Hello and welcome to our comprehensive guide on Verizon Small Business Phone Systems. As a small business owner, you need a reliable, efficient, and feature-rich phone system to communicate effectively with your customers, suppliers, and employees. Finding the right phone system can be a daunting task, especially when you have to juggle cost, quality, functionality, and scalability.
Fortunately, Verizon offers several phone system options specifically tailored for small businesses. In this article, we will explore the different features, plans, and pricing of Verizon Small Business Phone Systems. We will also answer some frequently asked questions to help you make an informed decision when choosing a phone system for your business.
Verizon Small Business Phone System Options
Verizon offers three main phone system options for small businesses: Virtual Communications Express, One Talk, and IP Trunking. Each option has its unique features, advantages, and limitations. Let’s take a closer look at each of them.
Virtual Communications Express
Virtual Communications Express(VCE) is a cloud-based phone system that offers features such as auto-attendant, call routing, voicemail-to-email, caller ID, call waiting, call forwarding, and more. With VCE, you can manage your phone system from a web portal, and you don’t need any hardware or on-site installation. VCE is suitable for small businesses with remote workers, multiple locations, or low call volumes.
VCE offers two plans: VCE Basic and VCE Advanced. The Basic plan starts at $35 per month per user and includes essential features such as auto-attendant, voicemail, and caller ID. The Advanced plan starts at $55 per month per user and includes additional features such as call recording, mobile app integration, and virtual meetings.
One Talk
One Talk is a hybrid phone system that combines Verizon’s wireless network with IP-based communication. With One Talk, you can use your mobile phone as your business phone, which means you can make and receive calls, texts, and faxes using your business number from anywhere. One Talk also offers features such as auto-attendant, call routing, voicemail, and more.
One Talk offers three plans: Mobile, Multi-Line, and Enhanced Multi-Line. The Mobile plan starts at $35 per month per user and includes basic features such as auto-attendant, voicemail, and caller ID. The Multi-Line plan starts at $50 per month per user and includes more advanced features such as call recording, conference bridging, and hunt groups. The Enhanced Multi-Line plan starts at $60 per month per user and includes all the features of the Multi-Line plan plus additional features such as virtual receptionist and call center integration.
IP Trunking
IP Trunking is a phone system that uses your existing voice and data network to connect your phone system to the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN). This means you can use your SIP-compatible PBX or IP-PBX to make and receive calls over the internet. IP Trunking offers features such as direct inward dialing, toll-free numbers, E911 service, and more.
IP Trunking offers two plans: Basic and Advanced. The Basic plan starts at $10 per month per channel and includes essential features such as inbound and outbound calling, E911 service, and caller ID. The Advanced plan starts at $25 per month per channel and includes additional features such as toll-free numbers, call recording, and local number portability.
Verizon Small Business Phone System Features
Now that we have looked at the different Verizon Small Business Phone System options let’s explore some of the essential features that you can expect from each option.
Auto-Attendant
Auto-attendant is a feature that allows callers to be automatically routed to the appropriate department or person by pressing the corresponding number. With auto-attendant, you can customize your greeting, menu options, and business hours. All Verizon Small Business Phone System options offer this feature.
Call Routing
Call routing is a feature that allows you to control how calls are routed to your business. With call routing, you can set up rules for how incoming calls are handled, such as forwarding calls to specific individuals, departments, or voicemail. All Verizon Small Business Phone System options offer this feature.
Voicemail-to-Email
Voicemail-to-email is a feature that allows you to receive voicemail messages as email attachments. With voicemail-to-email, you can listen to your voicemails on any device that can play audio, such as your smartphone, tablet, or computer. All Verizon Small Business Phone System options offer this feature.
Caller ID
Caller ID is a feature that lets you see the caller’s phone number and name (if available) before you answer the call. With Caller ID, you can identify important calls quickly and screen out unwanted calls. All Verizon Small Business Phone System options offer this feature.
Call Waiting
Call waiting is a feature that alerts you to an incoming call while you are on the line with someone else. With call waiting, you can either ignore the incoming call or put the first call on hold and answer the second call. All Verizon Small Business Phone System options offer this feature.
