Business Phone Service in Decatur, IL

How to Choose The Best Business Phone Service Provider in Decatur, IL

The growing popularity of this service has encouraged numerous companies to enter the market. Some business owners find it hard to choose a provider because there are so many options to consider. Nevertheless, it's worth taking the time to compare the features, prices and reputations of different firms. The extra effort can produce considerable long-term savings.

Business people must evaluate their needs, wants and limitations before selecting providers. For example, it's wise to look at the available features and determine what functions are likely to be useful more than once or twice. It also makes sense to calculate the necessary number of lines and establish a realistic spending limit.

Next, compare the plans available from several commercial phone services. Look for the least expensive option that supplies enough features and extensions. Thoroughly research the provider's reputation to make sure that its system works reliably. If a company intends to eventually close offices or hire additional staff, it should check the rates for various numbers of lines.

Keep in mind that dependability and honesty are more important than the lowest rates. A low monthly bill won't compensate for missed sales opportunities if the phone service isn't reliable. MyRatePlan helps Decatur, IL business owners find affordable services that they can rely upon. Please scroll down to see a detailed comparison.

What is Traditional Business Phone Service in Decatur, IL?

A traditional phone service, calls are transferred over a public switched telephone network or PSTN system. The PSTN is available all over the country and is a network of phone lines, satellites, cables, and mobile networks. At over 100 years old, PSTN is the oldest type of phone network.

This large and old infrastructure is expensive to support. This is why using traditional phones is so much more expensive than VoIP in Decatur, IL. The network requires regular maintenance and is analog, meaning it is inefficient when it comes to transferring long distance messages.

The reasons long distance transmissions take so long is that they make several stops along the way. These stops occur at various locations owned by different phone companies. Although some of the equipment at these locations digitizes the information so it can be sent faster, the final stretch to the central switch is still analog, making the overall transmission time longer than what you'd get with VoIP.

Analog Phone Systems and PBX in Decatur, IL

Most Decatur, IL businesses choose to use a private branch exchange, also known as a PBX system. A PBX system allows the system to route calls to the correct line and enables the use of other calling features such as voicemail, call forwarding, multiple extensions and others. Businesses can locate the PBX system at their office or a remote location.

An analog PBX system requires multiple pieces of hardware that need to be purchased, installed and configured, so you need to keep these expenses in mind if you are considering using one. For example, the hardware alone can cost over $1,000 to purchase. That price does not include installation and configuration which will require the expertise of a professional technician.

If you are interested in an analog PBX system for your Decatur, IL business, you should be aware that expansion can be challenging and expensive. Most PBX systems only support a limited number of lines, so if your business eventually requires more capacity than you originally designed the system for, you may be forced to purchase more expensive hardware.

All electronic equipment eventually fails and will need replacement. Since an analog PBX system requires more electronic equipment than VoIP systems, the potential exists for higher costs due to the replacement of electronic hardware. There is also the risk of your equipment becoming obsolete as providers modernize their telephone systems. Phone companies will place less emphasis on analog technology as they phase out analog and refocus on more affordable and efficient VoIP technology.