The ability of your customers to reach out and purchase your product or service in Lucama, NC depends upon your choosing a reliable telephone service provider. Using the telephone remains the number one way most customers still use to get in touch with your business. Choosing the right kind of phone service for your business means contracting with a service that is affordable, dependable, and offers your business the specific features that make doing business with you as easy and convenient as possible. It's important to take the time to carefully evaluate a variety of business phone service types and providers available in the Lucama, NC area before making a commitment. You can choose between traditional analog telephone service, or VoIP service, explained in the comparisons of business phone service providers that follow.
| 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 |
 | Engineering for the Small Business
* per user per month | $9.95* | Details 1 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 phone service is not as complicated as one may think. VoIP stands for Voice Over Internet Protocol and is simply a relatively new way for phone companies to provide reliable service. VoIP has been around for more than ten years but is only now becoming more well-known and popular among business owners who want to use the latest technology within their company. This service allows calls to go over your Internet connection at your business and is exactly the same as a traditional phone line. Many new companies, especially start-ups, choose this service for their communication needs. You will only need a reliable Internet connection to receive the best call quality with VoIP. To check to see if your current business Internet provider supports VoIP, use our Wirefly Internet Speed Test. However, most Internet providers support VoIP.
The biggest contrast between VoIP and PSTN is the way calls are carried. PSTN calls are carried by use of an analog signal, while VoIP calls are digitized and run through an Internet connection instead. Many business owners choose VoIP connections because running data through an Internet connection is actually less expensive than a traditional phone network; plus, most companies already have a connection that they are already paying for. VoIP service providers also charge less for long distance and international calls, and many providers have flat rate packages that will keep your costs down. This is perfect for businesses that make a lot of international calls but need to stick to a budget. You won't be hit with surprise charges that are through the roof with a VoIP phone service.
Lucama, NC VoIP phone service providers will also offer customers a number of calling features that may be helpful for their business. You'll receive access to features such as caller ID, remote access voicemail, call forwarding and voicemail to email. You'll also be able to set up as many phone extensions that you need. You may be a local candle business with one location and only need two extensions for your space. Some business owners may be head of a large corporation who will require thousands of extensions for all of their employees to use. Either way, there are VoIP services that can fit your needs without breaking your budget. This is especially helpful for a business owner who may be starting off small and needs to watch their finances carefully.
When you start your search for the best phone provider, you'll see that there are many VoIP service suppliers battling to do business with you. While you may be overwhelmed at first, you can actually use this to your advantage.
Consider what you need before you choose a company. You will want to know how many lines you will need, whether you will utilize the special features enough to be worth buying them and if your business has the potential to grow down the road. How much the companies charge for service will also be a factor. If you are a smaller company, you won't want a company that overcharges.
Compare all of the features between the companies to see who offers the most for the best rate. Look into the actual reputation of the company, as well. Finding a cheap VoIP service isn't beneficial if the company has poor customer service and a bad reputation. Remember that your company needs to have a reliable phone service to make and receive calls, so choosing a cheap company can actually lose you money if they do not offer reliable service.
Traditionally, most calls are carried through the PSTN, the public switched telephone network. This is a nationwide system that uses telephone lines, cables, satellites and mobile networks to connect calls. This particular phone service has been around for more than a hundred years and was the very first type of phone service ever to be utilized.
However, the traditional PSTN telephone service is a more expensive choice when compared to VoIP, mostly because of the large infrastructure the system still relies on. Since it is so old and large, regular maintenance is needed to make sure it runs efficiently. Also, an analog signal has a harder time sending data over a long distance.
As a long distance call travels over the PSTN system, it stops at quite a few locations as it moves. The data is transmitted through old equipment owned by numerous companies, making the calls expensive. Most of the infrastructure used to carry and switch telephone calls has become digital, but the “last mile' of the call is still analog. This is another reason a PSTN service can ultimately end up costing business owners more.
Most Lucama, NC businesses use a PBX, or private branch exchange, to route the calls that go through their office. A PBX system allows different calling features to function correctly, such as multiple extensions, call forwarding, voicemail and more. It is an important part of the phone system.
A traditional PSTN phone system can utilize the PBX either from the user's premises or from a remote location. But an analog PBX has a big drawback, and that is the expense. When you set up a complete business phone system that includes a PBX, you will need various types of hardware that you will be required to purchase to get started. This expense falls on the business owner and the initial investment can be anywhere from $1,000 and up. Other factors, such as installation and configuration, are also not included in the initial price. Any maintenance that must be done on the PBX will also be the business owner's responsibility. Hiring a professional to come out to look at any problems can cost at least $100 an hour, if not more.
A traditional PBX may also breakdown or parts of it can become obsolete, again a problem that can be very costly to fix. Many of these systems do not support more than a few lines at a time, so upgrading to more if your business grows will add on the expense of having to purchase additional hardware. You'll get stuck paying for costly repairs for years to come if you choose this type of phone system for your business.
