Business VoIP: Cost, Service, and Features

By Michelle Robart, TMCnet Editor

The way a business handles its incoming calls says a lot about it. When a call comes in, is the caller greeted by an automated attendant with voice prompts? Is there a professional voicemail system? Can someone be reached through the main number at any time?

It is these types of features that give a business its professional edge.

Trends show an increase in service providers, and an increase in the services that are being made available has followed. In addition, VoIP is beginning to include calls to and from mobile phones, which is expected to significantly increase VoIP usage, especially as the smartphone market takes off.

So, with all the business VoIP services available today, how does a business know which service provider will best meet its needs?

Having an affordable and reliable phone service provider is crucial. Today, the majority of businesses have the luxury of having options when it comes to selecting a phone service provider. When shopping for a new service provider, all businesses must first have an understanding of what they are looking for.

Quality customer service is always important and with some help from the Internet, business owners can now do a better job of researching which service provider will best meet their needs. By switching from a “traditional” phone provider to a VoIP company, businesses should expect to receive quality phone and customer service.

Features are always important and when shopping around, make sure to find a provider that offers the features you are looking for. But at the same time it is important that these features actually work and that there is a “real” customer service department to support your business if something ever goes wrong or if you’re simply looking for help.

With Nextiva, all the essential business VoIP features, such as Automated Attendant, Voicemail, flexible call forwarding and find me/follow me, are included in all its VoIP packages.

Read on to discover some of the inherent benefits that Nextiva business VoIP solutions can provide for small businesses.

TMCnet: What are some of the main benefits from switching to a voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) system?

Nextiva: Business VoIP phone service has become quite popular in recent years and its future is bright. Thousands of businesses switch to VoIP each day for a variety of reasons. One of the most popular benefits of switching to VoIP is the cost-savings. A business can save up to 80 percent on its monthly phone bill while receiving many communication features that can strengthen any business operation.

TMCnet: How do companies save on telecom costs by switching to VoIP?

Nextiva: Saving money is just one of the benefits of switching to VoIP. Telecom costs should no longer be of great concern to any business owner, with VoIP an average small business can save up to 80 percent each month by using VoIP. Along with saving money on your monthly phone bill, businesses now have the opportunity to make calls to anywhere in the world without having to worry about an expensive bill. The Nextiva Connect360 comes with unlimited calling to anywhere in the United States and Canada for free.

TMCnet: What exactly is Nextiva Connect and what are its main features?

Nextiva: The Nextiva Connect is a Virtual PBX phone service that can turn the phone system of an average small business into a full-powered system with features that were once only available to large corporations. With the Nextiva Connect, businesses can have a toll-free number, an auto-attendant to answer and route all calls, call forwarding and much more. No business should ever miss a call and the Nextiva Connect is the perfect solution for startups and small business wanting to go to the next-level.

TMCnet: Nextiva prides itself in offering Fortune 500 phone features for fraction of the cost. How do Nextiva products cut monthly phone bills by up to 80 percent?

Nextiva: The Nextiva Connect 360 has been one of the most popular selling business VoIP solutions. For a flat rate of $29.95 per month businesses can truly receive Fortune 500 phone service for a flat monthly rate of only $29.95. The Nextiva Connect 360 includes unlimited calling to anywhere in the U.S. and Canada along with professional features like an auto-attendant, hunt groups, find me/follow me, voicemail to e-mail, and more.

With Nextiva as your service provider, every business owner can feel confident that they won’t be hit with unexpected fees and that the quality of service will always be the best on the market.

TMCnet: In what ways are Nextiva’s VoIP solutions more affordable than other VoIP services?

Nextiva: Nextiva's mission is simple and singular: to create a communications company that provides products and services that enable small businesses to succeed in a global economy. We try to differentiate ourselves from the “traditional” phone company by maintaining a customer first mentality. As a Nextivs user you should expect to be treated as if you are our only customer.

On top of providing quality service, we are always working to provide our users with the best price possible. Your phone bill should be consistent, clear and fair – at Nextiva we will do not “nickel and dime” our users and hope to build strong and long lasting relationships with all our customers.