Phone options
What are your plans for your phone line in the office? It is very important that we talk about phone service because if you choose to use an hard line provider like Qwest, Integra or PSU a 7-10 working day lead time is required to cross-connect the line to your office.

If you choose option 1, 2, or 4 you will need PSU to cross connect your line (even if you do not use PSU as a provider they still need to cross connect the line to get it to your office). This takes up to two weeks. This will cost between $75 and $100 depending on how many lines your order. If you are going use phone service other than VOIP or cellular please fill out, sign, and email the attached "Cash customer agreement".

1. Using PSU as a carrier: This option would provide the dependability of a hard line at a lower cost cost than Qwest or Integra. The phone number is NOT portable. When you move out, you cannot take your number with you (when used with call forwarding services this is not an issue, see below). PSU long distance costs about 3.5 cents per min for calls to the US. The menu of PSU services with prices is attached, "Corbett offerings".

2.Using outside traditional hard line carrier:
This way your number is portable, so when you move locally you can take your number with you. This options will have clear call quality and is a dependable option. Last time I checked it was the most expensive option.

Qwest (www.qwest.com -(800) 244-1111)
or
Integra (www.integratelecom.com (503) 453-8777 ).

3. Web-based phone line: About 60% of the companies here use voice over IP (VOIP). Our companies have had success using a local provider, F2 (http://store.f2it.com/
503-808-1200). Jay Allen, the owner of F2, is very familiar with our building and has is serving multiple companies in the building. Skype is another online phone option that two companies use.
We would caution you when using VOIP because it is not as dependable as a hard line. Three of our companies had trouble with VOIP and one companies was without dependable phone service for months. On the other hand it
works great for other companies. It is a great way to keep costs down, especially if you making lots of long distance calls. We DO NOT recommend Vonage.

4. Hybrid system. If you do use VOIP it is a good idea to have a hard line back-up. This will allow you to still make and receive calls even if your VOIP service goes down. VOIP depends on internet and
power, while hard line phones do not. This is an option that one of our larger companies use. It might not be cost effective for a smaller company.

5. Use cell phones only.

Call forwarding or voice mail service
Some very useful call forwarding and automated reception services that some of our companies use give these companies a more professional presence. You could setup toll-free numbers vanity numbers, like 1-800-TimeStream for example. You have call routing, voice mail and hold music options. These services allow you to route calls to your office line during certain hours and cell phone during other hours if you like.

Ring Central - www.ringcentral.com starting $9.95 per month
VMail - http://grasshopper.com/vmail $49 per month

Conference Room Phone
We also have a speaker phone that has been loaned to us by one of the organizations here PNDC. Your company can check it out and make calls on the lines in the conference room. Local and toll free are ok. Long distance needs a code from Qwest or a calling card. You can have people call into that line as well. More info: http://www.psba.pdx.edu/confrmphone