Business Phone Service in Durham, NC

Picking the Best Business Phone Service in Durham, NC

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 Durham, NC 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.

Durham, NC 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 Durham, NC, 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 Systems and PBX in Durham, NC

Most Durham, NC 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 Durham, NC 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.