Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Avoid waste with current information about phone service providers

Since your business phone services takes up such a large amount of your budget, you should make sure that you are putting your resources into a business phone carrier that offers you the best deals and offers additional services you'll need.

I recommend: Your outside reps need to be equipped with the best mobile communications to help with sales. Find information and and reviews of business phones from Phone Arena. Find information and reviews about the latest business phones from Info Sync World.

Bring in a business phone line rep to plan your phone systems

After reviewing your business operations and the types of telecommunications services you need to run efficiently, the next step is to find the best place to purchase your small business phone service. Your marketing information should guide you as to the best kind of local business phone service that you need to handle the business that comes to you by phone.

I recommend: Splinter Rock offers free consulting services to help you get hooked up with the most current business telephone service for your business. Use the marketing research and discover the newest technology for VIP and PBX systems at VOIP News at Telephony World.

Look for a business telephone service provider that offers the best savings

Make sure that you've hooked up with a reputable business telephone service provider that offers all the extras that you need in your phone system such as multiple lines, long distance service and operator functions. Investigate various telephone service providers through associations and referrals.

I recommend: Make the most of your telecommunications purchases by staying informed through the Small Biz Technology website. Keep up with your business phones by reading the latest information available through Techworld.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Negotiate with business phone companies to get extra services and hardware with a long-term contract.

Guide to Choosing a Phone Service Provider

Customize your communication services to fit your needs

By Meagan Francis, Director, Studio 4b

You can choose local, long-distance and international calling plans from a variety of providers or bundle all your services with a single company. Finding plans that meet your specific communication needs is key. When choosing telephone service providers, consider the following:

1. Anticipated growth of your business
2. Your local call volume
3. Your long-distance call volume
4. Your international call volume
5. The percentage of incoming calls vs. outgoing calls
6. The number of employees who will likely be on the phone at the same time

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Look for small business specialists

Many phone service providers are actively targeting small businesses with special services, options and discounts. Choose a service provider that caters to small biz.

I recommend: Verizon offers a host of phone services geared to business owners. Find the small business offerings in your area from BellSouth and AT&T/SBC.

Order phone lines

The number of phone lines you'll need depends on the size of your business, your call volume and the number of employees who'll likely be on the phone at the same time. In addition to voice lines, your phone service provider should offer lines that allow you to access a fax machine and the Internet.

I recommend: BellSouth offers special discounts to small businesses that order additional phone lines.

Get a local calling plan

Every business — no matter how small — needs a local calling plan. Look for plans that offer unlimited local calling.

I recommend: Embarq (formerly Sprint) offers a host of local phone services for businesses.

Compare long-distance rates

You don't need to order long-distance service from the provider who handles your local calls. In fact, you may find a better rate from another provider, so shop around. Some plans allow you to make unlimited domestic long-distance calls for a flat rate.

I recommend: Check into Verizon's Freedom for Business program, which offers unlimited local, regional and domestic long distance calls for a flat monthly fee. PhoneSaver.com will refer you to an inexpensive long-distance provider in your area.

Shop international calling plans

If your business phone calls to foreign countries, set up an international calling plan. Shop various providers to find the plan that suits your needs best.

I recommend: BellSouth offers international plans that fit your needs whether you rarely make international calls, you call a single foreign country regularly or you make frequent calls around the world. Verizon's Talk to the World plan offers flat rate calling that's measured in increments of six seconds (after the first 18 seconds) so you only pay for the time you're actually on the call.

Choose your extra phone service features

Many calling features cost extra but are worth it. For starters, consider including voicemail, call forwarding, caller ID, speed dial and conference calling. Accounting codes can be especially useful if you need to track calls by client, employee or department. Call blocking, which allows you to block employees from making unauthorized long distance calls, can be a useful tool for some businesses.

I recommend: Check out a list of typical voice features from Embarq. BellSouth allows you to choose features a la carte or as part of its Complete Choice for Business package.

Bundle services

If you bundle local and long-distance services, as well as data and IP services in some instances, with a single provider, you may be able eligible for discounted rates.

I recommend: Try AT&T's All-in-One service for smaller businesses with one to two locations; enter your area code and 3-digit prefix to find specifics for your area. Embarq, Qwest and BellSouth also offer bundled services designed for home offices and smaller businesses.

