need a good/cheap phone "system"

[ZippyDan]

some maybes, im not really sure whats out there

something that i can put people on hold with with hold music
ability to transfer calls to outside numbers? dunno if thats possible
only really need one line (with wireless phone), but maybe have ability to have two stations and transfer between those stations?

 

[everman]

http://www.hackaday.com/entry/1234000640041977/

 

[GeekDrew]

Transferring calls to outside numbers uses multiple lines - the call would stay connected on the line that it came in on, and it would require another phone line to dial out on, to the destination party. Thus, two lines would be in use by one call. Not a very good solution for a small business.

Holding with music is overrated. A hold function is good enough, in my opinion (though not everyone's, of course).

A simple Panasonic expandable wireless phone system will do what I think you *need* it to do. You can use the base as a speakerphone, and it comes with one wireless handset, and you can buy additional handsets. You can transfer calls between handsets and the base as desired.

<edit>

A solution using Asterisk or requiring another VOIP server is going to be expensive in the end, because it will require you buy VOIP phones, and if you use analog lines instead of VOIP lines, you'll have to buy modems for each line, as well. Pretty much overkill for anything you want to do, unless you're *really* ambitious about having a kick-ass phone system.