Despite technological advances in communication, the main way in which people get in touch with businesses is still the telephone. Therefore, choosing a telephone service for your business is very important. However, the effect your telephone service has in your business can be great, which is why it is also hard to choose the appropriate service. A good phone service provider will be reliable and affordable, as well as provide you with all the features your business requires. Evaluating different services and providers is vital so that way you will be able to choose the company that best suits your needs.
There are two types of business phone services offered in Corolla, NC: Traditional, analog telephone services and business VoIP service. Understanding the difference between them is key to choosing a provider. Below we will compare business phone services to give you the information you need to make the best choice.
| Provider | Plan Details | Monthly Rate* | |
|---|---|---|---|
 | RATED #1 BY INDUSTRY EXPERTS
| $19.99 | Details  142 Reviews |
 | Business phone service - no internet required
* 8.3% discount if paid for the year upfront | $17.41* | Details  7 Reviews |
 | Alliance
* 12% discount for subscribing and paying for a year upfront | $19.97* | Details 13 Reviews |
_2.png&contenttype=png "Talkroute Logo") | The phone system built to do business anywhere
* $5 per additional user | $19.00* | Details 1 Reviews |
_2.png&contenttype=png "Verizon logo") | Get 99.99% network reliability with Fios.
* Per month. Plus taxes, fees and equipment charges. | $69.00* | Details  11 Reviews |
VoIP, or Voice over Internet Protocol, is one of the most recent types of phone service that can be used as an alternative to traditional analog lines in Corolla, NC. Many business owners do not realize that VoIP service has been in existence for more than a decade and is becoming more and more popular with business owners. Many companies are letting go of their analog PSTN service in favor of making the switch to a product that will help them save time and money, as well as a large initial investment. Many newer, start-up companies, especially smaller ones who are looking to save money but get the most out of their phone service, are looking at VoIP phone services for their businesses.
The call quality of VoIP is just as good as the traditional analog system. The big difference is that the calls are made through your existing Internet system instead of the traditional phone and cable lines. Because of this, you must make sure that your Internet signal is strong so that you don't have problems making and receiving calls. The Wirefly Internet Speed Test can help determine if your current Internet connection will support VoIP.
The biggest difference between the traditional PSTN and VoIP is the way that calls are carried. An analog signal is used to carry PSTN service, while the Internet carries VoIP calls. All calls made through VoIP are digitized. When you use your Internet connection to make and receive telephone calls, you will pay a lot less for your service, as sending data this way is much cheaper. This is great for companies that need to make many long distance or international calls and don't want to pay high fees. VoIP service providers usually offer long distance packages that will allow you to pay a flat rate for unlimited long distance and international calls. This is one less worry for you when you are operating a busy company.
You can also request a number of different features with VoIP services, as they offer the same ones that PSTN service does. This will include Caller ID, call forwarding, call waiting, voicemail, remote access to voicemail, ring groups and much more. If you need to install multiple extensions within your company, VoIP service has you covered.
Nowadays, VoIP service providers in Corolla, NC offer their customers many different plans that will suit the needs of various businesses, regardless of their size. For example, you may only need three lines within your small office space, or your large corporation could use thousands of extensions. No matter what, there is a VoIP phone service that can provide you with whatever you need.
VoIP phone service plans are becoming more and more abundant in Corolla, NC, so you will more than likely have your pick of the company you wish to choose. This can seem overwhelming at first, but don't let it be. You don't want to choose the very first company to come along! Use the different offers to pick and choose who will work the best for your company.
Before you pick a company, decide exactly what you will need for telephone service. Questions to consider are the number of lines that you will need for your business and whether that number could grow in the future, the features you will need to have and how much is in your budget to spend on phone service.
From there, you can browse through the various packages that many of the VoIP providers are offering. Look at the services they offer, the prices of their packages, and the overall reputation of each company. You won't want to choose a company just because they are the cheapest, as they may not be reliable. You'll always want to make sure that your customers can get ahold of you through your VoIP phone service, so choose a company that has great feedback.
Traditional phone service carries your calls over the PSTN, the public switched telephone network. This system is available nationwide, comprised of telephone lines, mobile networks, satellites and cables. The PSTN network, the first type of phone network used for business purposes, has existed for almost a century.
Using a PSTN telephone service in Corolla, NC costs more than VoIP. The PSTN infrastructure, being very old as well as large, tends to requires regular maintenance. It also has a more difficult time sending data over long distances.
When making calls traveling long distances over the PSTN, data stops at numerous locations along the way during the course of its transmission. Since the data flows through equipment owned by various companies, costs for PSTN calls can accrue expensive charges. Although most of the infrastructure being used to carry, switch and route calls is digital, the connection between the local central office and the customer continues to be analog.
Many businesses in Corolla, NC use PBX, which means private branch exchange. This system routes the calls that go into the office and is responsible for the multitude of features that the analog system offers. These include features such as voicemail, multiple extensions and call forwarding.
The location of the PBX may be found at the user's site or it may be hosted from a remote location. But no matter where it is found, an analog PBX may be costly. A PBX analog system will require multiple types of hardware in order to be set up correctly, causing your initial cost to be more than $1,000. Since you will be paying later to maintain or fix this equipment, your expenses can quickly add up. Calling in a professional to fix an issue can often cost your company a $100 dollars an hour or more.
You'll also want to bear in mind that a traditional PBX for your company phone may need to be updated or expanded on later, causing your business additional expenses. This will be especially expensive if your company grows and needs to add on more lines. Always take this into consideration before choosing a traditional phone service.
One of the major reasons many people avoid a PBX system is because it is still subject to breakdowns and issues, like any other electronic system may be. Your repair and hardware bills may go through the roof when you have to fix your system, but when you have a business, you must fix your telephone lines right away. Additionally, if the system becomes obsolete, you will have to replace it, which will cost your company more and more money every time.
