8x8 announced it has added the Packet8 Virtual Attendant service to its line of small business VoIP-hosted telecommunications solutions.



Virtual Attendant enables SOHOs and small businesses to continue using their existing phones for outbound and inbound calls while presenting callers with a professional auto-attendant and call routing service. Virtual Attendant also allows organizations with less than three extensions to "jump-start" their business with a professional phone auto-attendant, without subscribing to the Packet8 Virtual Office minimum requirement of three extensions. Existing Virtual Office subscribers can add a Virtual Attendant as a second auto-attendant with independent menus from their primary system while utilizing common Virtual Office unlimited and/or metered extensions and/or ring groups from another system.

"Virtual Attendant provides even the smallest operation with a big business solution," said 8x8 Director of Marketing Dave Immethun. "Many companies use a variety of services to accomplish what we offer with Virtual Attendant. Now businesses with as few as one to two employees can sound large and professional with a single solution from one trusted vendor." Immethun added, "Introducing Virtual Attendant confirms our commitment to small business subscribers who have been or would be underserved by the traditional business phone service providers. We intend to continue meeting the needs of our existing and future subscribers with innovative, cost-effective solutions like Virtual Attendant."

The Virtual Attendant base package includes a main number (a virtual phone number) and the auto-attendant and is available for $14.95 per month with a one time $9.95 activation fee. Virtual Attendant works with all the Virtual Office options, including virtual phone numbers and toll-free numbers for inbound calling options; virtual extensions to connect wired, cell, home phones and other Virtual Office physical extensions and/or ring groups for sharing extensions with multiple company attendants. Businesses can expand Virtual Attendant to a full-scale inbound and outbound calling solution by adding the Virtual Office unlimited extension and metered extensions options.