| What are telecommunications agents, and what are | | | | Some telecommunications agents charge a fee for |
| the differences between them? Telecommunications | | | | their services others rely on spiffs from the carriers to |
| agents are for lack of a better term, brokers. Similar to | | | | fund their operations. About 70% of all agents choose |
| an insurance broker, telecommunications agents look | | | | option number two. They will get a phone bill from a |
| for the best deal for their clients. | | | | potential client and let them know they can save them |
| Telecommunications agents play a pivotal role for | | | | money by performing a review of services. The client |
| businesses. The agents hunt for pricing not always | | | | will give the agent the go ahead to move them to |
| relying on the ATT's of the world. This requires the | | | | another carrier. Once the switch has been made the |
| agent to pursue relationships with all carriers. Some | | | | carrier will then send a check to the agents in most |
| carriers offer a different product set than others. The | | | | cases anywhere from 1.5-3 times the monthly revenue. |
| agents' job is to match appropriate carrier with client | | | | On top of the monthly revenue the carrier will usually |
| needs. | | | | give the agent a monthly residual. |
| Another function of an agent is to perform a review | | | | Most companies elect to do business with these types |
| of services, so that they can identify what exactly the | | | | of agents rather than the ones who charge fees. The |
| client needs. By doing this, the agent can verify market | | | | companies identify the value in letting the carrier |
| pricing, make sure their client has no fraudulent charges | | | | compensate the agent rather than them forking over |
| as well as verify billing accuracy. | | | | the dough. |