The VoIP Business Phone Buyer's Checklist

by Don Panek

Selecting a new business phone system can be a daunting task even for decision makers up on all the latest and greatest technology. Long before a single item is purchased, many criteria need to be considered and decisions must be made. Asking the right questions and planning early in the process can insure that the system selected will provide the best results.

How to Choose a VoIP Business Phone System--Step by Step
This handy checklist can help in the decision making and planning process.

• Decide on system technology and platform. Most choose VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol), PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network), or a Hybrid Solution.
• Decide if system will be located on premises or hosted. Will the equipment be purchased, installed, and maintained on site? Or will a hosted solution make better economic sense?
• Decide what business phone features are needed. Unnecessary features can add costs; missing features can lead to lost productivity.
• Determine calling needs. How many minutes are currently being used, what will the growth be, is international calling required, or is a toll free number needed?
• Determine how many phone lines the business will need. This is often determined by call volume and can easily be calculated
• How easy is the system to maintain? Once choices are narrowed down this becomes a critical element
• How scalable is the system? The system should grow easily as the business grows and expands.
• Is security an issue that needs to be addressed?
• Can you get short term contracts? Pricing is constantly going down, so get the shortest contract possible.
• Compare service plans from multiple providers.
• Determine if used equipment can be purchased.
• Prepare a realistic budget and schedule.
• Prepare equipment list and costs, which typically include:

• The Key Service Unit (KSU), the PBX business phone system
• Expansion modules--for adding phone lines to system
• Accessories--Voice mail, caller ID, message bells, on hold music, paging
• Phones--The varieties are endless and many users have preferences
• Headsets
• Uninterruptible power supplies
• Surge devices
• Jacks and network termination blocks
• Wire
• Software
• Tools & test equipment
• Research vendors and solution providers. The right partner can be invaluable in saving time and costs. Established VoIP and PBX service providers such as Nortel, Vocalocity, Inter-tel, Packet8, and Speakeasy can be trusted resources, offering the advice, perspective, and case studies to define a purchaser's specific needs.

• Now, double check the list!
• To find a solution provider in your area, click here to get a free quote on a new or upgraded VOIP phone system.  They can also answer any questions and help you expand your VOIP check list.

In most cases, each item on this checklist will add additional related components to the overall solution, items that will require additional research, planning, and decision making. Time taken at each phase of the list will ensure that the process will run smooth and the final solution will be the most effective.

About the Author
Don Panek is a Microsoft CRM Specialist and technology writer. He has 5 years experience with CRM systems, and over 20 years experience designing, building and specifying telecommunications, telephony and networking solutions. Don has an engineering degree.