Is it really necessary to have an Internet phone service for business?
Well, the answer to that question depends on the type of business you’re running and what your communication needs are.
What is VOIP?
VOIP stands for Voice Over Internet Protocol, which is the phone service that enables you to use your internet connection (rather than a regular telephone line) as your network.
A VOIP phone company can offer you many of the same benefits as traditional phone companies, including free long distance calling and discounted international rates.
With high-speed internet available just about everywhere, it's easier than ever before to do business with people around the world.
Why do you need it?
Businesses need dependable phone service to communicate with customers, clients, and employees. In the past, this has meant hefty phone bills.
Today, there are many options that are much more affordable and can make your company’s office telephone experience a whole lot less complicated.
With these options available, businesses can spend less time worrying about their telecommunications service and focus on generating new sales.
- Why do I need internet phone service? - How is it different from what I’m using now?
The Different Options out there
Different businesses have different needs when it comes to their telecommunications. Some want video conference capabilities and others need just basic call making and receiving service.
Choosing a provider can feel like a difficult process, but choosing the right company is an important decision that will help your business thrive.
There are many providers out there that offer various types of internet phone services, such as VoIP and T1 lines. It’s important to know what you need before you choose a provider.
How much does it cost?
This one’s a bit of a difficult question. A business line with a voice mail system and 10 extensions can cost anywhere from $650 to $1,500 per month depending on the setup, plus an additional $25-$40 for each extension.
Features such as caller ID, 3-way calling, voicemail-to-email and more will also increase your bill depending on which ones you need. If you don’t need any of these features, then you could get away with paying about $400-$600 per month.
Buy or Rent?
Finding an internet phone service provider can seem daunting at first, but once you know what you're looking for, it's easy.
Choosing between buy or rent is one of the first decisions you'll have to make, so I'm going to outline some things that can help you make a decision about this.
1) If it's not a high volume business, rent may be more efficient and economical in the long run.
2) Before you decide on either option, consider what your company needs are and how much you want to spend up front.
3) Once you decide on either option, it's important to determine how many lines are needed for your business (some providers will allow you to add more as your company grows).
4) Finally, be sure to look into pricing plans as well as which features are included before making a final decision.
Helpful Apps for Managing your VoIP System
There are many VoIP apps that can help make the management of your phone system easy. One popular choice is RingCentral, a suite of desktop and mobile apps that let you do everything from checking voicemail to placing calls.
Another app worth mentioning is Skype, which offers free business use if you have a personal account and integrates seamlessly with other Microsoft Office products like Word and Excel. It also offers HD video calling and screen sharing with up to ten people. For those looking for a more robust communications tool,
Slack brings chat rooms into one convenient interface. And finally, Google Hangouts lets users integrate voice or video chat, as well as share files in real time across computers or Android devices.
Common Questions about Voice Over IP Telephone Systems
So you’ve decided that it’s time to invest in a business phone system. One of the first questions that should come to mind is how many extensions do I need? The number of extensions you will need is going to depend on the kind of business you are running and the number of employees working there.
For example, if you are running a small, two-person office, then two or three would be sufficient. If your company has more than twenty people with an average of one extension per person, then this would require at least ten lines.