Being contacted via telephone is still the most popular way for people to get in touch with a business. Therefore, having the best telephone service provider in Ann Arbor, MI is still important and beneficial to your company. You will always want a service that is not only reliable, but affordable for your needs. A business phone service provider should offer all the different features that you will need to run your business, so it is important to make your decision carefully before deciding on what phone company you are going to go with. Evaluate the different service types that each provider offers. When you are deciding, you'll be faced with two choices, these being either a traditional analog phone service or a VoIP service. They both have different features so it is important that you understand the distinctions. Compare these two Ann Arbor, MI business providers below before making your final decision.
| Provider | Plan Details | Monthly Rate* | |
|---|---|---|---|
 | RATED #1 BY INDUSTRY EXPERTS
| $19.99 | Details  142 Reviews |
 | Business phone service - no internet required
* 8.3% discount if paid for the year upfront | $17.41* | Details  7 Reviews |
 | Engineered for the Small Business
* per user per month | $9.95* | Details 1 Reviews |
 | Alliance
* 12% discount for subscribing and paying for a year upfront | $19.97* | Details 13 Reviews |
_2.png&contenttype=png "Talkroute Logo") | The phone system built to do business anywhere
* $5 per additional user | $19.00* | Details 1 Reviews |
_2.png&contenttype=png "Verizon logo") | Get 99.99% network reliability with Fios.
* Per month. Plus taxes, fees and equipment charges. | $69.00* | Details  11 Reviews |
VoIP stands for voice over Internet protocol and is one of the most recent types of phone services available in Ann Arbor, MI. This is an alternative system that has been around for over ten years but is just now beginning to become more mainstream. A large number of businesses are making the switch from traditional phone service to VoIP, especially start-ups who are willing to try a new system. Call quality of a VoIP phone service is just the same as when you have a traditional phone line in place, even though the calls are made through the Internet. For this reason, a reliable business Internet connection is crucial to have in order to receive dependable VoIP service in Ann Arbor, MI. If you want to make sure your connection supports VoIP, use the Wirefly Internet Speed Test to check.
Many people aren't aware of how VoIP phone service works, so they may shy away from it. VoIP carries calls through the Internet instead of a traditional analog signal that many people are used to. Sending calls through your Internet provider is actually much cheaper than the traditional way of making calls through telephone lines and cables. Calls can be made and received for a lot less than what you are paying now. VoIP phone service also offers international and long distance calls for much less of a price. More and more providers are putting together long distance packages that allow you to pay a flat rate each month, perfect for businesses that make a lot of these types of calls. You won't have to worry about surprise bills that put you way over budget.
VoIP phone service plans also offer a variety of features that you can add-on to your package. You can request hundreds of features such as caller ID, call-waiting, call-forwarding, voicemail with remote access and more. If your business is larger and you need multiple extensions, VoIP can supply them for you.
VoIP phone service plans are also designed for different company sizes. You may be starting up and only need a few different lines, or your corporation may have hundreds of employees who all need their own extensions. No matter what, you'll easily find a VoIP service that can fit your needs for a reasonable price.
Since VoIP phone service has become a popular choice in Ann Arbor, MI among business owners, more and more providers will be fighting for your business. This can make it hard to decide on which one to choose, but you can use this to your advantage.
You'll need to first think about what you need for your business. Do you need multiple lines? Are you planning to expand your company in the near future? How much is in your budget for phone service? These are just a few important questions to ask yourself. Next, compare the differences and similarities between companies. Figure out what packages you can get and for what price. Bear in mind that you should always pick a reliable and reputable VoIP provider for your business. A reliable phone system is crucial for your company and its continued success.
With a traditional phone service, your calls will be carried over the POTS, which is also known as a PSTN (public switched telephone network). This system exists all throughout the nation and is composed of many wires, satellite dishes, cellular networks, and landlines. POTS has existed for nearly 100 years and was the first telephone network created.
Having a POTS phone service costs quite a bit more than VoIP in Ann Arbor, MI, primarily because the POTS framework is incredibly sizable, creaky, and demands continual upkeep. Since POTS is an analog-based system, it's hard for it to dispatch information across distances of any length.
Whenever you call some long distance on a POTS line, the signal will pause at several spots along its path of transmission. Because the signal will move through machinery being operated by a number of businesses, long-distance calls placed on a POTS line are not cheap. Much of the hardware once used to transport, exchange, and direct calls has become completely digitized, but the final link (the bridge linking the regional office to the user) remains analog.
Many businesses in Ann Arbor, MI use PBX, which means private branch exchange. This system routes the calls that go into the office and is responsible for the multitude of features that the analog system offers. These include features such as voicemail, multiple extensions and call forwarding.
The location of the PBX may be found at the user's site or it may be hosted from a remote location. But no matter where it is found, an analog PBX may be costly. A PBX analog system will require multiple types of hardware in order to be set up correctly, causing your initial cost to be more than $1,000. Since you will be paying later to maintain or fix this equipment, your expenses can quickly add up. Calling in a professional to fix an issue can often cost your company a $100 dollars an hour or more.
You'll also want to bear in mind that a traditional PBX for your company phone may need to be updated or expanded on later, causing your business additional expenses. This will be especially expensive if your company grows and needs to add on more lines. Always take this into consideration before choosing a traditional phone service.
One of the major reasons many people avoid a PBX system is because it is still subject to breakdowns and issues, like any other electronic system may be. Your repair and hardware bills may go through the roof when you have to fix your system, but when you have a business, you must fix your telephone lines right away. Additionally, if the system becomes obsolete, you will have to replace it, which will cost your company more and more money every time.
