How to set up a second phone number for a home office, cheap, in Canada?

• How to set up a second phone number for a home office, cheap, in Canada? I am in Canada. I work from home, and live here with my partner. From time to time, when I give my phone number to clients, I wish I had something like a separate line. There are two issues I want to solve: The main issue: 1) When clients call and leave a voicemail, they hear our “home” outgoing message. I’d rather they hear something more professional sounding. (But I don’t want to change our home OGM). A secondary issue: 2) From time to time, clients call when my partner is on the phone, and I don’t get the message right away. Getting a whole second line, with its own extra phone, seems like overkill, given the very low volume of calls I get, and given the multiplicity of options we already have for talking to people (one landline for the two of us, one cell phone each, and skype). I wonder if there might be something not too expensive (Say – Maybe up to $5/month or so), that could do something like the following (though I’m open to variations): - Give me a new local number I could give to clients that would be just for my business - When clients phone that number and get voicemail, it would be a specific “business” outgoing message. - When clients phone and I’m around, it rings, ideally on my regular phone. - What would be awesome: When client phone and I miss the call (say, because my partner is on the other line), I get an email or other notification on my computer, so I can call the client back quickly. Any ideas? Suggestions?

• Answer:

  Well, in BC, Telus offers a http://www.telus.com/portalWeb/inlineLink/CP_SCS/Product/Telephone/Calling_Features/Product_Equipment_Description/Smart_Ring/?_region=BC feature that does exactly what you want for the price that you want. Your profile says you're in T.O. -- surely there must be a POTS provider in the centre of the universe that offers the same thing? Have you called Bell and asked?