Business Phone Service in Bentonville, AR

Picking the Best Business Phone Service in Bentonville, AR

VoIP business phone services have become popular, and there are several companies competing for business, which helps to keep prices low. When looking for a provider to use, it's useful to think about what your business needs. There are several important questions that need to be answered. Business owners need to think about whether or not they'll be expanding and how much service they can afford with their current budget.

The next step consists of comparing the different business VoIP providers in the Bentonville, AR area. The price, features and reliability of these providers should be compared, and the company's overall reputation is also worth considering. A reliable phone service is critical for the success of any business, which is why it's best to select a provider that has a great track record.

What is PSTN Phone Service in Bentonville, AR?

PSTN stands for public switched analog network. Traditional business phone services carry phone calls over a complicated system of cables, satellites, mobile networks and analog lines on a public network. Several different companies own the equipment that a voice call must travel through on the analog network, and that increases the complexity and expense of the system. PSTN is the original telephone system that has been in use for over a century.

The PSTN network is old, requires much maintenance and lacks the ability to send large amounts of data quickly. For these reasons, PSTN service in Bentonville, AR is more expensive than VoIP service.

Analog Phone System Use With a PBX in Bentonville, AR

A private branch exchange or PBX, is what most Bentonville, AR businesses use to route calls inside their own offices. The PBX permits multiple extensions, voicemail, call forwarding and other important features. On a PSTN, the user's premises or an off-site location can house the PBX. A PBX costs a lot of money to run, regardless of the location.

This is due to required hardware costs, an investment of at least $1000. The equipment then has to be installed, configured and maintained on a regular basis. These, of course, cost money in addition to the initial purchase price. You have the option to get your in-staff employees to be responsible for the equipment or hire a professional. Professionals are known to charge $100 per hour or more.

Any kind of updates or maintenance on a traditional PBX system in Bentonville, AR is going to be very expensive. Be advised that such a system may not be adequate for all your needs, as it only supports a limited number of phone lines. You will need to spend extra money if you need to add more extensions in the future as your business grows.

From time to time, a PBX system will breakdown, just like any other network made from electrical components. In order to repair the hardware, you'll need to be prepared to pay high fees and may even need to buy new hardware to replace it. This could present a potential financial obstacle for start-ups or slow-growing businesses.