The document compares the phone system options of BT Featureline and Birchills Freedom Multiline. BT Featureline offers basic calling features like call diversion and caller ID, but has limitations like exchange-dependent features and high per-minute call rates. Birchills Freedom Multiline offers all the same features as BT Featureline plus many more advanced features at a lower overall cost. It provides unlimited incoming and internal calls, more flexible call routing options, lower per-minute call rates and no long-term contract.

1. Newly Revised For 2012
BT Featureline
vs
Birchills Freedom Multiline
birchills.net 01922 21 33 33

2. Introduction
Choosing a new phone system can be a really difficult decision. BT offer Featureline which is often called a Centrex system . We believe that a hosted VoIP
Solution provides far more features for a lot less . But don’t take our word for it. Here is a detailed comparison of feature compared with feature plus 18 features
that Featureline simply doesn’t offer. I have done my best to get the BT prices correct but the schemes they offer are awfully complicated and if I am in error I
will happily correct this in the next issue. I hope this comparison is useful
David Hill, Chairman. Birchills Telecom June 2012
BT Featureline Bt Featureline Compact Birchills Telecom
Freedom Multiline
Contract period 12,36 or 60 months Contract period 12,36 or 60 months Contract period 1 month rolling
Price per line
12 mnth contract £22.72
36 mnth contract £20.45
60 mnth contract £18.18
Price per line
12 mnth contract £18.48
36 mnth contract £17.56
60 mnth contract £16.50
Price per line £22.72
Call package 5000 landline minutes 500 mobile per mnth
12 mnth contract not available
36 mnth contract £20.50 per month
60 mnth contract £2050 per month
Call package 5000 landline minutes 500 mobile per mnth
12 mnth contract not available
36 mnth contract £20.50 per month
60 mnth contract £2050 per month
Call package 5000 landline minutes 500 mobile minutes
per month FREE
Call Charges Outside Call Package Daytime 7am to 7pm
12 mnth capped calls landline 12p per call of up to 1 hour
Then 3.5p per min plus 2p call set up charge
12 mnth capped calls mobile 31p for up to an hour then
8.6p-9p per min plus 6p call set up charge
24 and 60 mnth capped calls landline 12p for up to an
hour then 3.1p per min plus 2p call set up
24 and 60 mnth capped calls 31p for up to an hour then
8.6p-9p per min plus 6p call set up charge
Differing rates apply if the capped package is not taken,
and outside daytime hours
Call Charges Outside Call Package Daytime 7am to 7pm
12 mnth capped calls landline 12p per call of up to 1 hour
Then 3.5p per min plus 2p call set up charge
12 mnth capped calls mobile 31p for up to an hour then
8.6p-9p per min plus 6p call set up charge
24 and 60 mnth capped calls landline 12p for up to an
hour then 3.1p per min plus 2p call set up
24 and 60 mnth capped calls 31p for up to an hour then
8.6p-9p per min plus 6p call set up charge
Differing rates apply if the capped package is not taken,
and outside daytime hours
All calls charged per second with no set up fee and no
rounding to nearest minute and no minimum charge at
any time
1.2 p per minute to landline
9.5 p per minute to mobile
Call Charges
www.birchills.net

