If you are searching for new business phone plans online, you might quickly become overwhelmed at all that is being offered. It can be tricky navigating through all the sales gimmicks and promotions to determine what is best for your company.
Many businesses opt for business phone plans because of the value, flexibility, and scalability. There are many options available to you, but they are going to depend on your individual business needs. For example, do you need physical office landlines or could you work with a virtual phone service relying on mobile devices instead? Even then, if you need traditional phones, you could still use a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) which is routed through the Internet.
In addition, businesses need to decide what features are going to be important. Are you in need of a local phone number for the business, auto-receptionist, or call monitoring features? You can also opt for collaboration tools, voicemail options, business texting, and Internet fax capability. The options available to you are endless; it’s just a matter of deciding what will be important.
We are going to help you navigate the top choices for popular business phone plans with the top companies.
Vonage
Vonage is a telephone service provider that specializes in business and residential telecommunication products. Their services are based on Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) and they are headquartered in New Jersey. They’ve been around since 2001, and in 2014 Vonage reported 2.5 million subscribers.
Their services include the ability to keep your existing number as well as 24/7 tech support and service. All fees include unlimited calling within the continental United States and Canada.
Their two main plans are the Vonage Essentials Mobile Plus and the Vonage Essentials Complete. Both of these include over 40 features like Virtual Receptionist, voicemail to email, and an admin portal. You’ll also receive conferencing and collaboration tools, unlimited messaging, and SMS, plus the ability to be on a monthly contract.
Pros:
- Variety of services offered
- Available 24/7 support and service
- Keep your existing numbers
- Long-standing reputation
- Easy to setup
Cons:
- Premium business features cost extra
- Gets pricey if you need multiple services and features
Jive
Jive is another U.S. based business that has been around since 2001. They are headquartered in Palo Alto, California and maintain offices throughout the world. They are a leader in communication and collaboration solutions.
Jive currently offers over 80 VoIP features at one price. These include unlimited auto attendants, voicemail, an online portal, and a time-based routing schedule. Through their service you can easily host conference calls with up to 10 attendees. They also feature custom greetings, messages, and hold music.
Pros:
- Low cost
- Easy call routing setup
- Helpful support staff
- Simple report dashboard for management
Cons:
- Video features will cost extra
- To use existing phones is time-consuming
AT&T
AT&T Inc. is an American based company headquartered in downtown Dallas, Texas. They are the world’s largest telecommunications company. Plus, they are the second largest provider of mobile telephone services and largest provider of fixed telephone services in the United States.
They currently feature two unlimited plans: Unlimited Plus and Unlimited Choice. For the best rates, you’ll be required to enroll in an auto-pay system. For the Unlimited Plus, you can expect your data to slow when using more than 22 GB in a month. With the Unlimited Choice, everything is capped at 3 Mbps. This makes the latter choice less ideal for most users.
Pros:
- Largest selection of phones of any cell provider
- Knowledgeable and helpful customer service staff
- Great coverage on cell phone service
- Offers both VoIP services and cell phone plans
Cons:
- Plans are pricey
- Doesn’t have as many features as dedicated VoIP companies
Verizon
Verizon Communications is an American telecommunications giant based in Midtown Manhattan, New York City, but is incorporated in Delaware. Most of their small business offerings don’t even compare to the other companies. That’s because they don’t just offer mobile service. Most of their plans are packaged together with landlines, internet service, Web hosting, and Google apps.
This all-in-one package gives you access to things you can’t purchase from other companies. In addition, the phone end of the service features unlimited calling, over 30 features, and the ability to add more lines as you grow.
Pros:
- Complete package of phone, internet, hosting, and other services available
- Low-cost pricing
- Easy to add more lines
Cons:
- Fewer features than some dedicated VoIP companies offer
- There are complaints about their customer service
T-Mobile
This is our only company that isn’t based in the United States but instead has its headquarters in Bonn, Germany. They offer services with wireless PDAs, cell phones, and tablets making them an option for the business members on the go.
They feature 24/7 support for your business needs and coverage in over 140 countries so you don’t have to worry when you travel. T-Mobile customers can also text while flying in the air, even at 30,000 feet. They also offer plans that feature no overage charges or contracts so you have more flexibility.
Pros:
- 24/7 business support
- Coverage in over 140 countries
- Makes it easy to travel
- No overages or contracts
Cons:
- Only offer mobile services
- Coverage can be spotty
The key to finding the right business phone plan for your workers is to first evaluate what features are going to be important to you. Then, it would also be wise to keep in mind what budget you would like to follow. Even on a lower budget, you should be able to find features that will help save your business money and increase productivity.