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Business Phone System and Plans
The business phone system. The staple of any small business and large business. But are your business's communications
needs being met most
cost effectively and efficiently by your business phone equipment and connection plans?
Whether you are just starting a small business and need to select a telephone system for the office or whether you are
evaluating your ongoing business's current needs, there are questions you should ask yourself and things you should
know about business phone systems. Most importantly, you have rights when you shop for, select, and use a
communication services company:
- You have the right to choose the services you want and need, whether you buy them separately or as a package.
- You have the right to information so you can compare products and services and make the best buying decision
for your calling needs. The companies selling you services can offer specific product information.
Consider your current calling habits and costs for local, regional, and long distance service by reviewing your
telephone bills over the last three to six months. Also ask yourself:
- What's included in my basic local telephone service? What services cost extra? What customized services do
I currently have? What services do I need? Do I expect my needs to change?
- Which company currently provides my local service? My long distance service?
- What are my calling patterns? Do I place most of my long distance calls to the same numbers during the same
hours? How many phone calls do I make each month? How long do I talk?
- What do I pay now for local, regional, and long distance telephone service? Do I lease or own my telephone
equipment? What other communications services do I purchase, such as Internet access, mobile or cellular phone,
or paging service? How much do I spend on all of my communications service?
- Am I on a calling plan with my regional or long distance company? Do I use a calling card to place calls
while away from the office? What special savings do I have through my calling plan or calling card, and what
restrictions apply to them?
Getting a handle on details such as these will give you a more complete picture of your needs and put you in a
better position to comparison shop for business phone service.
You may decide to drop some telephone services and add others. You may want to go with one phone company for all
your service needs, or use different companies for local, regional, and long distance service.
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