Call Forwarding
Call forwarding is a feature that allows you to forward incoming calls to another number, such as your mobile phone, home phone, or a colleague’s phone. With call forwarding, you can receive calls even when you are not at your desk. All Verizon Small Business Phone System options offer this feature.
Conference Calling
Conference calling is a feature that allows multiple people to participate in a phone call simultaneously. With conference calling, you can have virtual meetings with clients, colleagues, or suppliers without having to be in the same location. Only the Advanced plans of One Talk and VCE offer this feature.
Call Recording
Call recording is a feature that allows you to record your phone calls for quality assurance, training, or compliance purposes. With call recording, you can review your calls later or share them with your colleagues or customers. Only the Advanced plans of One Talk and IP Trunking offer this feature.
Mobile App Integration
Mobile app integration is a feature that allows you to use your phone system on your smartphone or tablet. With mobile app integration, you can make and receive calls, send and receive texts, access your voicemail, and more from your mobile device. Only VCE offers this feature.
Hunt Groups
Hunt groups is a feature that allows incoming calls to be routed to multiple phones simultaneously until someone answers the call. With hunt groups, you can ensure that incoming calls are answered promptly and efficiently. Only the Multi-Line and Enhanced Multi-Line plans of One Talk offer this feature.
Verizon Small Business Phone System Pricing
The pricing for Verizon Small Business Phone System options varies depending on the plan, number of users, and features. Now, let’s take a closer look at the pricing for each option.
Virtual Communications Express Pricing
| Plan | Price per month per user | Features |
|---|---|---|
| VCE Basic | $35 | Auto-attendant, voicemail, caller ID |
| VCE Advanced | $55 | Call recording, mobile app integration, virtual meetings |
One Talk Pricing
| Plan | Price per month per user | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Mobile | $35 | Auto-attendant, voicemail, caller ID |
| Multi-Line | $50 | Call recording, conference bridging, hunt groups |
| Enhanced Multi-Line | $60 | Virtual receptionist, call center integration |
IP Trunking Pricing
| Plan | Price per month per channel | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Basic | $10 | Inbound and outbound calling, E911 service, caller ID |
| Advanced | $25 | Toll-free numbers, call recording, local number portability |
Verizon Small Business Phone System FAQs
Q. Do I need any hardware or equipment to use Verizon Small Business Phone Systems?
A. It depends on which option you choose. VCE is a cloud-based phone system that doesn’t require any hardware or equipment. One Talk requires a One Talk desk phone or a One Talk mobile app to use its features fully. IP Trunking requires a SIP-compatible PBX or IP-PBX to connect to the PSTN.
Q. Can I keep my existing phone numbers and equipment?
A. Yes, you can keep your existing phone numbers if you switch to Verizon Small Business Phone Systems. You can also use your existing SIP-compatible PBX or IP-PBX with IP Trunking.
Q. Can I add or remove users at any time?
A. Yes, you can add or remove users at any time with all Verizon Small Business Phone System options. However, some plans may have a minimum number of users.
Q. Do Verizon’s Small Business Phone Systems support international calling?
A. Yes, all Verizon Small Business Phone System options offer international calling. However, international calling rates may apply.
Q. Does Verizon offer any customer support for Small Business Phone Systems?
A. Yes, Verizon offers 24/7 customer support for all Small Business Phone System options. You can contact Verizon’s customer support via phone, email, or chat.
Q. Is there any contract or commitment for Verizon Small Business Phone Systems?
A. Yes, some plans may require a contract or commitment, while others may offer month-to-month options. Make sure you read the terms and conditions before signing up for any plan.
Conclusion
We hope this article has provided you with valuable information on Verizon Small Business Phone Systems. Choosing the right phone system for your small business can make a significant impact on your communication, productivity, and profitability. We believe that Verizon’s Small Business Phone Systems offer a range of options that can suit different business needs and budgets.
If you have any questions or need further assistance, please don’t hesitate to contact Verizon’s customer support. We wish you all the best in your small business journey.