| the price of T1 service dropping from it’s high | | | | Whether you have an in-house technical staff or not, |
| point of roughly 20 years ago, it’s no wonder | | | | whatever provider you choose for service should be |
| that more and more businesses are searching out and | | | | willing (and technical able) to work with you every step |
| using this cost effective solution. Whether it’s | | | | of the way to understand and provide the service that |
| voice, data, or a combination of voice and data, T1 | | | | meets your needs. |
| service providers can satisfy your communications | | | | So, how exactly do you find an objective third party to |
| infrastructure requirements. | | | | help you understand requirements, cost, support and |
| But where do you find an appropriate provider that | | | | extensibility? |
| offers a great price and support? | | | | A communications broker provides an objective look |
| This is a great question. The biggest mistake is to base | | | | at your unique situation. Communication brokers work |
| a purchasing decision on price alone. Beware of this. | | | | for you and not for any specific vendor. If you were to |
| As most know, the net effect of any business | | | | contact a specific vendor, their assistance would be |
| purchase is the return on your investment. The | | | | geared towards a specific product or service they |
| ‘cheap’ T1 service providers may be | | | | themselves offer. Their solution would be partly tailored |
| just that. A cheap cost for an oversold service that | | | | based on what they themselves can provide. Using a |
| would be unable to provide the throughput advertised. | | | | communications broker removes that limitation by |
| When making this important decision to build up (or out) | | | | having access to products and services from many |
| your communications infrastructure, ask yourself some | | | | different vendors. Further, the communications broker |
| important questions.a. If you’re looking for a | | | | can objectively evaluate your situation and design a |
| voice T1 service, what are your current requirements? | | | | solution that meets all your requirements and needs. |
| (local/long distance, fax, toll-free service, number of | | | | There are many T1 providers out there. Do yourself |
| lines needed, etc.)b. If you’re looking for a data | | | | and your business a favor and use a communications |
| T1 service, what is your objective? Web hosting, | | | | broker to help you navigate the waters and build an |
| internet access for your employees, ASP, etc.c. If | | | | infrastructure that will solve your immediate needs and |
| you’re looking for an integrated solution (voice | | | | provide the infrastructure that can handle the growth |
| and data) consider both points above. | | | | of your business. Whether you use our services or |
| Obviously these are some general considerations. | | | | that of someone else, your business success is too |
| There are also cost factors, time lines to implement, | | | | important to leave in the hands of the |
| technical support, hardware requirements, contract | | | | ‘cheap’ guys. |
| time frames and extensibility issues to consider. | | | | |