum.

By CPSing your lines through Lowcoms you will benefit from:

• Tier One Carriers - because service supply and reliability are all just as important as the price you pay, we only use the very best networks to carry your calls.

• Competitive Call Charges - we constantly review the marketplace to ensure that we can provide you with the most competitive call plans on the market.

• Price Guarantee – the Lowcoms price guarantee is our promise that your call rates will be capped and can therefore only go down, not up! Lowcoms also guarantee to match any comparable competitor tariff offered during your contract term. Our pledge ensures we always provide you with the best deal - so you never need worry about the price of your communications again!

• No dialer needed
• No engineer needed
• No on site equipment to maintain

Lines and Services

As a leading independent communications specialist Lowcoms are in a position to review the best products on the market and bring them to our customers at a reduced cost.

Lowcoms can provide your business with a range of lines and services to suit your communication needs. We can transfer your lines from an existing BT account and even install new lines using BT Openreach engineers.

Why transfer?
Transferring your lines to Lowcoms takes only 15 working days and is completely free. In joining Lowcoms you will benefit from substantial savings on your calls as well as discounts on your line rental.

Analogue telephone lines
Analogue lines are single lines that are primarily used for making voice calls, connecting to fax machines and connecting to broadband.

Lowcoms can install new PSTN lines to business customers in less than 20 working days. A BT Openreach engineer will arrive and fit the equipment accordingly.

Multilines
Sometimes, having just one phone line for your business just isn’t enough. An additional line from Lowcoms can make life much easier and will also mean that you can make sure that every call is answered.

A multiline is a group of telephone lines with one telephone number. The first line is known as the main exchange line, whilst the extra lines are known as auxiliary lines.

The additional line (or auxiliary line) is added to your main exchange telephone line so there’s no need for a new number which means no changes to advertising, marketing material, stationary, etc. Having an auxiliary line added to your existing analogue line means that if a call comes through to an engaged line, the call will simply be passed to the next available line.

There is no limit to how many auxiliary phone lines you can have attached to one telephone number. Multilines are generally connected to a telephone system.

ISDN2e
ISDN2e (Integrated Services Digital Network) is a digital communications service from Lowcoms that gives you voice, data and faster access to the internet.

ISDN2e is the equivalent of two digital telephone lines known as channels that operate at speeds of 64kbps. Two channels can work independently allowing the user to make a call, use the internet or receive a fax at the same time.

An ISDN2e line can offer speeds of up to 128kbps when the two channels are combined to connect to the internet, which is more than twice as fast as an analogue modem.

Because the connection is digital, there is the added benefit of increased clarity for voice calls, and larger data files and emails can be sent and received more quickly and securely.

ISDN30e
ISDN30e is an advanced digital solution from Lowcoms for larger businesses requiring 8 lines or more. It is the equivalent of up to 30 analogue lines each of which work at 64kbps.

ISDN30e is a high-performance voice and data service for modern business. Their digital technology gives you exceptional line quality.

• Rapid connection
• Clear voice communications with other ISDN users
• Ideal for networks linking two or more offices
• Provide your staff with individual DDI numbers

Total Care Maintenance

Lowcoms can provide three levels of maintenance. Maintenance cover will ensure that you get the maximum value, performance and continuity form your communications investment.

Level 1 Standard Care
Cover for 5 days a week, Monday to Friday 8.30am – 5.30pm (excluding public holidays)

Level 2 Prompt Care
Cover for 6 days a week, Monday to Saturday 8.30am – 5.30pm (excluding public holidays)

Level 3 Total Care
Cover 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Guaranteed 4 hour response time by a customer services representative

Once you have called Lowcoms we register the fault with BT Openreach who then investigate. Should the fault require an engineer’s visit, a BT Openreach engineer will visit your site. Please note that if the fault is not with the BT service any site visit is chargeable. These terms are consistent with those offered by BT retail.

