In our first blog post, we took a look at the challenges of using a legacy phone system in today’s world of cloud communications and connectivity. However, there is more to the story than outdated legacy phones, but also the monthly bills for these systems should be examined in some detail.

If it’s not broken, don’t fix it

This could be the motto for many organizations. It is so easy to get used to the ‘status quo’ and to lose track of the potential savings that may be hidden in those stacks of monthly bills. Once an organization is accustomed to paying a particular bill each month, it typically will pay each month without a thought. Over time, the price increases incrementally, but most customers don’t notice the additional expense. The telephone companies have perfected the art of gently raising prices steadily without bringing attention to themselves.

Through our work over the past few years, we have encountered many customers who struggle to keep up with current business technology trends.

Our conversations about purchasing new phone systems often move into a more strategic discussion about how to prepare for the future.

A future – which for most forward-thinking businesses – has already arrived. 

What the Future of Business Communication Looks Like

Here is what a business gains when it leaves behind legacy voice and data technology for a modern voice and data network: A reliable and nimble platform that makes the most out of VoIP and cloud technology. And now for the best part, this new platform often costs less, (up to 40% less) than the legacy system cost per month.

In this four-part series, we’ll examine four specific technology challenges that many small businesses face.

Companies are increasingly looking to the Virtual PBX for their business communications solutions. We have developed a comprehensive list of all the business reasons to switch to a Virtual PBX, otherwise known as a cloud PBX. After reviewing this list, it will become clear why your business might consider switching to a Virtual PBX system.

Are You Unhappy with Your Hosted PBX Provider?
We Can Help!

The Virtual PBX, which many people refer to as Hosted PBX or Cloud PBX, has now been in the business mainstream for several years. You may now be reaching the point that you are out of contract, you're experiencing VoIP problems or are just looking for a San Francisco Business VoIP provider comparison. Much has changed since business VoIP first arrived in the market. Or maybe you are unhappy with certain aspects of your cloud phone system provider and need to change your Virtual PBX provider.

A Big Leap in Open Source PBX Technology 

The Digium Switchvox is the world’s most popular business communications solution based upon the Asterisk Open Source PBX. And it is overdue for a major overhaul.

Today, Digium announced that their Switchvox Cloud Virtual PBX has been upgraded to software release 6.0.  As they state succinctly on their website, the Switchvox Cloud is now powered by Asterisk 13, the current version of Asterisk. Previous to this upgrade, the Switchvox was based upon some very old Asterisk software.  Parts of the Switchvox code used Asterisk 1.4 that was released 2006 and Asterisk 1.6 which was released in 2008. It illustrates the technology lead that Asterisk open source software has over its commercial competitors. The Switchvox, based upon this 10-year-old software was still a heady competitor to the likes of ShoreTel, Mitel, and Avaya.

The Rising Price of Business Phone Lines

As we shared with you in a previous blog post in early March 2015, AT&T announced big price increases in their business phone line services. When AT&T raised the prices of analog & PRI circuits it triggered their competitors to increase their prices, too. Why? Well, in the San Francisco Bay area, there is only one provider who owns the copper wires; that provider is AT&T. AT&T must sell their services to the CLECs (Competitive Local Exchange Carriers) on a wholesale basis. When there is a price increase, they have to raise the price to their wholesalers, which means a higher cost for CLECs, too. Essentially, yes, - they simply pass along the price increase. This is exactly TelePacific has done.

The Rising Price of AT&T Business Phone Lines

If you pay your AT&T business phone bill without thinking twice, it's high time to take a closer look at your monthly bill. Simply put, you're paying more than you should and your business deserves far better.

We've noted the onslaught of price increases with AT&T before, but now it's imperative to examine what your company is being charged. 

If it Ain't Broke...Throw It Out Anyway

We've been in in the communications business for over 25 years, so we have many customers who’ve got very old telephone systems. When we ask them if they'd like to upgrade to more modern technologies, they say that they are quite happy with their old equipment and see no reason to spend money on a new system.

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, right? Wrong. 

What people don't realize is that business voice communications have changed dramatically in the last ten years.