In this insightful analysis, you'll discover how the best VoIP provider can help your small business save money, become more agile, and even look larger.
VoIP and the Small Business
HOW TO TELL IF IT'S RIGHT FOR YOU AND YOUR BUSINESSTable of Contents
1
1. VoIP: An Overview................................................................................................................................ 03
2. What Is Voice over Internet Protocol?.................................................................................................. 04
3. How VoIP Partners with Small Business.............................................................................................. 06
4. Is VoIP the Right Choice? ..................................................................................................................... 08
5. If VoIP Is for You, Don't Wait to Start Saving....................................................................................... 10
6. Get the Facts on VoIP (with contact information) ................................................................................ 11
Page 2 of 11
VoIP: An Overview
2
Lately, there's been a lot of talk about VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol)-not the least of it insmall-business circles. Small businesses need to save money, ease their growing pains, and appearlarger. According to the hype, VoIP can do all of these and more.
The truth is that VoIP can be very helpful-to the right business in the right situation. Let's take alook at how VoIP can support three small-business telecommunications needs:
RRiissiinngg ooppeerraattiinngg ccoossttss.. Much more than midsize businesses or enterprises, small businesses live anddie by cash flow. Without capitalization, major investors, or even large savings and credit accounts,small businesses need to save money everywhere they can. Monthly phone bills, special PrivateBranch eXchange (PBX) phone hardware, and broadband Internet service are all potential pieces ofthe communications expense puzzle. The right choice can significantly reduce all these costs-particularly a fully integrated bundle that includes broadband Internet access and unified messaging.(Bundles often cost less per month, and their simplicity can also save on IT costs down the line.)
GGrroowwiinngg ddeemmaanndd ffoorr oorrggaanniizzaattiioonnaall aaggiilliittyy.. When a business grows, people move from office tooffice-even from city to city. New employees are added, and existing ones leave. All of these moves,adds, and changes impact a traditional PBX phone system, which often has to be physically rewiredand rerouted. If a business is too small to have an in-house IT department, this can mean anexpensive contractor. VoIP is one way to surmount this problem; with many offerings, changes caneasily be made in a few minutes via a Web-based control panel. VoIP also offers a more flexiblegrowth path than traditional PBX phone systems, eliminating the need to continuously reinvest innew phone hardware.
NNeeeedd ffoorr vveerryy ssmmaallll bbuussiinneesssseess ttoo llooookk llaarrggeerr aanndd mmoorree iimmpprreessssiivvee.. This is a bit of a taboo topic-the elephant in the room that no one wants to talk about. But it's a fact that very small businessesoften have a hard time procuring clients until they grow to a certain size. Since that size isdependent on the number of clients, the result is a catch-22. One way to break the cycle is to makethe business seem bigger to callers through an automated answering and voice mailbox system,which is easy to create with VoIP-again, without the attendant expense of a PBX system.
For years, VoIP was an exotic technology that was the focus of intense speculation or deemed justfor large enterprises, but not much else. Now, though, it has become a viable option for even thesmallest businesses, thanks to two major technology trends:
NNeeaarr--uunniivveerrssaall bbrrooaaddbbaanndd aacccceessss.. Broadband Internet access has become so widespread and affordablethat even the smallest of businesses now use it. These broadband pipes can easily be leveraged forVoIP without adding significant costs.
WWiiddeesspprreeaadd uussee ooff mmoobbiillee ccoommmmuunniiccaattiioonnss ddeevviicceess.. Everyone who owns or works for a small businessis usually in possession of at least one of the following: cell phone, hybrid email/phone device,handheld computer with Web access, and laptop computer. VoIP leverages the power o... [download for more]
