Rogers Wireless has introduced a second voice line service (SVLS) on a number of their cell phone products, which will enable small business owners to have two numbers on a single phone.

Targeted at the small business market, business owners who purchase the service can either choose to have two numbers in different Canadian area codes connected to the same phone, or they can opt for two numbers within the same area code to enable a separation of business and personal calls.

"This service will be of great utility to the growing number of Canadians that are going all wireless. Second Voice Line should give business people greater convenience, with significant cost savings and eliminate the burden of additional handsets," said Lawrence Surtees, Vice President and Principal Analyst, Canadian Communications Practice, at IDC Canada.

Many small business subscribers currently have two cell phones; one for business and one for pleasure, with this new service, the need for two cell phones disappears

"Second Voice Line service should be of particular interest to independent business operators, many of whom need to keep on top of both work and personal commitments while out of the office," said Surtees.

Most important for many small businesses is that this will allow the companies to save time and money by having to only pay for one cell phone with multiple lines in the same or different area codes.

"Second Voice Line Service is an incredible wireless solution for our small-to-medium sized business customers who are looking for ways to save valuable time," says Irv Witte, Vice President, Business Marketing, Rogers Wireless. "This innovation in wireless technology provides increased productivity, convenience and real cost savings, up to 49 per cent* every month off the cost of your second wireless line."

If you are wondering how this system works, here is the basics:

• When you are receiving a call, the screen with display a 1 or 2, depending on which line is being called,
• While making a call you must select which line you wish to dial from, and this will be the active line until you change it again.

According to Rogers the plans are available on “more than 120 devices from 10 handset manufacturers through Rogers Wireless including the BlackBerry Curve, the Treo 650 and 680 and all currently sold Motorola, Nokia, Samsung, and Sony Ericsson handsets.”

Prices start at $20 a month for a plan and increase from there.

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