AI for Business
13 Nov 2026
AI receptionists for small businesses: what they do and what they cost
What an AI receptionist can and can't do on your business phones, what it costs in the UK, and how to set one up so callers can still reach a person.
// Author
John McGilveray
Marketing Manager, Chrome Telecom
John McGilveray is Marketing Manager at Chrome Telecom, which provides business phone systems, connectivity, IT, cloud, cyber security and CCTV to organisations across the UK. He writes about the technology decisions those teams face day to day.
Articles by John McGilveray
Guides on business phones, connectivity, IT and cyber security, plus news from the Chrome team. Newest first.
Cyber Security
10 Nov 2026
Emails to Hotmail or Outlook.com bouncing? Here’s what happened
Some emails to Hotmail and Outlook.com bounced from 5 November 2026. Here's what Microsoft says caused it, what to check now, and why DMARC is still worth setting up.
Voice & Telephony
9 Nov 2026
How to cut call wait times. A practical guide for UK businesses
Where your callers' waiting time really goes, how to measure the whole wait and seven changes that bring it down, most of them without hiring. With Ofcom's latest UK benchmarks to compare your own figures against.
Connectivity
30 Oct 2026
What is SoGEA? Broadband without a phone line, explained for business
SoGEA is broadband without the analogue phone line. Here's how it compares with FTTC and full fibre, and what to check before your business moves.
Voice & Telephony
26 Oct 2026
How to choose the best phone system for your care home
A practical guide to choosing a care home phone system: which handsets work, how to route calls when reception is busy, call recording, what happens in a power cut and what else is on your analogue lines before January 2027.
Cloud Services
26 Oct 2026
Business continuity plan: a practical guide and template for small businesses
A practical guide to writing a business continuity plan for a small business, with a free template. It covers how to test the plan and how to keep your phones and Microsoft 365 working when the office or the systems aren't.
Voice & Telephony
21 Oct 2026
Your phone system has passwords too: a security checklist for UK businesses
Your phone system has logins of its own: the admin portal, each person's app, voicemail PINs and every desk phone. Six checks worth making, and what to do if your call charges suddenly jump.
Cloud Services
13 Oct 2026
What is unified communications? UC and UCaaS explained
Unified communications puts your calls, voicemail, messaging and meetings on one system your team can use from any device. What UC and UCaaS mean, the benefits and catches, what it costs and how to move.
Company News
30 Sep 2026
Why Chrome Telecom is different, and how to check it for yourself
What is different about Chrome Telecom, with the evidence behind each point: run by its founder since 2014, 4.9 from 395 Google reviews, six award wins and Cyber Essentials. Plus the questions to put to any provider you are comparing.
IT Services
17 Sep 2026
Business IT, cyber security and phones from one supplier: a guide for UK small businesses
One managed service provider for IT, cyber security, phones and broadband, or three or four specialists? What one team covers, what it costs, which phone system suits you and what to do before the analogue switch-off in January 2027.
Voice & Telephony
3 Sep 2026
Microsoft Teams phone system: how to add proper calling to Teams
Teams handles chat and meetings well, but calling customers needs something added. What Microsoft charges for that, where it falls short, and how ChromeX adds proper calling without your team leaving Teams.
Cyber Security
3 Sep 2026
Business VPN, zero trust and secure remote access explained
A plain-English guide to what a business VPN actually does, where it still earns its place, and what zero trust network access does differently. Includes a simple way to decide which one suits each job.
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