The way businesses ran ten years ago is a lot different from how businesses are run today, and will be significantly different ten years from now. Technology innovations continue to help improve the way businesses communicate, internally and externally. The Internet especially has transformed the way we communicate: before there was e-mail there was snail mail, before there was video conferencing there were face-to-face meetings, and before we could call using business VoIP there were landline phones.
Many people consider summer time the perfect time to take a step back and reevaluate their budgets, goals, processes and workflows. This includes exploring other options for how to keep wallets large and bills small. Recently, MyVoIPProvider.com issued what it deems to be the top five business VoIP providers for saving telephony costs this summer.
First on the list is Craig Communications, a hosted phone provider that offers nationwide coverage. It has multiple Tier 1 connections that offer high quality, rich features and top-notch performance. Its cloud hosted business services provides an enterprise phone system in the cloud that Craig Communications manages for you – users just plug in their phones and use an Internet connection. Using the hosted platform, each user/extension is only $19.95 per month, and you can have as many extensions as needed.
Jive Communications is another company that made the top five, offering enterprise-grade hosted VoIP and unified communications to businesses and institutions worldwide. Its hosted services are run on Jive Core, its cloud-based platform that is purpose-built to deliver reliable, powerful and economical hosted communication services. Businesses have two options from Jive: Enterprise or Small Business. Small Business VoIP plans come with unlimited minutes, Jive technical support and monthly contracts. Plans run from Tier 1, which are $29.95 per user per month for one to four users, all the way to Tier 5, which are $19.95 per user per month for more than 50 users. For pricing on Jive’s enterprise services, contact 877-548-3050.
Third is Nextiva, a business VoIP service provider that MyVoIPProvider refers to as “the free features king.” Its Nextiva Office Hosted VoIP plans deliver next-generation business phone systems that can save users up to 65 percent over traditional phone costs. For more than 21 lines, plans start at $19.95 for Office Pro and $34.95 for Office Enterprise. Plans include unlimited calling and faxing, local and toll-free number, zero setup fees, no contracts, U.S.-based technical support and more than 100 business-ready features. Users can add extensions and other capabilities, such as call recording, call queuing, Meet Me conference calling, Office Receptionist Pro, Office Receptionist Premium and Office Receptionist Enterprise.
Next up is Vocalocity, which focuses on delivering premium quality business phone service to growing companies. Its unlimited extensions plan is the most popular VoIP service plan because it allows professionals to make flat rate, unlimited local and in-network locals each month with no contract. Available for $39.99 per month per extension, the unlimited extensions plan allows businesses to connect all of their employees under a single phone system, no matter where they are. Other plans include metered extensions and virtual extensions, and Vocalocity (News - Alert) also provides phones and routers for business VoIP system needs.
Earlier this year, Vocalocity partnered with Cornerstone, a communications services provider, to launch a cloud-based platform that enables service provider partners to offer advanced and hosted communications services to customers.
Last but not least is 8x8 Inc., a hosted VoIP provider that offers a variety of business communications solutions. Its business phone system offers advanced features plus mobile apps, Web conferencing, instant messaging and more to meet the flexibility and mobility needs of today’s workforce. It’s the only hosted VoIP provider with fully integrated Web conferencing and instant messaging. 8x8 (News - Alert) serves customers from home offices to large businesses and claims to save users up to 50 percent each month when they move from traditional phone service to 8x8 VoIP. Plans start at $19.99 per month.
For comparisons on different VoIP providers, plans and phones, GetVoIP.com is a resource you’ll want to check out. Not only does it offer comparisons to help you make an informed decision for selecting a VoIP provider, but it also offers customer reviews, industry news and resources and features like a speed test for your connection. It offers information and reviews on these business VoIP providers and more, so make sure you visit GetVoIP for the most well-rounded VoIP resource.
Edited by Jamie Epstein