Select Services

Lowcoms can provide your business with a range of calling features for your lines. Select Services from Lowcoms are designed to help maximise the communication efficiency for your business. Different Select Services are available depending on your line types, whether you have an Analogue (PSTN) line or an ISDN line, Lowcoms Select Services can help your business in many different ways.

Analogue Select Services
Lowcoms call diversion – allows you to divert calls to almost any phone – anywhere in the UK, most overseas destinations or a mobile phone.
Lowcoms call waiting – Tells you if someone is trying to call when you are already on the phone
Lowcoms call barring – Stops certain calls being made from your phone.
Lowcoms answer 1571 – Takes messages for you when you are unavailable or your line is engaged.
Lowcoms call minder – Like Lowcoms Answer 1571, with the additional advantage of remote access and the option of having personalised messages.
Lowcoms reminder – Call rings you at the time you set.
Lowcoms ring back – Calls to let you know when an engaged number becomes free.
Lowcoms caller display – Displays the number calling you.
Lowcoms call sign – Call Sign allows End Users to distinguish between incoming calls on the same line.
Lowcoms choose to refuse – Enables you to bar the telephone number of the last answered incoming call.
Lowcoms number withheld – Prevents the person you are calling from seeing your number.
Lowcoms 1471 extra – Lists the last 5 numbers to call you.
Lowcoms anonymous call reject – Allows you to block calls from people who have withheld their numbers.

Digital Select Services
CLIP – Lets you see the number of the person calling before you pick up the phone, enabling you to greet the caller in an appropriate manner.
CLIR – This prevents your directory number from being released at any time. It is useful if you don’t want people to call you back, e.g. if you are running an outbound telemarketing campaign.
CLI – Presentation Number (PN) allows you to specify a telephone number for your Calling Line Identity (CLI) for outgoing calls, which may be different to your usual telephone number.
COLP – Allows you to see the number of the line that you have been connected to.
COLR – Restricts the access of incoming callers to your identity.

Certain calls may slip back to BT such as operator calls if the line is not transferred to Lowcoms. Some Select Services are not compatible with CPS.

Call Conferencing

Lowcoms call conferencing offers a simple and convenient call conferencing facility for up to 20 callers dialing from any landline or mobile to create a single conference session. Callers using this facility simply dial the call conferencing telephone number at the agreed time, insert their chosen 6 digit PIN and enter into the conference.

How do I use this service?

Choose a 6 digit PIN Inform the conference participants of: - The time that the conference will take place - The 6 digit PIN At the time of the conference dial the Lowcoms conference number - 0871 226 0110 When prompted enter the conference PIN number followed by the # key on your telephone keypad You will then join the conference with your participants

How much does it cost?
Each caller will pay 10p per minute (inc. VAT) for the call if calling from a Lowcoms or BT line. Charges from mobiles may vary.

Is it secure?
There are over a million different combinations of a 6 digit numerical code. It is therefore virtually impossible that you would pick the same 6 digit code as another conference and at the same time.

Why Lowcoms call conferencing?
No registration fee
No monthly fee
Simple to use
Available 24 /7 - 365 days a year

Non Geographic Numbers

Non-geographic numbers cover all telephone numbers that are non area specific, i.e. they do not begin with an area code like 0161, 0207, 01859, etc. Non-geographic numbers begin 08 and include 0800, 0845, 0870, and 0871.

With non-geographic numbers from Lowcoms your company will:

• Promote a professional company image
• Build national recognition amongst your customer base
• Have a transferable number that can be moved to any other destination on request
• Benefit from management reporting – to monitor advertising impact

I have an existing non-geographic number with another carrier...

Lowcoms are able to offer a full range of non-geographic numbers (NGN’s) to our customers, all at fantastic rates. If a customer has a NGN that originated with another carrier, Lowcoms are able to port this to one of our preferred carriers (see below for more information on porting).

Setting up a non-geographic number with Lowcoms...

Setting up a non-geographic number is quick and simple. It is basically merged over your existing line and number and when dialed rings automatically the predetermined phone or lines required. With no requirements for site visits by engineers or unique equipment a non-geographic number from Lowcoms is efficient and easy to use.

