Business Telephone Buyer Guide

Compare the Top Business Telephone Brands

By Sheila Shanker
Updated: May 16, 2011

So many business phones, so many choices! If you’re in the market for new desktop business telephone equipment, you have a wide variety of options within top brand names, such as Avaya/Nortel, and Panasonic. These are all great brands, offering lots of functionalities, including the capability of VoIP ( Voice Over Internet Protocol), videos and complex conferencing setups.

When looking at the business telephone brands for your business, consider these issues:

Know what you want– Easier said than done, you should have a clear idea of what functions you want, such as caller ID, video capability, or easy conferencing with many callers. Maybe you have a hearing problem, and you may require special hand-sets with higher-than-usual settings.

Review your options online – You can search for the phones you’re considering using the Internet and get an idea about how much they cost,  functions they offer and other technical information. You can download free guides and find online phone comparisons that can help you in deciding which system is the best for you.

Talk to your business neighbor – One of the best ways to find good phone systems is to talk to other business people about their own systems. Most likely you will get an objective opinion of the equipment and services, including any problems or weaknesses. Buy your neighbor some coffee and that may be the best investment in a coffee you have ever made.

Consider the future – If you have only two lines in your business today, consider phone systems that can handle more lines and more volume. Get a bit more than what you currently have, or you will end up with an obsolete system in a few years. Plan for the future now, and you will spend less in the long run. If you’re interested in having video conferences, for example, make sure that your current system can accommodate that easily.

Vendor’s reputation – You know that brand matters as far as quality is concerned; but you should also consider the quality of your vendor. You want to deal with a vendor that has a good image and reputation in your community. If you have any issues or need customer service, your vendor is likely to be your first stop, and that better be stable and reputable.

Get insurance – Regardless of brand, get proper insurance for the equipment to safeguard your purchase. Phones are quite sophisticated these days with many parts that could malfunction. Be protected and buy insurance whenever available.

You may be surprised that costs are not mentioned. That’s because when dealing with top brands, costs are often comparable and not the main factor in deciding the best phone to purchase. If you’re in the market for business phone, don’t make a hasty decision. Take your time and examine all your options. You may also be interested in the free guide offered below.
 

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