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Tips for SMBs Choosing a Phone System

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October 20, 2009

Tips for SMBs Choosing a Phone System

By TMCnet Special Guest
Kent Hellebust, Chief Marketing Officer & General Manager, Individual and Digital Phone Services, Telanetix


Consider VoIP. VoIP technology is the most rapidly growing segment in the telecommunications market, offered by all the major players. In general, a VoIP business line runs between $25 and $30 a month, versus a traditional business phone line running between $40 and $60. The price is much better because the technology is much more cost effective than older technology, and most vendors pass this savings on to you

 
If you are more than a sole consultant or one person shop, consider a true phone system (either a Key System or a full PBX (News - Alert)). Phone systems deliver a huge savings lever called “line leverage”, in which one business line can be used to support 2 or 3 phones. This cuts the monthly cost of the phone line per person by 50 percent or 66 percent. Phone systems used to only be available to businesses with at least 15 to 20 employees, but new technology makes systems available to businesses with even fewer employees, giving them the opportunity for additional savings.
 
If you need to buy new phones to take advantage of new technology, look for a deal. They’re out there. Some providers will give you a discount on the equipment if you are willing to sign up for a 2 or 3 year contract. Others will provide you financing options, just like car companies do to purchase a new car. Small businesses need to avoid large upfront equipment charges, and with the options available in the market today, they can do so, and still gain the phone system advantages that larger companies enjoy.
 
Beware of hidden installation fees. Buying a new phone system can come with a truck and an installation technician, who can charge you anywhere from $100 to $1,000 to install your equipment and phone wiring. There are systems available from value-conscious retailers like Costco Wholesale that don’t require this. Don’t spend money you don’t need to.
 
Take advantage of the new technology. Traditionally, it cost $100 per phone to install wiring in your home or office. Then, if you want to change the location of your phone, you have to pay the fee again! New wireless technology allows you to avoid this charge by buying a simple $35 wireless adapter, so you can put your business phone anywhere you want it.
 
When buying a rate plan, make sure to shop for a good unlimited long distance plan. Paying per minute charges is not something you should be doing in 2009, except for international calls. Even then, shop for competitive rates, as there are alternative providers that charge a fraction of what traditional telephone companies charge.
 
Look for a risk-free trial period, or money-back guarantee. If you are getting new service, new equipment, or both, you don’t want to find out after a week or two that you are dissatisfied, but have been locked into a two or three year contract. You should have a few weeks at the beginning of any new service to evaluate whether it meets your needs, and you should have the same trial period for any phone equipment you purchase.
 
Phone service is necessary for your business, but now more than ever you have the power to manage the costs and features that are associated with it.
 
 
 
 

TMCnet publishes expert commentary on various telecommunications, IT, call center, CRM and other technology-related topics. Are you an expert in one of these fields, and interested in having your perspective published on a site that gets several million unique visitors each month? Get in touch.

Edited by Stefania Viscusi


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