| Making the right long distance decision for your | | | | monthly fees, line charges and service contracts. |
| business can save you plenty of money. There are | | | | Whenever possible try to make accurate cost |
| lots of long distance providers so how do you find the | | | | comparisons among the companies you are |
| deal that's best for you? Here are some tips for | | | | considering. What looks at first to be the best deal |
| saving money with your business long distance. | | | | may be filled with hidden costs that you need to |
| Services | | | | determine before making a final decision. |
| With costs for T1 service going down it has become a | | | | Once you are comfortable that you are making price |
| viable solution for even small and medium sized | | | | comparisons based on similar options you can |
| businesses. A T1 is a high-speed digital circuit that | | | | concentrate on prioritizing your needs. Be sure to |
| transmits at a speed of 1.544Mbps. This speed is | | | | consider things such as service response |
| faster than many modems. | | | | commitments if an outage occurs. This alone may be |
| This digital line uses fiber to connect allowing for 24 | | | | a determining factor in choosing a wholesale long |
| channels. These channels are flexible allowing for | | | | distance service. Be sure that the service hours |
| everyone to access any available channel. This | | | | coincide with your hours of business. If not you should |
| technology gives you the most use for your money. T1 | | | | consider adding an additional more comprehensive |
| channels free up for use as soon as calls are | | | | service plan to your package. This will ensure that an |
| complete. A T1 for a typical business may be able to | | | | outage will be dealt with immediately so your business |
| accommodate 50 to 100 users. Fractional T1s are | | | | will not be impacted. |
| available to provide both voice and data over the | | | | Future Growth |
| same T1 circuit. This makes a T1 cost effective even | | | | Always take into account the future growth of your |
| for small businesses. | | | | business when choosing a business long distance |
| Voice T1 long distance gives you the best long | | | | service. The costs of adding additional services at a |
| distance services at the lowest prices available. You | | | | later time may be much greater incrementally than just |
| can still get as many or as few frills as you need but | | | | adding the services now. Always allow for at least |
| with lower price tags. Plans can be custom tailored to | | | | 10% growth per year. If your business warrants it you |
| meet your specific needs. Qualified long distance | | | | may need to grow even more quickly. |
| companies then provide the services. | | | | Besides the future growth of your company you |
| Pricing | | | | should also be prepared for new technology that you |
| When evaluating long distance pricing it is helpful to | | | | may want to take advantage of. Choosing a plan that |
| understand and compare similar services. This can be | | | | allows for growth will ensure that you can use new |
| difficult when looking at packaged plans. In order to do | | | | technology as it becomes available. This can end up |
| a proper price comparison breakdown the costs into | | | | saving you money in the long run as you are poised to |
| several common categories. These should include | | | | take advantage of new advances, putting your |
| one-time charges such as installation fees and | | | | business on the cutting edge. |
| equipment costs as well as recurring costs such as | | | | |