Posts Tagged ‘business long distance’

What to Look for in a Business Phone Service Provider

Business phone service providers are available in the masses. When choosing a service provider for your business there are some key important aspects to consider before committing to the service, regardless of the term of use. Here we will discuss some of these important factors to be aware of.

1. Contracts – Be wary of contracts. Many business phone service providers that are reputable will offer contracts however a contract can be burdening to the client in particular cases. In some instances  such as with voice T1 lines, you will find a contract is necessary and usually on a term of anywhere from 1 to 3 years. Read the contract carefully before signing and faxing it back. Look for early termination fees but more crucially, the terms of termination in relation to quality of service (QoS). Make sure that if services provided do not add up to the quality agreed upon in the contract that you can bail out unscathed, and perhaps even with a refund. Remember YOU CAN negotiate certain terms of a contract and have it rewritten if you feel the terms are not up to your standards before signing or your broker/consultant can for you.

HINT: Many providers with quality services rarely require contracts with the exception of T1 providers and wireless carriers.

2.  Pricing – Regardless if it is an unlimited or per minute plan, you will want a business phone service comparison to make a decision from. If it is a business long distance plan you are seeking, be sure to check what the intralta (in-state) long distance rates are agreeable with you. Intralata rates quite often will differ from the interlata (state-to-state) rates. A good way to find a multitude of qualified business services side by side is to go through a telecommunications consultant or broker.

3.  Fees – Make sure to always check terms and conditions of the service itself before signing up for any business phone service. You may find there are monthly fees just to keep your service or fees for minimum usage requirements. Make sure these fees are in accordance with your budget. If you are switching services there may be a switching/connection fee.

4. Taxes and Regulatory Fees – Expect there to be additional taxes and fees applicable on the federal and state level. Discuss with the provider or your telecommunications consultant/broker what these fees will be so you can plan them into your estimated monthly usage.

There are many technologies and additional services that require different analysis of your future purchase of business phone services. The best way to handle your telecom needs is to consult with a telecommunications consultant or broker and have them discuss technology and pricing options.

For free consultations and price quotes on business phone service visit us at http://topsavings.net today.

How to Save on Business Long Distance Rates

Business long distance can be one of the more costly expenses in the telecom sector, so when shopping for a solution for your company it always pays to be more apprehensive. When shopping for services make sure you know what you need and want from your long distance provider before going out and shopping. Ask yourself a few questions first and write them down.

Question One: How much long distance does my company use? The minutes you use monthly will help in defining the plan you will be picking later down the road or even change your current services and phone systems. In some cases, companies have found they needed a voice T1 to adequately save on the volume of calling their business made which requires additional PBX equipment as well.

Question Two: What type of long distance does my company use? Do you make a fair amount of accumulated international long distance calls and which country is called the most? How many of your calls are in-state (intralata) long distance? How many of your calls are state-to-state (interlata)?

Question Three: Does my business have adequate bandwidth? You may find you want to switch to a business VoIP solution or SIP and in that particular case, you will need to figure out how many phone lines your business will be using and to what affect that will have on your Internet bill.

With these questions asked you can go on to seek out the business long distance rates you desire for your telecommunications budget. You will need to be careful of many pitfalls such as monthly minimum requirements, unfixed rates, minute increments, intralata rates, taxes, set up fees, special terms and conditions, and many other possibilities.

To avoid going through the headache of understanding all of the terms associated with business long distance phone services and providers, many businesses go through telecommunications consultants, telecom auditors, or telecom brokers. Most all the services offered by these firms are provided free of charge and save their clients money as well as set up services that are more efficient.

To get the best business long distance rates for your company or government agency, visit us at our main page at http://topsavings.net

How to Shop for the Best Business Long Distance Rates

Picking out a good business long distance plan for voice communications is an important aspect of your telecommunications strategy no matter which way you look at it. The larger your calling volume, the more every cent counts towards your bottom line for your everyday operations. With that said, calling rates can become very taxing on your business.  Whether you are switching your business long distance phone service or seeking an entire new technology to deploy your voice service needs, these tips will help your business save on it’s everyday calling expenses well into the future if payed attention to each time you change providers.