Manage your account online

Look for a phone service provider that allows you to review past bills, make payments, request repairs or make changes to your account online.

I recommend: Embarq and Verizon both offer online billing management, support and other features.

Consider voice over IP (VoIP)

With VoIP, you can take advantage of your high-speed Internet connection to make local and long-distance phone calls, generally at a fraction of the cost of typical phone service providers.

I recommend: Vonage offers VoIP options for or home-based businesses. Talk Switch offers a hybrid VoIP/business phone system that allows you to save money on long distance while keeping a connection to a traditional phone system for local calls and emergency services.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Look at all your options for local service. The company you've always used may not be your only choice anymore.
• •  Don't agree to new offers over the phone. Ask service salespeople to fax or mail you the information, including all the pricing details, so you can take a few minutes to determine whether it's really a better deal for you.
• •  When choosing a phone service, take into account regular monthly line charges, the local call area and whether the plan you're considering is the most economical for your call needs and business size.
• •  Take a good look at the company's repair policies and its level of customer service. A bargain isn't really saving you money if you can't use your phone.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find your place among the business phone line trends

As telephone service providers learn more about how businesses navigate the Web and use their Internet connections, they are becoming savvier about the kinds of telephone services they make available to businesses. Stay on top of the trends to remain competitive.

I recommend: Stay on top of the latest trends affecting entrepreneurs in the telecommunications industry through Comptel, one of the largest industry trade groups in the country. Keep up with the executives and professionals and the news that drives the telephone services arena through the publications and articles at Phone News.

Stay on top of business phone services

You need to stay informed about the latest news affecting your industry and the important tools such as telephone service that drive your business. Find niche publications that can narrow your focus and regularly feed you with the important news that you need so have each day.

I recommend: Follow the news services provided for businesses by Cell Phone News. Cable and phone providers stay in touch with the latest news and trends through regularly checking the information available at the phone site of PR Log.

Get involved with business phone carrier pros

You often can hear about the latest news affecting your industry before it even hits the press through networking with others in the industry and by sharing information at your own trade groups and associations. Find ways to interact with your peers and be prepared to give and get important information on marketing.

I recommend: Phone Content keeps you updated on all the latest technology affecting the telephone industry. Keep up with industry news and trends by following the blogs and posts at the VOIP Weblog.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Get involved personally with trade groups and telephone service providers networking associations to learn about the inside scoop that many of the industry professionals share at meetings and seminars.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

VoIP (Voice over IP), voice over Internet protocol

Voice over IP is the process of converting voice into data that can be sent over the Internet. Using the Internet for voice calls can often save money as telephone and data needs are serviced together (either through cable or DSL) and there is not a need for a separate phone system.

I recommend: VoIPReview.org provides a definition of voice over IP as well as a comparison chart between VoIP and traditional phone services.

PBX (Private branch exchange)

PBX is a private telephone network that a business can use. It is a telephone switching program that connects internal users. Plus, it allows users to share several telephone lines for calling individuals external to the company.

I recommend: Internet.com's Webopedia provides a more thorough definition of PBX.

ITSP (Internet telephony service provider), VoIP service provider

An Internet telephony service provider is one that provides voice telephone service over the Internet.

I recommend: CEOWorld Magazine describes and lists Internet telephony service providers.

ISDN (Integrated services digital network)

ISDN is the method of transmitting voice and data over telephone wires through the use of circuit switches. The two types of ISDN are basic rate interface (BRI) and primary rate interface (PRI). Businesses typically use primary rate interface ISDN since it provides more channels for sending voice and data.

I recommend: For further information, see the explanation at PCMag.com for ISDN.

DID (Direct inward dialing)

Direct inward dialing means that the local phone company provides a business with a range of telephone numbers to link into a PBX. As a result, outside callers can use a separate number to call an extension. This means that each extension on a PBX can have a unique phone number accessible to outside callers.

I recommend: Visit Voip-Info.org for more information on direct inward dialing.

SIP (Session initiation protocol) trunking

SIP trunking is the use of voice over IP with a PBX. It helps to connect the PBX to the Internet.

I recommend: VoIP-News provides more details about SIP trunking.