What Type of Phone Service or Cloud VoIP Should You Use and Are You Paying too Much?
Both carrier services (Internet, Analog lines, PRI, SIP Trunks) and Cloud VoIP Phone Systems have their own monthly cost. Are you paying too much monthly?
No matter what voice and internet carrier services (AT&T, Verizon, Charter, Spectrum, Logix, etc.) or cloud VoIP services you have in your office, chances are you have an auto renewal clause in your contract (most agreements are 3 year terms) with the provider you currently have. In most cases, a written cancellation 60-90 days before your contract ends is required. If you do not address this prior to your contract expiration, your provider(s) contract may auto-renew and you could be paying 30-50% more than you should for your services for another year, and even longer in some cases. Check your contract now. If your voice/internet services or cloud/hosted VoIP are coming out of contract, Office Telesystems could save you up to 50% or even more on these services, which can also include faster internet, more inbound/outbound lines and other service enhancements. Many cloud VoIP phone systems and carrier services are bundled together on one bill, including your desk phones and the features associated with them.
If your phone system is a premise based VoIP design, reduced service provider costs can also help you justify that lease payment on a new updated system or system addition, perhaps even make the entire monthly payment!
Office Telesystems works with cloud VoIP providers and several different carriers so we can find the right product and service design for your needs. Office Telesystems offers premise based VoIP phone systems as well as cloud based VoIP systems such as Sangoma cloud VoIP and NEC Univerge Blue.
Voice Service Options Include:
Analog or “POTS” lines Request a Quote
These are the type phone lines you have at home or in a small businesses and are still readily available. They are usually provided for premise based systems, but can be offered by cloud VoIP providers as well via an “ATA” or analog adapter. Many small businesses still use them on a phone system, but analog lines are also used for fire/alarm systems, fax lines, and other similar uses. 2-6 lines with broadband type internet are less expensive than dedicated fiber services designed for larger applications. Many broadband services don’t require a contract of 3-5 years like fiber services. Analog or POTS lines will be still utilized for many purposes for years to come.
PRI Service: Request a Quote
PRI is again primarily for premise based systems and has been around for a while, but is still very prominent in the marketplace. Each PRI circuit allows for up to 23 voice channels or “call paths” and can be sold as a “fractional” PRI, usually providing 6 or 12 channels instead of a full PRI’s 23 channels. You can even have multiple PRI’s. Many larger premise based systems can hold 8 PRI’s or more with 23 Channels each. There are some advantages of PRI services over analog lines. All carriers we partner with provide PRI type services as part of their carrier offerings. The cost to deliver PRI service to offices has decreased steadily over the last few years. As contracts come up for renewal, there is a good chance for a customer to save money on services renewal, enough to justify a new phone system or an increase in internet speed (bandwidth). PRI generally gives better sound quality over analog lines. PRI also offers direct dial numbers, a block of long distance minutes and less cost per line than analog lines when your needs require over 8 lines. PRI also can let your phone system provide additional features that are not available with analog lines, such as linking your mobile device, desktop apps and other features.
Cloud or Hosted VoIP systems Request a Quote
If you have a cloud VoIP phone system, you usually have a contract term associated with your system. Evaluate your system 6 months or so before your contract expires to see if it is providing you the features you need and if you are getting adequate support from the provider. In many cases, if you have purchased your VoIP desk phones, you can re-purpose these phones onto a new cloud or hosted provider, such as Sangoma or NEC Univerge Blue. Many also offer free desk phones with more than 10 users.
SIP Trunks: Request a Quote
Cloud or hosted VoIP systems utilize SIP trunks, but todays premise based VoIP systems can utilize this type of service as well. SIP trunks are a VoIP type voice line, or “call path”, similar to PRI design but with a different delivery to your office. The number of SIP trunks can vary from just a few to a few hundred in one location, whether on cloud VoIP or premise based VoIP systems. The main advantage to SIP trunks is that multiple area codes can be provided in one location for centralized answering. If you’re using a premise based VoIP phone system, you can usually add SIP licenses on the same card in your system that supports your VoIP phones. SIP licenses for an existing VoIP card will cost less than a PRI card on premise based systems in many cases. Also, SIP service per call path can be less than PRI in many cases.
At Office Telesystems our expert team can help get you the right services provider for your cloud/hosted VoIP or premise based VoIP system. It could end up providing enough cost savings monthly to pay for a whole new system or cloud VoIP! Call us today (972) 484-4900, (817) 529-1700 or visit our website at www.officetelesystems.com.