Getting the Most From Your Business Phone Lines

In business, getting the right package for your business telephone lines can literally mean the difference between streamlining your expenses and needlessly wasting money. Whether you're familiar with business phone lines or new to the subject, this guide identifies the better providers, types of lines and best deals.

Does Your Provider Offer Best Value?

Ideally, your provider should work with all the major networks; otherwise you risk being sold a suboptimal package sourced from just one or two networks. Your provider should base their quote on your actual pattern of usage and offer scalable packages. If you can't change your business telephone lines within a few years, you could find your attractively priced deal could be all too quickly out of date. You also need to know that your provider has enough bulk purchasing power with their telephony suppliers to make sure those savings are passed on to you. Finally, insist on a dedicated manager to handle your account to avoid dealing with an endless parade of different staff. It might help you to understand some of the terminology and concepts used for business telephone lines before talking to potential providers.

Which Business Phone Lines Offer Best Value?

The better providers offer analogue lines as multiple business phone lines, meaning you get Broadband connection and simultaneous multiple inbound and outbound calls. Small offices could also consider ISDN2e from BT, which offers 2 'channels' to allow multiple functions. This offers high quality voice and data services which allows for the simultaneous connection of 8 digital devices and 2 phone calls. Prices are similar to 2 conventional phone lines but the quality and capacity is far superior. Offices needing a larger system should consider ISDN30, in conjunction with a compatible Telephone System such as the Toshiba CIX range. The ISDN30 can be extended to hundreds of channels for larger scale operations. So perhaps think multiple analogue for home sized businesses, ISDN2e for small offices and ISDN30 for larger companies - and then consider the price you'll pay for business line rental.

How To Get Better Deals For Business Telephone Lines?

The better providers should have a relationship with BT allowing for free installation of any BT line service and a discount on line rental for BT Analogue, ISDN, BT ISDN2 and BT ISDN30. Also ask about SIP Trunks, delivering significant savings and flexibility without changing a BT or Virgin Media telephone number. SIP Trunks allows for multiple VOIP calls using just a single internet connection. VOIP calls are telephone calls which are routed over the internet rather than the traditional telephone exchange system, providing great savings. With an SIP Trunk using VOIP in this way, you are then also free from paying BT/Virgin Media rental charges.

If you need more than one line, the better business telephone lines providers will only make small charges for each additional one (and offer additional call packages to 01, 02 and 03 landline numbers as standard). Ask about 'bundles' - can you pay a single monthly fee for the line rental along with other business telephony services? You can get business phone lines rental, free call minutes, Broadband, a Router and Migration included in the better packages. Also enquire whether you can receive free telephone calls between your premises sites.

Getting the best deal on business telephone lines will probably be easier working with these tips provided by Synergy One, a leading expert in systems to provide efficient and cost-effective business telephone calls.