Ways To Make Cheap Business Calls

The atmosphere of austerity shrouding the UK in 2011 has meant that times have been tough for businesses. Companies of all sizes across the country are faced with difficult choices to make in order to cut spending and ensure that they stay afloat in a grim global economy. But while rising unemployment may make the headlines, firms also have to cut costs by lowering their utility bills and this may involve some substantial changes in staff behaviour.

One way in which utility bills may be lowered is by more efficient heating (or, in the summer, cooling) of offices, as well as by conserving electricity and making the most of natural daylight. However, a significant contributor to monthly bills in a business is the phone bill. As a result, many office managers are now placing a heavy emphasis on cheaper business telephone solutions without compromising on the quality of communication with customers. There are several ways in which this can be achieved.

Finding a new provider and turning to the internet

The first thing that many companies do when trying to reduce their phone bills is look for a new provider. Signing up to a new telephone company can hold many benefits - such as discounted rates and free minutes. However, these benefits are often on limited terms. For example, the discounted rate may only apply for the first three months of a contract, and a free calls allowance may be capped at 500 minutes per month.

Another solution that firms are considering in the 21st century is using VoIP more widely in their business communication. VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) software allows calls to be made over the internet, for free when they're made from one PC to another or at a considerably lower rate than usual when made from a PC to a telephone. While this has obvious benefits, there are also several drawbacks that could impact business image. Primarily, VoIP calls depend completely on internet performance - so if your broadband is being slow or faulty, the quality of your call could be seriously affected.

Using an access number

An alternative solution for making cheap business calls is to use an access number. When you dial an access number, you are charged a specified rate that is usually much cheaper than calling directly from a landline. If your business has to make several overseas calls a day, this could be a particularly attractive option. That's because access numbers allow you to make international calls at vastly lower rates - for example, cheap calls to the USA for just one pence per minute rather than the standard BT charge.

If you choose this option, it's important to check with your telephone line provider exactly how much dialing an access number will cost you. For instance, charges on BT lines and Virgin Media connections could be different.

Harvey McEwan writes to offer information and advice on a variety of areas, from technology to holiday destinations. Read through Harvey's other articles here to find out more.