Phone Service for Small Business, what do you use?

[JGDesigns]

Hey all,

My company and I are trying to figure out if a better phone solution is available to us, so I came here to hear what you veterans have to say.

Size / Scope of the business:

We're a bunch of new comers, we've had a lot of early success but we're taking it slow and trying to keep over head costs at an absolute minimum. Which means we currently don't have an official office (We have a pretty sweet space that can house 4-5 team members at once, but it's not an official office space.) While we work together 3-4 days a week there is still a lot of time where we're not all in the same place. So mobility is a definite must.

We're currently using 'ring central' a VOIP service that allows us to maintain a 1.888 number, but forwards to cellphones. We can also use this service to call out from a mobile device, connect with their server, and show up in peoples caller IDs as our 1.888 number. We want to maintain a 1.888 number since clients of ours come from all over the US.

My question is, is there a more affordable / effective way to maintain a 1.888 number, and have it forward to cell phones? We're currently paying for this VOIP service (About $40 a month) and a cellphone plan (About $100 a month). I would love to cut this bill down if possible.

What do you small business owners use for client calls? What would you suggest? Thanks!

[Fd.ini]

Originally Posted by JGDesigns

My question is, is there a more affordable / effective way to maintain a 1.888 number, and have it forward to cell phones? We're currently paying for this VOIP service (About $40 a month) and a cellphone plan (About $100 a month). I would love to cut this bill down if possible.

Something that i've thought about doing, is setting up something with Skype. You can set up a number that can be called from just about any device (landline, mobile and computer) plus the benefits of video conferencing. Use this for your business line and have a mobile for outgoing calls (unless skype is cheaper, haven't looked that far into yet). They have business solutions for this as well.

Have been a little weary of Skype since it was acquired by Microsoft, and if they end up integrating it with windows 8 or not, but just an idea.

[RKS]

If Cricket is in your area, they are SUUUUPER cheap.
How many calls do you get receive? Maybe you could use an 800 #.

[MD]

doesn't google voice do all that for free?

[Gromit801]

We use Comcast. Covers phone, internet, fax, and credit card machine.