ISFMA the Blog

The market has plenty of choices when it comes to business long distance service. When taking these services into consideration there are a few things you should look for and keep in mind before deciding.

Price is probably the first consideration on everyone’s list when it comes to commercial long distance service. Though the prices on higher speed t1 phone lines has dropped in recent years because many of the centralized offices have switched from analog to digital it can still be expensive even if it does mean that previously unavailable areas are now serviced.

Bundled services are also something to consider and can be one way to lower the overall cost of the plan. These bundled services include features and calling plans so all the features should be taken into consideration when forming your comparison charts and attempt to break things down into the smallest pieces when looking at prices. Things like price per minute, minutes of usage, rental or leasing costs and check for taxes, overage fees and any other fees, which may be hidden in the small print.

Commercial lines usually have to be installed so expect installation fees and expect several months between installation and the time you start to see savings. However, you can make small changes as well that can help to save you money on the over all long distance plan you are using.

Service is the second factor to consider when looking into a long distance service. Check for things like contract length especially if there is a special deal or offer. Make sure the company has a standing track record and that they have been in business for a decent period of time. You also want to check to make sure they are legal when it comes to offering the services they are providing.

Make sure you are clear on how to resolve any problems that arise, how long the process normally takes, what you need in order to handle issues before you sign the contract. It is also a good idea to make sure that there is an easy way to reach the people you need to reach and that you can actually reach them as well as making sure the company has excellent customer service.

Functionality is the third thing that needs to be taken into consideration. Make sure that the down time for your long distance service is minimal and that the connection is of good quality. Cutting corners on services is a great way to save money but you need to make sure the service is usable by your customers as well as yourself.

Consider upgrading in order to be able to handle business growth. You may find that a larger initial expense such as purchasing a voice t1 line or renting one may actually provide you with more features and better functionality than traditional service making it the more affordable option over the long run. Each T1 connection is high speed, can handle between 50-100 users on 24 channels, and can handle both voice and data.

Ensure than you have at least ten percent extra to account for growth when considering service and make sure you have services that accommodate your business practices.In order to determine the proper long distance service or plan you may need to look at several detailed bills. Pay particular attention to when the most calls were made, where they were made to and the amount of monthly calls. To be more precise you may want to get a traffic study, which will show this information in detail. A traffic study is only part of the picture, however. Be sure to take into account your own knowledge of the business and its peaks and valleys as you decide on services.