VoIP Equipment Buying Tips

Before you commit to VoIP, evaluate the potential savings of toll-free calling between all locations. If it is only $200/month, think twice before making such serious investment. Do not buy VoIP equipment just for the sake of having the latest technology.

Plan for the future. The cost difference between including extra capacity at the beginning of a project and adding more VoIP equipment later is significant - build in room for growth.

Do not try to save money buying used VoIP equipment. VoIP technology is so new that even last year's hardware is extremely dated. Plus, the installation cost does not change whether a system is used or new, which is a significant portion of the price. You also set yourself up for shorter lifespans, higher upgrade costs, and more maintenance - in short, the deferred costs will almost certainly wipe out any upfront savings.

Investigate your vendor. Do not take a chance on unlicensed or unauthorized vendors. Your state board of electricity can tell you if a vendor is licensed, which verifies that they are bonded, covered with insurance, and generally in good standing with the state. Authorization comes from hardware manufacturers, and means that the vendor has passed competency exams and committed to ethical practices. This gives resellers the ability to access the manufacturer directly for VoIP equipment upgrades or tricky installation problems.

Some vendors will take your system's documentation with them when they are finished, leaving only the user guides. Make sure you get all the administrator documentation and the passwords! Most VoIP systems today have web interfaces for making simple admin changes like adding users, but you will need the documentation and the admin password.