With its ability to make calling virtually free for subscribers, VOIP has really come into its own over the past few years as small and large businesses alike search for ways to fatten their bottom line by trimming expenses. Yet even though calling for all VOIP users is inexpensive, not all business voip providers are the same. When choosing a provider for your solution there are a few crucial factors that should not be overlooked by the savvy shopper.

First, consider how the company is viewed within the industry. Nobody knows the industry as well as those who work in it. While you could ask a salesperson, chances are you won’t get an unbiased answer. Looking instead at authoritative industry publications like VoipReview will give you a good sense of who is respected, even if you don’t really understand the finer points about technology and service for yourself. You will find that some firms consistently rank number one (Jive) or else in the top for customer satisfaction and quality and variety of offerings. Not only will picking such an esteemed provider ensure you get all of the quality and service that underpinned that esteem, but it also ensures that the company will strive to maintain its high reputation in the future by offering the best service to you possible.

Next, consider the technology offerings for yourself. Most providers only a offer a small handful of phones to choose from – 3 or 4 – which keeps things simple for them and allows them to make a high margin on the product by negotiating special arrangements with their vendors. A larger selection ensures not only that your needs are taken into account (rather than the needs of the vendor), but also makes it easier for subscribers to find phones that fit their needs (basic to deluxe) and preferences as far as layout and appearance are concerned.

Third, consider the availability of features. Many business voip providers charge a premium for large business features like advanced voice mail – features that are useful, but that become very expensive if they have to purchased a la carte. A provider that treats small business and large business the same with regard to offerings is one that is not only more likely to provide better customer service to a small business, but also one that is likely to continue to enhance its offerings as technology allows.

All voip is inexpensive, but not all voip is equal. Finding a reliable provider is as easy as 1) trusting what the pros say 2) seeing for yourself what they have to offer and 3) making sure they treat businesses of all sizes as though they were an only consumer.