The gradual adoption of IP-based phone systems, unified communication technologies and other innovative telecommunication mediums has forever changed the way that businesses interact with their customers. However, when it comes to toll-free calling, every conversation still must be routed through a traditional landline connection.

This static technology has created a market for independent Responsible Organizations, or RespOrgs, which help companies control the routing of their toll-free calling and allow them to take advantage of the best rates.

In an effort to develop a better understanding as to how partnering with a RespOrg can help an enterprise, SMB or other organization, TMC's (News - Alert) Erin Harrison recently sat down with Aelea Christofferson, president of ATL RespOrg Services, a provider of least cost routing in the toll-free space. The two caught up with each other at ITEXPO West 2010, the world's leading communications conference.

During their conversation, Christofferson detailed a number of benefits that RespOrg's can deliver to organizations, especially during emergencies. As an example, ATL RespOrg Services worked with Louisiana and other affected states during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. When the carrier that the state agencies worked with was completely wiped out by the hurricane, ATL RespOrg Services stepped in and rerouted toll-free calls through different carriers to assure that residents could get in touch with the Louisiana state government.

"Over the process of the next few months, we were able to balance calls as other states helped them deal with their clients so that they could send a percentage of their calls to Washington, and they could change the percentages depending upon who was overloaded," Christofferson said. "So we were involved with the state for many months afterwards insuring that the customers who were turning in claims to the state would be provided with service."

Meanwhile, ATL RespOrg Services has recently made major strides in the SIP and IP market. As enterprises make the transition to these Web-based phone systems, RespOrgs help them make sure that their toll-free traffic is routed properly through landline connections, Christofferson added.

Beecher Tuttle is a TMCnet contributor. He has extensive experience writing and editing for print publications and online news websites. He has specialized in a variety of industries, including health care technology, politics and education. To read more of his articles, please visit his columnist page.

Edited by Juliana Kenny