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We take modern communications for granted sometimes, particularly those of us who live in urban or suburban areas. Your cell phone has a signal. You’re near Wi-Fi. You’re good to go. But what happens when neither of these factors exists? You’re somewhere without a cell phone signal, and you’re many miles away from the nearest Wi-Fi signal (let alone a decent cup of coffee.)

While once upon a time being incommunicado, particularly when you’re on the clock for work, wasn’t so tragic a situation (people would understand if you didn’t pick up a call all morning), this is no longer the case. Thanks to technologies like unified communications and our “always on” business climate, co-workers and clients expect to be able to reach you whenever they need to. Opportunities arise and are gone in minutes. You literally can’t afford to be out of touch for so long.

In a recent blog post, Erik Archer Smith, a VoIP Technology Evangelist for VoIP communications company 8x8 (News - Alert) Inc., calls it “the technology black hole.”

“Maybe you’re visiting your Luddite uncle, or maybe you went somewhere to get away from it all, and now you have to get back to it all, if only to make or receive a quick business phone call,” writes Smith. Fortunately, 8x8 offers a solution to fill in the black hole with its 8x8 Virtual Office product.

“If you have access to any computer with Internet, a microphone and speakers, simply go to 8x8.com, click Sign In at the top, enter your login credentials and you’re ready to go with all your synced business contacts, recent calls, and the ability to talk over the computer with your softphone. If you don’t have a computer, but CAN get Wi-Fi, then simply connect to the Wi-Fi with your smartphone or tablet (assuming you can get the password, of course), turn on your 8x8 Virtual Office app, and put in your login credentials,” explained Smith.

This will allow you to make calls from your business phone, complete with transfer, conference and call recording features. No more “black hole.”

Earlier this year, 8x8 filled in a different kind of black hole: a new mobile app that eliminates international roaming charges. The app, which is free with any existing 8x8 Virtual Office subscription, allows users to make overseas calls at no additional cost from any Wi-Fi connection and a smartphone.