Reason #10 - Why choose an off-site Receptionist to answer your telephone? Seamless, real-time call connections. By Victor Mataraso, M.B.A. Seamless, real-time call connections.  One of the primary differences between a modern day off-site or remote receptionist and a traditional telephone answering service is the ability to connect calls seamlessly in real-time to any phone number.  What the answering service used to refer to as call patching, has evolved into seamless, real-time call connecting and two-way communication with clients.  This is evident in the technology used to connect calls as well as the manner in which live call connections are billed to the client. Traditionally, for a telephone answering service to connect calls to their clients in real-time was a somewhat awkward process involving conferencing the parties together through the answering service phone system.  This procedure typically made it evident to the caller that the Receptionist was an off-site, third party.  Furthermore, due to the resources being used on the answering service phone system, connected calls would be billed to the client at a steep per-minute rate for the duration of the conversation. A modern day off-site receptionist is equipped with the technology to make call connections as seamless as an on-site receptionist would.  For example, the call is answered live at the receptionist service location, the caller is assisted, then briefly put on hold with music while the receptionist connects out to the client to privately announce the call.  If the client accepts the call, the caller comes off hold and is connected to the client.  If the client declines the call, the receptionist can return to the caller, relay a message or redirect the call to a colleague or private voicemail box.  The process works so seamlessly, the caller doesn't even realize the recepionist is at a different location.  Furthermore, the client is only billed for the Receptionists time, regardless of how long they remain on the phone with their caller.