Every penny counts as your small business grows and Internet telephone service, also known as voice over IP or VoIP, can help you take your business to the next level while saving you money. Using VoIP instead of traditional phone service could be saving you as much as 80% on your phone bills. If your business requires more than one or two lines or is poised for future growth, then we suggest you complete the form below that will match you with the best business VoIP service for your needs.
The services we have reviewed below are best for small or home based businesses that require the extensive features of a small business VoIP service but only need one or two phone lines. Each of the VoIP services below offers high quality local and long distance, will allow most small businesses to save hundreds of dollars per year and includes tons of great features. If your business requires more than one or two lines or is poised for future growth, then we suggest you complete the form above that will match you with the best business VoIP service for your needs.
Vonage Review: VoIPGo to Site | Back to Chart
[Editor's Note: Vonage has set up an exclusive 800 number where NextAdvisor.com visitors can speak to a Vonage representative to ask questions and ensure they get the latest and best deal possible. If you are interested in ordering Vonage we recommend that you call the number: 1-888-692-8076.]
Vonage is not the cheapest VoIP service, but our testing and research has shown that it is the best for small businesses. Vonage has invested the most time and money in building its network and in acquiring new customers (it has the most customers of any VoIP provider and is a public company).
As a result, Vonage provides the highest quality service of any of our recommended providers and is the best choice for small business owners who need or want superior call quality and reliability. At just $39.99 per month for 1500 minutes or $49.99 per month for the premium unlimited plan, Vonage could potentially save you a great deal of money compared to traditional phone service. Both of Vonage's small business calling plans include a free, dedicated fax line as well as 25 calling features such as caller ID, enhanced call forwarding, and the Vonage contact center, many of which would only be available from a traditional phone service for an additional fee. The small business basic 1500 minutes plan includes calls anywhere in the US, Puerto Rico and Canada, and unlimited incoming minutes. Each additional outgoing minute over the included 1500 per month is 3.9 cents. The small business premium unlimited plan also includes calls to Italy, France, Spain, the UK and Ireland. Business subscribers can also add a spare line for $12.99 per month. Vonage also offers an option to add a toll free number.
If you operate a home-based business and have been relying on a standard residential phone service, Vonage's small business calling plans could help you transition to a professional and affordable phone service, specifically designed to meet your needs. And if you are using traditional phone service, and paying extra for a fax line and other features, you may find that Vonage's business plans are significantly cheaper.
Vonage has recently ramped up their efforts in customer service to make sure you can get through to a representative quickly if you need to, and they are also the only VoIP provider we recommend that allows you to pay from your checking account rather than a credit card, if you prefer.
Phone Power Review: VoIPGo to Site | Back to Chart
Phone Power is a relative newcomer to the VoIP landscape but has hit a sweet spot in the market with their range of fairly cheap plans. Their business packages are very flexible, offering various options to meet the needs of small and larger companies. Phone Power's single line business package is $39.95 per month, and does not require a contract. This package includes an unlimited number of incoming minutes and 5000 outbound minutes per month. If you exceed this limit, the overage cost is only $0.02 per extra minute. Your adapter is included for free in the monthly fee. This plan is an especially strong value when you consider that there is no activation fee and, should you choose to cancel, no cancellation fee. This package also includes a variety of features that businesses are likely to find useful, such as conference calling, hold music and an electronic operator. Phone Power also offers multi-line business packages, which can include anywhere from one to 50 extensions. These plans start at $54.95 per month, with a $10 activation fee for customers who sign a 12 month contract and a $25 activation fee for those who prefer not to sign a contract. As with the single line package, this plan includes unlimited inbound minutes and 5000 outbound minutes per month, with a $0.02 per minute charge for overage. These plans include auto attendant. Multi-line users also have the option to add additional extensions at any time. Toll-free numbers are available for $5 per month per number, plus $0.04 per minute. Users should be able to use an extra line for a fax, but Phone Power does not make any guarantee regarding fax lines.
While Phone Power doesn't have a particularly long track record, our research and conversations with the company indicate that they are a well-run company that should be around for the long haul. They've been gaining market share quickly and after reviewing their offerings, it's easy to see why.
VoIP.com Review: VoIPGo to Site | Back to Chart
Voip.com's business plans are a great value for small businesses that
do not require more than one or two lines. They offer an unlimited
plan for just $34.95 per month and an 1800 minute plan for $24.95.
These plans include calls within the United States, Canada and Puerto
Rico. Voip.com also offers particularly cheap international calling
rates to most countries. Both plans have a $19.99 setup fee and a
30-day money back guarantee. For those who choose to cancel after the
30-day period has ended, there is a $39.95 cancellation fee. These
rates make Voip.com one of the cheapest options for small businesses.
Both plans include a wide array of useful features such as caller ID,
conference calling and a built-in contacts list, and most of the
features can be managed online. Voip.com also offers many optional
upgrades, including PBX features such as auto attendant, which is
available for $4.95 per month, plus a $9.95 setup fee. Additional
extensions are available for $9.95 per month, plus a $4.95 setup fee.
Toll-free numbers are an additional $4.95 per month, plus a $9.95
setup fee. Voip.com promises to offer fax lines in the near future,
for $6.95 per month, plus a $9.95 setup fee. Unfortunately for
businesses that require multiple lines, Voip.com does not offer a
reduced price for additional lines. Customers must purchase an entire
plan, either the $34.95 unlimited plan or the $24.95 1800 minute plan,
for each additional line required.
The high cost of an additional line and the wide array of professional
tools and features make Voip.com a great choice for some businesses
and a poor choice for others. Voip.com does offer an excellent value
for small businesses that only require a single line, but that also
require a robust feature set in order to create a professional
impression.
Nextiva Connect 360 Review: VoIPGo to Site | Back to Chart
Nextiva offers two different types of business phone services. Nextiva
Connect is a virtual PBX service, which provides internal extensions
and other business oriented features, designed to enhance a businessÃs
existing phone service. Nextiva Connect is not a VoIP service in and
of itself. Instead, it works as an addition to a VoIP or traditional
phone service.
Connect 360 is Nextiva's small business VoIP service. They offer a
Connect 360 Limited plan, which includes 500 incoming minutes and 500
outgoing minutes per month. You can choose to pay for this plan on a
month to month basis for $24.95 per month. If you pay for 3 months of
service at a time, you can pay a reduced price of $19.95 per month.
The Connect 360 Unlimited plan includes unlimited incoming and
outgoing minutes within the US and Canada, and costs $34.95 per month
or, if you pay for 3 months at once, $29.95 per month. There is no
setup fee for either plan. Both plans include a particularly robust
auto attendant service, as well as a variety of other features that
business are likely to find useful, including voicemail to email and a
dial-by-name directory. Additional lines are available for $4.95 per
month, plus a $9.95 setup fee. Your additional line can also be used
as a fax line. Toll free numbers are available for $4.95 per month,
plus a $30.00 setup fee for 800 numbers or a $19.95 setup fee for an
888, 877 or 866 toll free number. When purchasing your Nextiva Connect
360 service, you can add a Linksys adaptor for $55.00 or choose from
several different VoIP enabled phones from Lynksys or Polycom.
Nextiva's Connect 360 plans are designed specifically for small
businesses, and Nextiva does not offer residential phone plans.
Because Nextiva caters exclusively to businesses, they offer a wider
range of business tools and their plans are flexible enough to adapt
to your businessÃs evolving communication needs.
Copyright© 2006 - 2010 NextAdvisor.com - All rights reserved.