Business Phone Service in Oakland, MD

Picking the Best Business Phone Service in Oakland, MD

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 Oakland, MD 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.

Oakland, MD Traditional Phone Service

Traditional phones carry out the audio connection over the PSTN or public switched telephone network. The PSTN system uses a combination of cables, satellites, mobile networks and other technology - old and new - to deliver exceptional quality of calls nationwide, and has been in use for nearly a hundred years!

Using a plain old telephone service provider in Oakland, MD, is more expensive than VoIP as the network is large and old, and requires regular and constant maintenance to be effective. What's more is that it has a tougher time sending your audio data over large distances - and even much more difficulty when connecting international calls.

While more and more of the PSTN system is being digitized, there is still always the last bit of a connection between a local office and the receiving phone number that's owned and operated by a company who can charge what they want for connecting your call. What's more is that as your calls extend geographically to longer and longer distances, there are more ‘pit stops' where the call is connected and patched through to achieve longer distances - each of which can significantly increase the cost of the call.

Analog Phone System Use With a PBX in Oakland, MD

A private branch exchange or PBX, is what most Oakland, MD 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 Oakland, MD 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.