I'm looking for a new phone system for my small business - anyone suggest a VOIP service?

Question

I'm looking for a new phone system for my small business - anyone suggest a VOIP service?

Answer 1

VOIP is ok for residential usage, or if you have your own VPN, but I'd avoid VOIP over the public Internet for any commercial usage. At least right now. LD is free, but per-minute LD is so cheap right now anyway, it's not a big deal, especially for small biz. Seriously, for business usage, there is a high probability you'll end up regretting it and upsetting your customers. You'll also need to make sure you have a rock-solid Internet connection with a fair amount of bandwidth (ie, no cable modems). Vonage, all due respect, is scaled for residential usage, and many people are very happy with that. But for biz grade services, you'll get what you pay for. If you really HAVE to have VOIP, check out AT&T which has a biz-grade VOIP service. otherwise call your local exchange carrier and get regular POTS lines. For small biz, most LECs have unlimited LD plans cheap if you ask for it on POTS lines these days anyway. From someone "in the know"...



EDIT: I *do* work for a telecommunications firm. Which is why I think I'm qualified to answer. If you want medical advice, go to a Doctor, yes? And before you ask, my company of employ provides VOIP service, so I'm familiar with what I'm talking about, good and bad. And we have clients that have VOIP from all the major players. Vonage, Sunrocket, Time Warner, and the LECs, and the major IXCs.



He is correct that you can blend both VOIP and POTS lines together, it really depends on what you need the phones for. You can have a couple of land lines, for instance, run DSL over one of them, and the have some extra back up lines (fax lines for instance) as VOIP. My point is, and I stand by it, overall, I have a tough time recommending VOIP as a primary source of connection to the PSTN for small businesses that rely on the telephone for customer communication. That's not to say it doesn't work perfect for some folks, especially if they have good internet connections, a good ISP, and the right CPE to support it. But for most folks home-brewed VOIP solutions have been at best inconsistent. My 2 cents.

Answer 2

You can take VOIP for a spin without dropping everything to do it. Voicepulse offers a bring your own device service that is ale-cart. It costs 2.4 cents a minute outbound and is free inbound. The incoming number will cost you $11 a month. I suggest using it for outbound calling for a few weeks to get a feel of how well the technology works. I use it here for fallover outbound calling on the house system. I use packet-8 for one line VOIP and still have MCI for a land line. I use voice pulse when I am already using both lines (not often). I have this all tied together into one transparent system using a software product called asterisk. Asterisk is a software pbx solution with plenty of features.



About the above poster I would have to ask, "If you are in the know, does that mean that you work for a telephone company?" .



//EDIT - Remove offensive quote - my apologies//



My first read of the above poster led me to believe that his answer had more to do with FUD than fact. I would like to disagree on a few points he makes. With the right mix of codecs and utilising trunking, 8 concurrent calls could be achieved with a moderate DSL or cable modem. (g729 codec with sip trunking 189kps per leg). I haven't seen a "cheap" per minute business plan but am not saying one doesn't exist. I was suggesting that upgrading to a switch bank and pbx with VOIP internal service is a good idea. This way no matter which way the asker goes now or in the future, he is ready. I also don't think I would call a Cisco solution home brew.

Answer 3

not too expensive is a relative term. whether, in case you pick your workplaces to be waiting to call each over utilizing 3 or 4 digit dialing, call community purchasers utilizing the closest telephone equipment or combine VoIP including your latest lines you're truthfully staring at a business enterprise-classification telephone equipment (PBX) that frequently would not likely extra healthful definition of 'low cost'. yet then, lower back, in the journey that your business enterprise relies upon on it to your communications, an hour of downtime or a misplaced contract would be extra suitable than the cost distinction. i'm advantageous there are a lot different recommendations on the marketplace, yet i'm extra acquainted with what Avaya has to grant. Their small-to-medium length IP workplace telephone equipment will extra healthful the bill (extraordinarily after SIP trunks would be accessible interior the subsequent week's improve). try the source below for extra archives on that.

Answer 4

I am so happy that I switched to VOIP. Only word to describe is CHEAPER---especially for a business. LD calls are included in the plan just make sure you get an unlimited plan

Answer 5

I've done mystery shops on Vonage and it sounds good, but I have not heard anything about Skype.

Answer 6

I use vonage. Its very good. I can refer you if you want.

Answer 7

YH! What they said!