How should I select a Business Long Distance provider?

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The first key to selecting a business long distance provider is to do your homework. Get price quotes from several companies and do your best to understand the fine print. If you are unsure about the reliability of the company, ask for the names of other companies that use their services and talk to these other companies.

As you are researching companies, research your own calling patterns. Who does your business call long distance on a regular basis? How many calls do you make in a normal month or year? How long do your calls usually last? At what times of the day and on what days of the week do you make the most calls? Armed with this information, you can look for exactly the plan you need.

Increasingly, companies may want to consider international calling as a feature of their business long distance plans. Some long distance providers might offer low international rates (especially to commonly called countries such as Canada and Mexico) in combination with their domestic plans, so make sure you ask about a provider’s international rates if you will be making international calls.

Ask business long distance providers what they offer in terms of technical support and operator assistance. Do they have twenty-four hour technical support and operator assistance? Are there technicians in your area? How quickly are problems usually resolved?

Finally, talk with long distance providers about the additional services and features they offer. Can you have a toll-free number for customers? How many different numbers can you include on one account? Will the long distance capability interfere with features already on your phone, such as three-way calling or voice mail?

Do your research on what your company needs and on what long distance providers offer, and then decide which provider fits your company best.



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