Watch Out for Minimums
Some business long distance service plans offer what is called a monthly minimum plan. While this can save you some money when meeting the requirements, not meeting the requirements can start to add up on your bill. Depending on the carrier, you can expect to see a monthly fee added to your bill if you do not meet the minimum monthly requirements. Worse yet, some providers may even charge your bill in full to the minimum requirement!
Check the Billing Increments
Billing increments are the one part of a business long distance plan that can add some weight to your bill. The most popular billing increments tend to be 30 and 60 second, however you will want to find the lowest increments possible to save your business in the long term so finding a 6 second billing increment is vital.

Intralata Rates

An advertised rate usually will be the Interlata (state-to-state) long distance billing. Many time the Intralata rates will be higher by up to 4 cents per minute. Make sure to check the Intralata rates before choosing your business long distance service provider.
International Long Distance
International calling rates are traditionally known as a high cost long distance expense in respect to business calls. If you frequently call a set of countries be sure to find out the rates, increments, connection fees, and monthly fees for international calling. Everything reviewed in the other tips should be applied to your international rates as well as the costs to call mobile phones overseas, which on average can be triple the normal international per minute rate.
Review the Fine Print
While per minute rates are appetizing for any penny pinching goals, additional fees can apply. Be sure to read the fine print and look for these fees or you may find yourself paying more for than what you had previously planned for … not good for a monthly telecom budget. This may include set up fees, monthly maintenance fees cancellation fees, and the following two above this tip.
Signing Contracts
While signing a contract by many is considered a no no, signing a contract is not always a bad thing. What is important is that you negotiate your contract. The more minutes you use a month, the more chance you have at getting an altered contract. Before signing make sure that the QoS (Quality of Service), the termination fees, and the rates are all understood or negotiated. If your provider for instance does not perform outstandingly in their provided services, make sure the contract states you can leave without paying a hefty fee. Just as important, make sure your per minute rates will be locked for the term of that contract.

Toll-Free Numbers Rates
If  you have a toll free number already then make sure you understand the rates that will be applied to your toll free services. Applicable rates would include payphone calls, billing increments, monthly maintenance fees, and of course the per minute rate. Knowing these costs will help keep away any surprises in your long distance bill. Do not sign the responsible organization form until you have have informed yourself of the costs.

Here at TopSavings.Net it is no secret we offer business long distance among our many other business phone and Internet services. What may not be known by many however though are the low rates we negotiate for our customers on a daily basis, so when I say we are having a sale, it is not just saving on your L.D. phone services as usual.

If you look further down our posts, you will notice we had a sale in January. With the success of that promotion we have decided to extend the offer for business T1 voice long distance and T1 integrated services that require local loop (local phone service).

All you have to do is these three steps before April 1st (not a joke):

1. Go to our long distance quote form page
2. Fill Out Your Business Information
3. Click the Submit Button … DONE!

From there the following will happen:

1. Within 48 Hours You Will Be Contacted by Phone
2. You Will Be Consulted on the Right Solution for Your Business
3. You Will Be Then Supplied With the Best Quotes From One Source
4. The Rest Is Up To You! No Obligation!

I want you to also put one more fact into consideration. When you are getting supplied with quotes for your long distance voice needs you are getting quotes for services from major nationwide providers. The pricing quotes you get from TopSavings.Net are not the same as if you went to the providers themselves due to the main broker cost advantage (purchase power).

Take advantage of the purchase power we can provide for your business and help increase your business contact call center ROI today. We have custom service options for businesses of all sizes including large government and enterprise operations, so do not hesitate to discover the savings that can be obtained. In today’s economy you owe it to your business and employees to find cost reduced services while protecting the productivity of your operations.

If you have any questions, feel free to call us at our new toll free contact number 1-888-259-6113

Sincerely,

Aaron Siegel

TopSavings.Net Telecommunications

P.S. We look forward to your business and are excited to meet you soon. Take care!