| More and more companies are throwing out their tired | | | | Unlimited calling plans frequently only include the |
| old telephone system and replacing them with | | | | provider's network which are usually very small. Off |
| state-of-the-art Hosted VoIP or Hosted PBX services. | | | | network usage can be as high as $.065/minute! The |
| In addition to lower telephone bills and getting away | | | | average desk phone is used approximately 750 |
| from 1960s phone line technology, the benefits are | | | | minutes/month adding anywhere from $20-$50/month |
| wide and far ranging. They include virtual local numbers, | | | | per user. Not cheap! |
| telecommuting, connecting multiple locations together | | | | Find a hosted VoIP provider who offers an unlimited |
| through voice, Personal Telephone Numbers, Mobile | | | | plan for placing local and domestic long distance calls. |
| PBX, Private Faxes, Unified Communications and | | | | The variable plans are too unpredictable in price and |
| many more. | | | | rarely a good deal for their customers. If you do select |
| Regardless of their reasons for choosing a Hosted | | | | a variable plan, make sure you know the per minute |
| PBX or Hosted VoIP provider and the goals that | | | | charges. Estimate your monthly usage and do the |
| accompanied the decision, not all deployments of | | | | math. If you are not sure, use 750 minutes per month |
| Hosted PBX services are successful. Here is a list of | | | | per phone. |
| the top mistakes made when choosing a Hosted VoIP | | | | 4. Selecting a provider that does not deliver crucial |
| service and how to avoid them: | | | | features. Hosted PBX providers offer many exciting |
| 1. Selecting a provider that is new to the industry. | | | | new features and capabilities. However, some of your |
| Providers that are new to the industry may not know | | | | most common phone system functions such as paging |
| how to successfully deploy their service. In addition, | | | | or Busy Lamp Field (who is on the phone) may not be |
| they will be learning and solving new problems while | | | | offered at all. |
| using their customers as Guinea Pigs. Worse, they | | | | Do not take the basic features of your telephone |
| could go out of business with little or no notice which | | | | system for granted. Spend some time watching how |
| could have devastating effects on their customers. | | | | the system is used and which features are |
| Choose a provider that has been delivering Hosted | | | | instrumental to the smooth operation of the company. |
| PBX services for a minimum of 5 years. The length of | | | | Verifying that the Hosted VoIP provider furnishes |
| time that a provider has been in business is an indicator | | | | these features will save some nasty surprises later. |
| of quality service, satisfied customers and financial | | | | 5. Electing a provider that does not assist in prioritizing |
| health. | | | | voice traffic as it goes out on your Internet connection. |
| 2. Deploying a Hosted VoIP service with an Internet | | | | Internet connections from cable companies and DSL |
| connection that is not ready for VoIP. Approximately | | | | circuits have lower upload speeds to the Internet. |
| 60% of all headaches related to VoIP are usually the | | | | Unprioritized voice and data traffic compete for this |
| customer's Internet connection. An unstable or | | | | limited resource. Sending a large e-mail while |
| insufficient Internet connection can cause choppy and | | | | conducting a phone call can create choppy voice and |
| garbled voice, dropped calls and a frustrated staff. | | | | even dropped calls. |
| Make sure that your Internet connection is large | | | | Find a VoIP provider who will assist in prioritizing traffic. |
| enough, stable and clean of problems before Hosted | | | | Ask the potential provider how your data vendor can |
| VoIP service is installed. The Hosted VoIP provider | | | | prioritize their voice traffic. If they cannot give you an |
| should have tools in place to help determine stability | | | | answer or they claim it does not need to be done, find |
| and diagnose issues. Ask them to explain how they | | | | someone else. |
| are going to do it. If their explanation is not | | | | 6. Making a change of providers without learning |
| understandable, then they probably do not understand | | | | service termination and other charges that may apply. |
| it either. Remember, the Internet pipe has to be stable | | | | Vendors offer attractive pricing and reduced installation |
| and large enough to handle the number of anticipated | | | | charges in exchange for long term commitments. |
| simultaneous calls. | | | | Review your contract and know any remaining term, |
| 3. Not understanding the calling plans and hidden | | | | cancellation procedures and termination charges. Do |
| charges before selecting a service provider. The | | | | not get surprised by these charges after you have |
| cheap pricing advertised on websites can be very | | | | already committed to another provider. |
| appealing. In some cases, all is not what it seems. | | | | |