Non-Geographic Numbers are usually set up within 24 hours (moving your non-geographic number from another carrier will take longer, depending on the carrier).

Connection is absolutely FREE with NO RENTAL CHARGE!

Choosing an NGN from Lowcoms

0800/0808
Freephone
• Focuses on customer needs
• High public awareness of free calls
• Low-cost access to LANs and other secure systems
• Improves access to customer care and helpdesk functions
• Freephone numbers increase response rates empowering advertising campaigns and enquiry lines

0845
Lo-call
• Encourages customer to call you at a lower rate
• Generates higher quality leads
• Saves caller money
• Company share cost of call with their customer
• Demonstrates loyalty to customer

0870
National Rate
• Revenue share opportunity
• Offset marketing expenditure
• Generates higher quality leads
• Presents a national presence throughout the UK
• Extremely helpful for national help and enquiry lines

0871
National Flat Rate
• Fantastic outpayments for every call you receive
• Get a step ahead of your competitors while increasing revenue!
• Greater quality leads!
• Creates the perception of a national presence
• Especially useful for technical help lines - where you can earn an increased revenue share without charging a premium rate to your customers.

NGN Services

Our range of network-based call solutions consists of four core products which have been designed to provide all the convenience of a complex telephone system without the huge expense.

• Lowcoms replay - is our network-based call recording facility.

• Lowcoms auto attendant - is an Interactive Voice Response (IVR) service that will welcome callers and filter them though to the relevant department. Situated on the national network.

• Lowcoms queue manager - will benefit all businesses that experience inbound call peaks. Instead of turning customers away, it will hold them in a queue at network level and can even inform them of there position in the queue.

• Lowcoms complex call routing - is a network-based call routing facility that can automatically direct calls to more than one office using only one number, route calls based on the location of the caller and, divert calls based on time of day or day in year.

Each of the products available in this range are designed to improve business performance and maximize efficiency. Also available to benefit each of these products is Lowcoms call care; a comprehensive range of sophisticated call centre management tools that put you in full control and deliver accurate call statistics 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Accessible online by secure password-controlled connection, Lowcoms Call Care is quick and easy to use.

Lowcoms Broadband

Lowcoms broadband offers high speed internet access with low contention ratios – equivalent to as low as 2.5:1 on some packages – outstanding quality of service and all at exceptionally low prices.

Our voice quality, business grade packages are available up to 8Mb, so whether you’re a single business user or a multi-user organization, Lowcoms has a broadband solution to meet your requirements.

5 reasons to choose Lowcoms broadband

• Up to 8Mb download speeds
If you want an extremely fast connection that is capable of supporting voice or video, Lowcoms broadband can offer up to 8Mb downloading at competitive prices. A connection this fast allows you to run multiple applications simultaneously, giving high volume business users a product that is truly capable of meeting their needs.

• Up to 800kbps upload speeds
Many people tend to forget about the upload speed of a connection and simply concentrate on the download speed. However the rate at which data can be uploaded is an important factor when considering the overall speed of a connection. For example video conferencing involves all parties sending as much data as they receive; therefore a user can only receive information as fast as the other user can send it. Lowcoms broadband can offer up to 800kbps uploading, one of the fastest upload speeds on the market.

• Low contention ratios
The contention ratio refers to the number of users that effectively share one single connection. Lowcoms broadband provide a level of throughput on the network which allows us to deliver what is the equivalent of extremely low contention ratios. Refer to the individual Product Specifications for the contention ratio relating to each package.

• Uncongested network
Regardless of the size of connection, if the network is being over used by a large volume of users, the speed of access will decrease. Our network is uncongested, which limits degradation of service and ensures that you can access the information you require quickly and efficiently. Residential broadband and is congested and therefore unsuitable for business use. Furthermore you will not be able to run voice over congested networks in the future.

• Fully redundant self healing network
In the event of a fault at a BT exchange that could result in downtime, Lowcoms broadband provides a network that will re-route traffic via a different exchange. This way, you should not experience any downtime or technical issues.