Finding a business phone service provider in Marathon, WI can be confusing at times. But it is a very important first step when you are a business owner, whether you are just starting up or have been in business for years. The telephone is still the first form of communication most customers and vendors go for when they want to get in touch with a business, especially if that business happens to be further away. You need a phone service that is both affordable and reliable, so before you make the decision of what company to go with, do your research. There are two main phone service providers that you can choose from, either a traditional analog service or the newer VoIP phone service. You should understand just what the difference is between the two before you make your final decision. You can compare below the difference between these two types of providers.
| 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.
Marathon, WI 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.
Since VoIP phone service has become a popular choice in Marathon, WI among business owners, more and more providers will be fighting for your business. This can make it hard to decide on which one to choose, but you can use this to your advantage.
You'll need to first think about what you need for your business. Do you need multiple lines? Are you planning to expand your company in the near future? How much is in your budget for phone service? These are just a few important questions to ask yourself. Next, compare the differences and similarities between companies. Figure out what packages you can get and for what price. Bear in mind that you should always pick a reliable and reputable VoIP provider for your business. A reliable phone system is crucial for your company and its continued success.
With a traditional phone service, your calls will be carried over the POTS, which is also known as a PSTN (public switched telephone network). This system exists all throughout the nation and is composed of many wires, satellite dishes, cellular networks, and landlines. POTS has existed for nearly 100 years and was the first telephone network created.
Having a POTS phone service costs quite a bit more than VoIP in Marathon, WI, primarily because the POTS framework is incredibly sizable, creaky, and demands continual upkeep. Since POTS is an analog-based system, it's hard for it to dispatch information across distances of any length.
Whenever you call some long distance on a POTS line, the signal will pause at several spots along its path of transmission. Because the signal will move through machinery being operated by a number of businesses, long-distance calls placed on a POTS line are not cheap. Much of the hardware once used to transport, exchange, and direct calls has become completely digitized, but the final link (the bridge linking the regional office to the user) remains analog.
Most Marathon, WI businesses use a private branch exchange, or a PBX, that routes the calls that they get within their office. When you have a business phone service, the PBX is what allows the different calling features to happen, such as call forwarding, voicemail, conference calls and more. You also need a PBX to run multiple extensions in your office.
A traditional PSTN phone system can host the PBX either at a remote location or actually at the place of business. Unfortunately, either option can be very expensive. When you need to set up your business phone system using a PBX, you will have to invest in a lot of different types of hardware. This could run your business at least $1,000 to start. Not only that, but installation is not included in this price, as well as the configuration of the equipment and any maintenance that will need to be done later on. You will either need to have someone in your company take care of any maintenance down the road or call the company to have a service representative come and fix the issue. This could run your company at least $100 an hour or more, which can get expensive when you need to call multiple times.
If you do choose to use a traditional PBX for your business, you should be aware that you may have to upgrade or expand it in the years ahead. This is also expensive. Not only that, you may be limited on the number of lines that you can add to your phone system. If you do need to add lines to your growing company, you will be required to pay for the hardware and the installation to accommodate your business growth. A PBX is also known to breakdown, which will also cost a great deal to fix.
