Services That Eliminate Telephone Tag

If you're like me, you lose a lot of time each week trying to reach people by phone or getting messages from them. I sit at a desk, place a few calls and leave messages, step away for just a moment—then dig through voice mails when I get back. I have a perfectly adequate mobile phone, which I carry everywhere. Sadly, my office phone is too dumb to forward a call unless I punch in explicit instructions.

For the past several weeks I've been trying out two Internet calling services designed to eliminate telephone tag while delivering a host of other features. The first, Google (GOOG) Voice, is a free service aimed at consumers with busy lives and multiple telephone numbers. The second, RingCentral, costs $99 a month and seems especially suitable for small businesses managing staff in several locations, though there is also a $9-a-month version aimed at individuals or very small businesses.