3. BT Featureline Bt Featureline
Compact
Birchills Telecom
Freedom Multiline
Hunt Group numbers
An additional phone number that accepts simultaneous incoming calls Fea-
tureline then searches for free
extensions to receive them
No Has powerful inbound call features including Auto
Attendant. (IVR). Call queues and Voicemail—all of which can be
configured on line with time based rules. Any number of calls can be
handled at any time.
Call Return
Tells you the number of the last person who called you
No Call return is standard—you can choose to transfer the information
on divert. You can view a full history of all calls both incoming and
outgoing and costings in real time irrespective of where in the
country the calls are made
Call Diversion
Redirect all incoming calls automatically to an
internal or external number, including
mobiles. You can also set up diversion on
busy and diversion on no reply
Yes Call Diversion
Redirect all incoming calls to any number , extension, call queue, IVR
as well as including mobiles. Sophisticated rules based on answer
and time can be set
Call Waiting
Let’s you know, while you're engaged on
another call, that a caller is trying to contact
you. You can speak to the caller with or
without ending the original call
Yes Call waiting is available and many other handling
opportunities including call queues and IVR’s
Call Pick-Up
Answer a call to another Featureline
extension from your own phone
Yes You can pick up calls ringing or if several are ringing choose which
extension to answer using a simple * code from your handset
Call Transfer
Pass a call to another Featureline extension
or any external number, including mobiles
Yes Yes
Ring Back When Free*
Sets up a call to a Featureline extension or
external number that is engaged, as soon as
it is free. Note. Ring Back When Free is not
available for all types of phone number, e.g.,
ISDN, DDI and international numbers
Yes This a network feature and depends upon BT providing the service
Features
www.birchills.net

4. BT Featureline Bt Featureline
Compact
Birchills Telecom
Freedom Multiline
Ring Back When Next Used*
If a Featureline extension isn't answered, this
function will try calling it again after its next
used
* Not available on all exchanges
Yes Is exchange dependent
Internal calls
Pay nothing for calls between Featurelines on
your site. These are your Featureline
extensions
Yes Pay nothing for calls to any extension anywhere on the planet and
pay nothing for any calls to any other Birchills Subscriber
Featureline Call Barring
Limit the scope for costly unauthorised calls
Yes Powerful outgoing call barring rules.
Three-way calling
Talk to two people at the same time. The
other participants can be on a Featureline
extension or an external line
Yes Conference calling with an unlimited number of
participants is available
Code Calling
Store regularly used numbers and dial them
quickly
No Yes
Repeat Last Call
Redial the last number called
No Yes
www.birchills.net
Features

5. BT Featureline Bt Featureline
Compact
Birchills Telecom
Freedom Multiline
Reminder Call*
Use your Featureline as an alarm clock
* Not available on all exchanges
Yes No
Featureline Caller Display
See the caller's phone or extension number,
if available, before you answer (you'll need a
caller-display phone or unit)
Yes Yes and you can see the history of all calls made and their cost
Featureline Call Barring
Limit the scope for costly unauthorised calls
Yes Powerful incoming and outgoing call barring rules.
General Interrogation*
Check which Features you have set up on
your Featureline.
* Not available on all exchanges
Yes You can see all controls, usage and set up rules and alter them all at
will using the Birchills web portal.
Withhold your Number
Prevent the person you are calling from
seeing your phone number. You can do this
for individual calls or permanently
Yes You can choose to announce any number you own (or none) on all
outgoing phone calls—you can even display foreign or mobile num-
bers
Call Offer
Let another extension user who is engaged
know that they are needed
Yes Of course
Features
www.birchills.net

6. 18 More Features Only Available On Birchills System
1. System is geographically neutral – you can plug your phones into any broadband anywhere and they will function brilliantly.
2. Port in any telephone numbers from anywhere on the globe.
3. Have as many telephone numbers as you like on your system
4. Customers never get an engaged tone
5. Powerful Auto Attendant (IVR) and call queuing
6. Play messages and music on hold
7. Powerful voicemail – voicemail can be emailed to you
8. Add and delete extensions whenever you like with no penalties
9. Ultra competitive call costs
10. Add virtual fax boxes
11. Works with SMS – texts
12. Complete call history and pricing always available live
13. Record all calls or calls that you choose on demand
14. No long term tie in – no long term commitment
15. The latest most powerful VoIP phones – with all of the latest features including programmable keys and busy line lights
16. Live Call Reports Get up to the minute call reports free. Dedicate numbers to specific campaigns and you can monitor your ROI in real time.
17. Time-Based Routing Define time intervals to use with various your features, including inbound call routing or call forwarding. Great for winning business out of hours.