Anyone using Ring Central for business?

[berettafan]

Looking at going VOIP to get off the Verizon tit.

Anyone try them and if so does it work well? Sound quality good? complaints? Tech support good?

[GH85Carrera]

Check out OOMA.

I have a OOMA phone for my home land line that the wife insists we keep.

The business options are pretty simple.

[red-beard]

I use 8x8. It is a very good system with a good selection of phones. Make sure your router will work with it. I had to switch out my Linksys routers to Netgear to make the system work.

I had the option of going with Comcast. But if the Comcast internet is down, phones are down. I have a backup internet connection and 8x8 works fine with it.

Also, if you need to add a line for someone out of town, or if someone moves out of town, they just move the phone, plug it in, and it works.

Tech support was fine, what little I've used. Mostly it was figuring out why the system wouldn't work with Linksys.

[dad911]

We use ring central for faxing, but not voice. No problems.

For 1 line I'd look at google voice and a obi200 interface. Going to try this at home.

[berettafan]

would be using two lines.

my network guy is offering a service with 6 lines (don't need but that's minimum they sell) and it would run me about $180/mo vs. about $75-80 for the two lines I need with Ring Central.

reading up on RC and getting a bit less excited about using them. I bill by the minute and don't have time to be a tech guy in addition to being a tax guy.

hmmm....the $180/mo means I get support from my network guy. tough call. (ha, see what I did there?)

[steveo12345]

We've been using Ring Central for a few years now and have been happy with them. We're pretty small. Only 5 numbers.

[red-beard]

8X8 is under $40/mth per line, unlimited domestic calling. You can get deals from them as well. I think I was paying $25 per line to start.

[911SauCy]

I am in the VoIP business, I sell Hosted VoIP communication systems and sell against RC, 8x8, Vonage, Comcast, Nextiva....you name it...

redbeard is right in warning about the internet as it is the true lifeblood of any VoIP, especially hosted (aka Cloud) VoIP system.

If you're not afraid of a little DIY and phones are mission critical to your business, these options are good enough, which is how they deliver service, "best effort". If you need connectivity all the time and don't want to become a VoIP expert while paying someone else for service, I'd strongly suggest seeking out a reference or multiple to a local "small" phone service provider.

At the end of the day, these highly recognizable/big name companies are overcharging customers, providing underwhelming service, all while never setting foot in your business. I compete (well not really) against it, everyday.

[911SauCy]

Oh, and all this talk of "lines", yea, that's 20th Century, there are no such things as lines anymore. These systems deliver voice via data packets on the internet, not tones over copper.

VoIP is charged on a per user, seat, desk, endpoint etc basis. If someone is trying to sell you VoIP and it incorporates copper phone lines, they're lying, because that ain't how she works. I've seen that too.

[356racing]

I've had ring central voice and fax for a few years now. The only problem we have had was getting our toll free number moved over. We have a very low call volume so the minute charges don't effect us, if I had large call volume I would look at plans with unlimited talk. The savings and convenience over local service have been significant.

[berettafan]

so my network guy lowered his price to about $156/mo total cost (lines plus they manage it on my network so if I have any issues I get support).

SauCy are you suggesting I might be better off spending the $156/mo and have total local support (network co is in same building) vs $80-$120/mo and on my own?

I don't particularly want to become a VOIP expert, just want totally reliable phone system that works in a professional manner. My business is small but I spend $$ where necessary to have the best in everything that touches my clients.

[VincentVega]

try google voice for a while, it sounds like it would meet your needs for $0.

[911SauCy]

Originally Posted by VincentVega

try google voice for a while, it sounds like it would meet your needs for $0.

It might, but remember, anything that's free is only free because your information is being sold on the other end.

Internet "free" = Comsumer is the product.

[911SauCy]

Originally Posted by berettafan

My business is small but I spend $$ where necessary to have the best in everything that touches my clients.

This says it all.

If you trust your network guy and know he is good and responsive, nevermind within walking distance...he's you're guy. Plus, VoIP and data networks can share cabling infrastructure, switches and routers...he's already half way there.

When against these big box providers I sell on this point almost every sales call...that when you need help, someone will be there, to answer the phone, and help fix your issue...while you continue doing your job.

I have prospects dial their phone into whoever I'm quoting against, every time, every-time, they end up hanging up in frustration before reaching a live person. Call my office, someone always answers before the 4th ring... We're small but mighty.

Frankly, the small business guy will appreciate your business more too.

Good luck whichever direction you choose.

[porsche4life]

Originally Posted by 911SauCy

I have prospects dial their phone into whoever I'm quoting against, every time, every-time, they end up hanging up in frustration before reaching a live person. Call my office, someone always answers before the 4th ring... We're small but mighty.
.

People underestimate how huge after sales support is. When I was hustling high dollar electronics for business we had stellar service even though we were the industry giant. On top of that all my customers had my cell phone number and knew of there was ever an issue support didn't get right on to call. I would either talk them through the fix or escalate it through a different channel in service and make headaches go away. We kept a lot of our competitors from ever having a shot at business because of our top notch service.

[jhynesrockmtn]

Google announced quite a long time ago that they were shutting down google voice. I had it for quite a while and it worked ok as long as the internet connection was stable. Wouldn't have used it for business for for a home phone it was ok. Did they reverse course and keep that product alive?