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Business Phone Service in Athens, IL

Making a phone call is still the most preferred method of initiating contact with a business, so it's crucial for any business to consider the affordability as well as features and reliability of their business phone service. There are some different technologies available to businesses in Athens, IL, who are comparing possible service providers - and we here at MyRatePlan will help you come to an informed, educated and good decision! The three main types of technology we're going to discuss are VoIP (which stands for Voice over Internet Protocol, meaning that the phone calls are routed through and over the internet itself to your computer or a traditional phone), PBX (which stands for Private Branch Exchange, and is a system whereby an enterprise-level customer can have any number of local-to-itself lines that all share the same or same few external lines) and - what the industry likes to call it - POTS, or 'Plain Old Telephone Service,' which is the standard that we've all grown up with.

Business VoIP Providers 
Provider Plan Details Monthly Rate*
Ringcentral logo RATED #1 BY INDUSTRY EXPERTS
  • Includes 100+ Premium Features
  • Unlimited Calling, Faxing, SMS, Conferencing
  • Trusted by over 350,000 Businesses

$19.99
Details
4/5

142 Reviews

VOIP logo Business phone service - no internet required
  • Not internet-based - more reliable than VoIP
  • Landline & cell plans, unlimited calls/texts
  • 1:1 account setup tailored to your business

* 8.3% discount if paid for the year upfront

$17.41*
Details
5/5

7 Reviews

Telidesk logo Engineering for the Small Business
  • Unlimited Calling 24/7 Customer Service
  • Quick QR Code Onboarding
  • SMS, Ring Groups, Call Reports

* per user per month

$9.95*
Details
5/5

1 Reviews

Phone Service for Business Alliance Phone Service
  • Simple Control Panel
  • Easy 25-minute setup
  • Daily call reports

* 12% discount for subscribing and paying for a year upfront

$19.97*
Details
5/5

13 Reviews

Talkroute logo The phone system built to do business anywhere
  • Video Meetings & Text Messaging
  • Call Forwarding & Routing
  • Desktop, Mobile, & Web Apps

* $5 per additional user

$19.00*
Details
5/5

1 Reviews

Verizon logo Get 99.99% network reliability with Fios.
  • Business Digital Voice
  • 1-year price guarantee
  • Unlimited data

* Per month. Plus taxes, fees and equipment charges.

$69.00*
Details
1/5

11 Reviews

Best VoIP Providers in Athens, IL

What is Business VoIP Telephone Service in Athens, IL?

America's VoIP networks have a significantly shorter history than their analog counterparts. Individuals started using them more than 10 years ago. A relatively short time ago, substantial numbers of businesses began to adopt VoIP. This type of telephone service has achieved greater popularity among new and small firms. Such enterprises are more concerned about operating expenses, and they haven't invested as much money in analog equipment.

Business VoIP systems in Athens, IL provide clear audio that sounds much better than a cellular phone. However, it's vital to use an Internet service with adequate bandwidth. MyRatePlan's speed testing tool can determine if an existing connection could handle VoIP communications. Companies must obtain reliable Internet access before using this kind of phone service. Otherwise, dropped calls may become a serious problem.

The VoIP and PSTN systems transmit calls in much different ways. Landlines use their own infrastructure and analog signals or a combination of analog and digital communications. On the other hand, VoIP digitizes all audio and transmits it as Internet data. This makes many calls less expensive because it doesn't require separate infrastructure.

Athens, IL businesses generally pay less to initiate non-local or global calls on VoIP systems. A number of companies provide flat-rate plans. This enables users to call people for unlimited periods of time without paying extra. Flat-rate calling usually cuts costs and always results in a more predictable monthly bill.

When companies in Athens, IL subscribe to VoIP service, there are plans available for small, medium and large firms. A startup with only one phone can find affordable options by looking for providers that cater to small firms. The same goes for midsized companies with a few local or regional offices. On the other hand, corporations may have hundreds of employees who need separate extensions. Some VoIP providers have the ability to meet their needs as well.

Compare VoIP Providers in Athens, IL

How to Choose The Best Business VoIP Service Provider in Athens, IL

Shopping for VoIP service in Athens, IL may seem daunting with so many service providers competing for your business; however, this can be advantageous to you if you follow a few basic guidelines when searching for a plan. Establish what you require for your telephone system such as the number of lines you need and what features you want before even looking at providers. Set your budget and also consider how your business may grow in the coming years.

Once you have established what you need, begin your research on Athens, IL business VoIP providers. Read real user reviews and make sure that the company has a positive history with other customers in your area. Since your telephone service is vital to the success of your business, make sure that the provider you choose has been proven to be reliable.

Many providers will offer attractive pricing for new customers. You should examine these promotions but remember that some plans may begin with an introductory price that will increase after a few months. Never settle on a phone provider based on price alone. Research the company's reputation before initiating service or entering a contract. With the amount of information available to you on phone providers, there is no reason to jeopardize the image of your business with a poor quality phone system.

Find and compare business phone service providers in Athens, IL

How Does Traditional Business Phone Service Work in Athens, IL?

Some businesses in Athens, IL still run on a traditional PSTN phone service, and it's useful to understand how this type of service works. When calls are made using a traditional phone service, the calls must be sent through a PSTN, which is short for public switched telephone network. The PSTN is a nationwide system, and it's made of mobile networks, telephone lines, satellites and cables. The public switched telephone network was created over 100 years ago, and it was the first public phone system.

When compared to a VoIP service, it can cost significantly more money to use a traditional telephone service in Athens, IL. The additional cost to use the PSTN is due to the massive size of the network, and the increased cost of maintaining the network. One of the major downsides of using the PSTN is the lack of reliability over long distances. Although a traditional phone service can work well for short distances, it has trouble sending call data across long distances.

A call that is made with the PSTN system must stop at several different parts of the network, and it must pass through equipment that is owned by different companies. The infrastructure is the major cost of using a PSTN, and the ongoing expenses needed to maintain the network keep the cost of traditional phone services high.

Traditional PBX

The Cost of Using A PBX With Analog Phone Systems in Athens, IL

Many businesses in Athens, IL will use a PBX, which is known as a private branch exchange. The PBX is used to route calls through their office, and the PBX allows for a variety of useful call features. Some of the top features are voicemail, conference calls, multiple extensions and call forwarding.

The PBX for a traditional phone system can be located locally, or it can be hosted remotely. The major drawback of the PBX solution is the cost, which is much more expensive than VoIP. A variety of costly hardware components are needed to get started with a complete business phone system. The ongoing maintenance for the components is also expensive and can suffer frequent failures.

If you're planning to use a traditional PBX for your business in Athens, IL, then it's important to know the cost of expanding or upgrading the system. PBX systems are known to support a limited number of lines, and they can cost a lot of money to upgrade. There is also the risk that the PBX system will need to be replaced or become obsolete. These are all factors that business owners must consider before choosing a business phone service. Fortunately, MyRatePlan makes it easy to compare prices for different providers and discover the best deals.