Phone System Listings on Manta.com

Manta.com has listings for 1,256 Telephone Equipment Companies.

Find one near you.

More Manta Resources:
Add Details to Your Manta.com Company Profile

Find Market Research From Top Publishers

Newsletters:
Manta View for Small Business
Over Quota for Sales Pros

A business phone system is a vital link between a company and the public. Whether or not this link facilitates or impedes business depends on the company's choice of phone systems. As telecommunications increasingly converges with computer technology, the choice is becoming more complex even as the possibilities become more intriguing.

Choosing phone systems correctly begins with focusing on the needs of the business. Once those needs are properly identified it is a relatively simple matter to compile information on multiple vendors to see which offers the best fit and price.

Features vs. Benefits

The list of features phone systems offer is ever-growing. Some of the most often-desired include:

• Automated voice response--recorded information that guides callers through a decision tree, directing them to the right department.
• Conference calling--a pretty common feature, but what's critical here is the quality of equipment.
• Interface with computer database--some systems can identify callers to summon corresponding information on the user's computer screen.
• Call logging by extension--may be helpful for hourly billing or for highly-regulated companies.
• Call barring by extension--helps prevent misuse of the phone system.
• VoIP capability--facilitates use of Voice-over-Internet Protocol where appropriate.

These are all impressive enough features, but a company should not buy based on how dazzling a phone system's attributes are. The company should rationally identify how it could constructively use those features and determine which are most important. Still, the process should begin with an understanding of what is available out there, so the company can be open to new business practices rather than being locked into existing habits.

"Right Size" the Phone System

Another important aspect of finding the right fit is to "right size" the phone system. Here are some considerations:

• Scalability--can the system be expanded to meet the company's growth plans?
• Complexity--are the number and nature of features compatible with the technical savvy of the users?
• Support--especially with more computer-based phone systems, does the system demand more in-house technical support than the company has available?

Compiling Research

Since different phone systems offer different combinations of features and different cost structures, finding a phone system should be centered on compiling information from multiple vendors. This can be simplified by creating a decision matrix which lists key capabilities along one axis and the various vendors along the other, so management can see at a glance which vendors offer the right combination of attributes.

Those vendors should be considered finalists, and offered the opportunity to provide competitive bids. The telecommunications business is highly competitive, so putting a company in position to field competing price quotes can yield significant savings.

In short, the process begins by compiling research on vendors, continues with identifying those which offer relevant features, and ends by finding the most competitive price.