FAQs

You’ve got questions about business phone services? Great. We love questions, especially answering them. The way we see it, the more knowledgeable you become about business internet phone services and systems, the more attractive RingPlanet will look to you as a VoIP provider. We know how good our business phone service products are and we love educating our customers about VoIP so they can make the best decision possible. So here are some of the questions we’ve been asked recently. And if you have a question that’s not here, just go to our contact page and ask us there about business phone service, we’ll be happy to get back to you. And if it’s really good question, maybe we’ll even add it here…and then you’ll be famous. Sort of. Okay, not really.

VoIP is an acronym for Voice Over Internet Protocol, or in more common terms phone service over the Internet. If you have a reasonable quality Internet connection you can get phone service delivered through your Internet connection instead of from your local phone company.

There are wants and there are needs. You want VoIP for business phone service because it is usually offered at lower rates than traditional phone services using TDM or copper phone lines. Also, VoIP business phone service offers a range of features you cannot find using the traditional TDM or copper lines. You need VoIP because the FCC has approved the transition of all copper or POTS (plain old telephone service) to internet based telephony. Copper lines are too expensive for the carriers to maintain. Therefore, they are either being decommissioned or just ignored and instead the carriers are turning to the more efficient and less expensive internet telephony solutions. It is expected by 2020 most residential and business telephone services will be using VoIP.

A hosted PBX system combines traditional analog lines with the internet. VoIP is a complete internet telephony system that is fully cloud based.

The old adage “the more you bundle the more you save” is true and not just in traditional dollars and cents. It’s also common sense. When you bundle you VoIP phone service and business internet services then you will experience greater efficiencies when a problem arises. When you have different carriers then you will need to call two providers who will give you varying reasons for your problems and will probably point the fingers at the other provider. When you bundle then the same provider is responsible for each piece of your business phone and internet service and can trouble shoot the root problem more quickly and efficiently.

The only costs to set up your VoIP service are a nominal account activation fee ($10.00) and a phone activation fee ($5.00).

Depending on how complex or simple you want your business telephone system to run will determine if you want to use your own IT technician. Most businesses do not use a technician. Instead, we ship you the phones and then your dedicated account manager will spend as much time as you need to walk you through the setup of your business phone service and customize your portal to ensure your phone systems works to your unique needs.

On a rare occasion the system will install updates.

RingPlanet caters to every type of small and medium sized business. Whether you are an accounting firm with 30 employees or a flower store we can be your solutions expert for business phone service, internet, and mobile solutions.

RingPlanet has agreements to use the underlying networks of the largest and most reliable carriers in the nation, including Vonage, AT&T, Charter and Time Warner and CenturyLink.

RingPlanet support is available from 7a.m. – 5:30p.m. PST.

If you need an affordable, friendly business phone service or VoIP provider, give us a ring! We’re excited to talk with you.

Instant Internet

Instant Internet is a wireless internet service that allows users to access the internet immediately without the need for traditional wired connections. It often uses cellular networks, satellite technology, or Wi-Fi.

The speed of Instant Internet can vary depending on the technology used and the service provider. Cellular-based services like 4G or 5G can offer speeds comparable to traditional broadband, while satellite internet might be slower.

Reliability can vary. Cellular and Wi-Fi-based services are generally reliable in urban areas but might be less so in rural or remote locations. Satellite internet can be affected by weather and physical obstructions.

Yes, many Instant Internet services offer speeds and latency suitable for streaming and gaming, but it’s important to check the specific capabilities and limitations of your service.

Pricing can be competitive with traditional broadband, but it often depends on data usage limits and speed tiers. Satellite internet might be more expensive than terrestrial services.

Some services may have data caps, while others offer unlimited data. It’s important to understand the terms of your plan, as exceeding data limits can result in additional charges or reduced speeds.

This depends on the type of service. Cellular and Wi-Fi-based services might require a modem or a hotspot device, while satellite services will need a satellite dish and a modem.

Coverage varies by service provider. Cellular and Wi-Fi-based services are widely available in urban areas, while satellite internet can provide coverage in rural and remote areas.

Setup procedures vary. Cellular and Wi-Fi services often involve simple plug-and-play devices, while satellite internet might require professional installation.

First, try basic troubleshooting like restarting your device or checking for obstructions. If issues persist, contact your service provider’s customer support for assistance.

Home Phone Service

A home phone service, or landline, is a telephone service that provides voice communication through physical wires or fiber optic cables. It is installed in a fixed location, such as a home or business.

A landline is a fixed telephone that requires a physical connection to the telephone network, while a mobile phone is portable and connects wirelessly.

Landlines offer reliable voice quality, stable connection, and are not affected by the issues sometimes faced by mobile networks like poor signal or dead zones. They also work during power outages if they are not dependent on electricity.

Yes, traditional landlines use analog signals over copper wires, while newer versions use digital technology like VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) which operates over the internet.

Pricing can be competitive with traditional broadband, but it often depends on data usage limits and speed tiers. Satellite internet might be more expensive than terrestrial services.

In many cases, yes. Most regions have number portability, allowing you to keep your existing number when switching providers.

For traditional landlines, you need a compatible telephone set. For VoIP services, you might need a VoIP phone or an adapter for a regular phone, along with a high-speed internet connection.

Landlines are generally considered secure and less prone to eavesdropping compared to wireless communications, but they are not immune to all security risks.

Setting up a traditional landline typically requires a professional installation from the service provider. For VoIP, you may need to set up the necessary equipment and ensure a stable internet connection.

Yes, dial-up internet services use a landline telephone network, but they are much slower than modern broadband connections.

Cell Phone Service

Cell phone services operate through a network of cell towers that cover specific geographic areas. These towers transmit signals to and from mobile devices, enabling communication.

Providers offer various service plans that typically include a combination of voice minutes, text messages, and data allowances. Plans can range from basic ones with limited features to comprehensive packages with unlimited data and international roaming.

The most common cellular network technologies are 3G, 4G/LTE, and 5G, each offering different speeds and capabilities. 5G is the latest and offers the fastest data speeds and improved network efficiency.

A Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card is a small chip that stores the user’s information and is necessary for connecting to the cellular network. It can be transferred between compatible phones, allowing users to keep their number and service plan.

 The availability and quality of cell phone service can vary based on location, with urban areas typically having better coverage than rural or remote areas. Network coverage maps provided by carriers can help determine service quality in specific regions.

When traveling outside the coverage area of a service provider, roaming allows users to continue using their mobile phones through another provider’s network, often at additional cost.

Modern cell phone services are optimized for smartphones, which offer a wide range of functionalities beyond voice calls and texts, such as internet browsing, streaming, and GPS navigation.

Data services are a significant part of cell phone plans, allowing users to access the internet, send emails, stream media, use social media, and more. Data usage can be a major factor in choosing a service plan.

Cell phone services can be availed through long-term contracts or prepaid plans. Contracts often come with a commitment period and might include the phone as part of the package, while prepaid plans offer more flexibility without long-term commitments.

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