Choosing the Right Business Phone and Internet Service

Phone and internet service are critical for a business. They represent your connection to your customers. As such, you want to make sure you are getting great service with all the features you need without breaking the bank.

There are a lot of options out there, though, and choosing the right one can be daunting. But don’t worry—we’ve got you covered.

Here’s what to look for in your business connectivity services.

Finding a Business Phone Service

There are a surprising number of things to consider for what many would view as a basic phone service.

Types of phone service

The first thing to know is that there are a few different types of phone systems you can choose from, depending on the specific needs of your business.

• With a virtual phone service, calls to your business are rerouted to employees’ mobile phones. This is a great solution for businesses that have lots of off-site employees, and it can also work well if your company is a sole proprietorship.

• Standard landline systems are reliable and work well, though they may require more equipment, depending on the specific plan you choose and the number of lines you need. If you don’t anticipate much flux in your company’s size or setup, a landline system could be a solid choice.

• A Voice over IP (VoIP) system relies on the internet to send and receive voice signals. These setups can be based either on-site or in the Cloud. If you’re looking for advanced features—like virtual receptionists and queues—without a hefty price tag, VoIP could be a good fit. Do note, however, that VoIP systems require an internet connection, meaning you will likely lose your phone connection any time the internet goes down.

Most businesses opt to go with either a landline system or a VoIP solution, but you’ll want to carefully look at your company’s specific configuration to figure out which system is the best match before making a decision.

Essential features

The next thing to consider is what features you need for your business. This is where your choice of system can make a big difference in cost. Some features that are expensive to implement with a landline system are available on VoIP systems at much more reasonable prices, for instance.

Here are the main features you’ll want to consider as you look at your options.

• Call forwarding
• Call transferring
• Conference calling
• Extension dialing
• Call recording
• Interactive voice response (IVR) offerings

Cost

Costs will be largely determined by the features you need and how many phones need to have access to those features. After your initial investment, monthly costs for basic phone service are relatively cheap.

Finding a Business Internet Service

Choosing the right internet service is a little more straightforward. The main thing to consider is whether the speed and bandwidth will support what you need to do to operate your business—while staying within your budget, of course.

Types of internet service

The main types of internet you’re likely to encounter when shopping around are DSL, cable, and fiber. Dial-up still exists, but it is mainly used in rural areas that lack infrastructure for the faster, more robust broadband connections.

Generally, the biggest difference between DSL, cable, and fiber is reliability. Fiber-optic internet isn’t affected by distance the way DSL internet is. Further, because fiber internet is delivered via a direct line, you won’t have to deal with the lags that many shared-line cable subscribers deal with.

Essential features

When it comes to features, the main things to look at are connection type and reliability. Internet is indispensable for businesses today, so you’ll want to ensure you that you have a network that can support all of your business’s users, even during holidays or other times of peak demand.

Once you’ve decided which type of connection will offer the best fit for your business, you’ll want to determine how much speed you’ll need. As you’re looking at options, consider what you plan to do with the connection and how many people use it at one time. A greater number of users or data-intensive processes will require a plan with higher speeds.

If you have an existing internet plan that you aren’t satisfied with, evaluate your current speeds by using an internet speed test, then compare that with the real-world performance you’ve been experiencing.

There are a few other things to consider besides reliability and advertised speeds, as well.

• Technical support
• Security features
• Wireless networking capabilities

Cost

For internet service, cost generally goes up with speed, though the type of technology used will also affect your bottom-line cost. Fiber is generally a more expensive offering, while DSL is usually a bit cheaper.

Don’t forget to consider setup expenses, too. The installation for cable internet will likely be much less expensive and involved if you already have an existing cable infrastructure in place, for example.

Frontier Business Edge Offerings and Service Bundles

Frontier Business Edge has solutions for both phone and internet service to meet your business needs.

Frontier Business Phone Service has all the features you need to run your business successfully. There are three basic plans that offer unlimited local calling, plus plenty of upgrades to tailor a perfect phone package for your business’s needs. All plans come with 24/7 priority tech support, and if you need even more from your business phone service, there are VoIP solutions and business texting options as well.

As for internet, Frontier Business Internet Service is backed also by 24/7 support and provides several packages to suit your unique business needs. From connections up to 7 Mbps for basic email communication to robust offerings up to 40 Mbps that support multiple users and large file transfers, Frontier Business Edge has solutions to fit any need. Plans include eight email accounts, dedicated lines that help ensure consistently high speeds, and wireless networking capabilities.

If you want both phone and internet services, look to bundle both together in a single package. You can often save money this way, and the convenience of having both services from one provider shouldn’t be overlooked.

Your company’s phone and internet network are your links to the outside world. Take the time to carefully assess your business’s current and future requirements, then find the plans that will support those needs without sacrificing quality.