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Business Phone Service in Rhode Island

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 Rhode Island, 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

*Rates shown do not include surcharges, E-911taxes charges and other government mandated taxes. Some providers offering unlimited calling and other promotions may have restrictions. Read individual providers terms and conditions before you buy.
VoIP Business Phone Services Listing
Best VoIP Providers in Rhode Island

What is Rhode Island Business VoIP Phone Service?

An alternative to traditional landline service, VoIP has become increasingly popular with new businesses as well as older companies that switch after realizing how VoIP can increase productivity and reduce operating costs. Although the technology is over ten years old now, it initially suffered from poor call quality due to limits in broadband technology. That issue is no longer a concern due to the widespread deployment of superior broadband networks, and adaptation of VoIP is expanding rapidly. VoIP now offers the same call quality as analog phone service while providing more features at a better price. VoIP works by sending voice calls over the internet rather than through traditional analog telephone lines, so it is important that you have a fast and reliable business internet connection available. To see if your internet connection in Rhode Island will support VoIP service, use the MyRatePlan internet speed test.

PSTN refers to traditional landline service, where voice calls sent through analog lines are routed through switches to other telephones. VoIP works differently, by turning voice calls into packets of data and transferring them over high-speed broadband lines. Transmitting voice calls over the internet costs less since analog lines are archaic and require constant maintenance, while broadband lines are already in use to provide internet service and the network is continually expanding and improving. Since PSTN service infrastructure is more expensive to maintain than broadband, analog telephone providers must charge for services and features that are often free with a VoIP plan. VoIP customers typically spend much less on features such as long distance than PSTN users and are not charged by the minute.

VoIP service providers offer plans tailored to businesses of all sizes and provide essential features like voicemail and call waiting, as well as advanced productivity features including automated line attendants and remote access. Whether your business needs a few lines or you need several thousand, VoIP providers in Rhode Island can meet your requirements and help to increase the efficiency and profitability of your business.

Compare VoIP Providers in Rhode Island

How to Choose The Best Business Phone Service Provider in Rhode Island

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 Rhode Island business owners find affordable services that they can rely upon. Please scroll down to see a detailed comparison.

Find and compare business phone service providers in Rhode Island

Traditional Business Phone Service in Rhode Island

VoIP isn't the best service for every business, and there are many businesses that will benefit more from a traditional phone service. If you choose a traditional service provider, your calls will be sent through a PSTN, which is short for public switched telephone network. The PSTN is a nationwide network, and it consists of thousands of physical telephone lines, mobile networks, cables and satellites. Most people don't know that the PSTN was the first phone network created, and it can deliver reliable performance for any business.

The major downside of choosing a traditional business phone service is the cost, which tends to be much greater than what you'd pay for VoIP. The cost to use a PSTN service in Rhode Island can be expensive, and your calls must stop at several different locations along the network. Since PSTN is analog, it doesn't send data very efficiently over long distances.

Calls that are transmitted over the PSTN must make several stops, and the calls must flow through several different providers. The end result of this process is increased costs for business owners. Although much of the infrastructure for the PSTN is digital, the physical connections are still required, and they can be very expensive to use.

Traditional PBX

Rhode Island Business Analog System with a PBX

For the most part, businesses in Rhode Island use a private branch exchange to route calls received within the office. More commonly known as a PBX, this type of system allows the business phone service to function as it should with a variety of calling features such as conference calls, voicemail, call forwarding and multiple extensions.

Having a complete business phone service with a PBX requires buying various hardware that can cost over $1,000. This amount does not include the installation, configuration and ongoing maintenance that is necessary to ensure your phone service works for customer phone calls.

This is a pricey option especially when it is time to upgrade or expand the service in Rhode Island. If you do not have an in-house technical staff, you will have to pay a professional for maintenance and to make any changes.

The last thing you should want is stifling business growth because you cannot afford to upgrade a traditional phone system to accommodate that growth. However, needing more hardware is inevitable when the time comes to add more extensions to your existing phone service.

With this in mind, take full advantage of the services of MyRatePlan to make useful comparisons of updating your business phone service. Taking the time to research service providers in Rhode Island can help you avoid paying costly repairs for a PBX system that may very well become obsolete.