SIP Trunking Helps Midwestern SMB Obtain Unified Communications

It happens all the time: a small to medium-sized business (SMB) see the advantages of migrating to IP-based unified communications, but is reluctant to make the investment given economic uncertainties. Sometimes it takes some creativity to find an affordable, justifiable path to this type of advantageous upgrade.

In a recently case, IP communications services provider Broadvox helped one of its customers, an SMB in the Midwest, find a way to pay for 21st Century communications technology.

The SMB in question operated out of one office, but spent nearly $6,000 each month on telecommunications. That expense included broadband, carrier services and costs associated with maintaining equipment.

Installing a SIP-compatible phone system had its appeals, but the SMB analyzed its capital expenditure budget and found that this kind of purchase beyond reach. So, instead, the company considered other options and settled on several of Broadvox’s (News - Alert) offerings, including SIP trunking (with GO!Anywhere and 48 concurrent call sessions options) and five toll-free numbers discounted through a 3-year contract.

GO!Anywhere is a SIP trunking service that can be used with TDM PBXs, IP PBXs or legacy CPEs. Its features include E911 service, DIDs, existing business number porting, directory listings, local number portability.

In this case, to get around the unaffordable capital expense, the SMB opted for a fair market value lease of a SIP-enabled phone system.

“In most cases, deploying Broadvox SIP Trunking with a SIP compatible phone system substantially reduces overall monthly telecommunications expenses,” Broadvox said in a case study. “In this case, after analyzing the company’s needs, it was clear the company could lease the new SIP compatible phone system, utilizing a 5-year Fair Market Value lease and spreading the cost out over time.”

Broadvox’s SIP trunking service helped the SMB immediately begin cutting communication costs. The GO!Anywhere feature reduced local calling costs from $3,100 per month to $1,485 per month, and also cut out $950 each month in long distance fees.

Altogether, the SMB ended up saving $2,616.34 per month and cut its telecom budget nearly in half. It’s hard to argue with a bottom-line advantage like that.