To see if your business is right for VoIP, take this quick quiz:
How many telephone stations (lines) do you have?
a) 1-4 (2 points)
b) 5-10 (4 points)
c) 10-20 (1 point)
d) More than 20 (1 point)
Do you have a dedicated IT person and/or an employee who oversees IT needs?
a) Yes, full-time (4 points)
b) Yes, part-time (3 points)
c) Yes, freelance/contract (3 points)
d) No, we don’t have the bandwidth (1 point)
What is your existing telecommunication system?
a) Just wired or cordless phones with extensions, a.k.a. POTS (plain old telephone service) (4 points)
b) Standard PBX/KTS system (3 points)
c) IP PBX system (1 point)
d) VoIP, but without integrated broadband Internet access (3 points)
Which of these features do you currently use? (Choose all that apply.)
a) Softphone (PC calling) for remote workers (1 point)
b) E-Faxing (1 point)
c) Inbound 800 number (1 point)
d) Auto-attendant (1 point)
e) Hunt groups (1 point)
f ) Find-me/Follow-me or similar “locate me” services (1 point)
Which of these features would you find useful if you had them? (Choose all that apply.)
a) Softphone for remote workers (1 point)
b) E-Faxing (1 point)
c) Inbound 800 number (1 point)
d) Auto-attendant (1 point)
e) Hunt groups (1 point)
f ) Find-me/Follow-me or similar “locate me” services (1 point)
Are you currently using, or interested in using, both a VoIP service and an Internet provider?
a) Yes (4 points)
b) No (1 point)
Now, add up your points:
5-8: It’s a good time to learn more about VoIP. Explore your options and evaluate how implementing a VoIP plan might impact your business.
9-15: You may be a good candidate for a small-business VoIP plan. It’s worth looking into—it could save you money and make your business more productive.
16-21: You’re definitely an excellent candidate for VoIP. Do your small business a large favor—consider adding the savings, convenience, and efficiency boost of VoIP as soon as possible.
If VoIP is indeed appropriate for your business, congratulations. You’ve got an excellent opportunity to save on your phone bill, enhance productivity, and increase agility—all at the same time. But as you shop for your small-business VoIP plan, you’ll want to be aware that some plans offer unlimited outbound calling minutes, while others provide a low price in exchange for a set number of minutes per month. Choose carefully, depending on your plan, as the number of calls you make may still affect your phone bill!
Covad Communications Company
http://www.covad.com
1-866-849-4801