Business phone services
Discover better and cheaper ways to communicate as a business
Quick recommendations
I recommend the services listed on the right. Scroll down to quickly compare quality discount long distance carriers, VOIP services, and toll free numbers. For personal phone services see here.
More about the options
Long distance carriers
Pioneer Telephone and Telna are discount long discount carriers with reliable, quality services and features at very low rates. Unless you have special needs, like a very high calling volume, one of these may be the best choice for your small business.
To compare details of four top discount carriers see my long distance comparison.
Business VOIP phone services
More and more business phone services route calls over the Internet. Large companies and schools have been migrating toward Internet based calling for years, and increasingly smaller offices and business users are joining them. They are moving this way because they can get the same quality connections and features at much lower rates. They are also changing because it's so easy.
Internet based phone services come in big and small packages. Large companies and offices (with high volume and multiple phone lines) may benefit from having their own T-1 connections (dedicated Internet connections that cover both their phones and computers). Small business and home office needs are usually better served by a VOIP provider like the ones listed to the right (or a regular discount long distance carrier).
For more details see my VOIP comparison (or read this introduction to choosing a VOIP phone service).
Cheap international calls with your cell phone
Telna helps you save on international calls using your cell phone. Sign up and use their dial-around service to get super cheap rates like: Australia: 3.8¢, Canada: 3.8¢, China: 3.8¢, France: 3.8¢, Germany: 3.8¢, India: 3.8¢, Japan - Tokyo: 3.8¢, Mexico: 6.9¢, Peru - Lima: 3.8¢, United Kingdom: 3.8¢.
Phone cards and VOIP services travel with you
Phone cards are still a great way to save, especially for expensive international destinations. Get a cheap phone rate to India -- now that's amazing!
You may not realize that VOIP phone services can also travel with you in the USA and worldwide. A VOIP phone adapter can plug into high speed Internet connections around the world and work just like in your home office. Some services even work with wireless connections.
Toll free numbers
Toll free numbers can also travel with you. Get a toll free number created for free (or very cheaply) using one of the services here. Then get cheap rates for the incoming calls with a very low monthly fee.
The toll free phone services featured here allow you to manage your toll free number(s) online in real time.
Both UWT and Kall8 offer international toll free numbers that are easy to create and manage online.
Better communication
Communication is critical to succeed in business. Do you hesitate when you dial another state? Or country?
What if you could pick up the phone anytime and call California, China, India, or New York...and talk for a long time without worrying about the bill? Would that open up any new room for your business to grow? Would you be able to serve your customers or clients more effectively?