5 Questions to Ask a Prospective
VoIP Phone System Installer

Question 1) Is the VoIP phone system built on “open” standards? While all VoIP systems use the industry standard Internet Protocol (the “IP” in VoIP) to route calls, some use proprietary technology for administration or integration features. The technology used in a particular system may impact whether you can leverage your existing equipment, so be sure to inquire about compatibility issues.

Question 2) What level of redundancy is built into the proposed VoIP phone system? By definition, VoIP phones are also network-dependent. To businesses where phone service is absolutely critical, this can be a concern since computer networks can occasionally be brought down by a server crash or other problem. Potential network outages are another reason why having a vendor with expertise in digital and VoIP can be advantageous: it creates a more comfortable level of redundancy.

Question 3) Will your company need service and/or maintenance contracts for your VoIP phone system?

Question 4) Will your company be better served by leasing/finance for your VoIP phone system? 

Question 5) How quickly do you intend to have the voice over IP phone system installed?  

Some vendors, particularly those whose background is in data networking, sell VoIP-only systems. This can drive up your costs unnecessarily when a hybrid traditional/VoIP system might be fine for your needs. Also watch out for vendors that simply add VoIP to your existing network whether or not it is fully ready to support voice traffic. They may later charge you for upgrades if you decide the call quality falls short of your expectations. Make sure you get a thorough analysis of your current network and the impact VoIP will have on it to get a true sense for your phone system costs.

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