Short answer: Moving to Intermedia IP phones, or to any hosted phone provider, makes sense when your business has a real reason to move now: copper lines being retired, an on-site phone system nearing end of support, a contract renewal coming up or staff giving customers their personal cell numbers. Then judge the provider on contract terms, written uptime commitments, 911 handling, number ownership and who supports you day to day, not on the brand name.
"Now" depends on your situation, not the brand
Hosted phone platforms such as Intermedia move your phone system off a box in the back closet and into the provider's data centers, with calls carried over your internet connection. That model has real advantages, but a provider switch is still a project. These are the situations where it is worth doing soon:
- Your carrier has started retiring the copper lines your current phones depend on.
- Your on-site phone system is old enough that parts and software support are hard to find.
- Your current phone contract is up for renewal in the next few months, which is the easiest time to leave.
- Field staff and remote workers use personal cell numbers with customers because the office phones cannot follow them.
If none of those apply and your current system works, there is no prize for switching early. Use the time to collect the information below so the decision is easy when it comes.
Seven questions to ask Intermedia or any hosted provider
- What is included in each user license, and what costs extra, such as call recording, fax, toll-free minutes or additional numbers?
- How long is the contract, does it renew automatically, and what does it cost to leave early?
- What uptime commitment is in the written service agreement, and what happens if the provider misses it?
- How is 911 location set and updated for desk phones, the mobile app and people working from home?
- Who owns our phone numbers, and how does a port out to another provider work if we leave later?
- Does the system connect with the tools we already use, such as Microsoft 365 or our customer software?
- When something breaks, who do we call, and does that person know our network as well as the phone platform?
Ask for the answers in writing. Marketing pages describe the best case; the service agreement describes what you can count on.
The part no provider controls
Every hosted phone system, Intermedia included, is only as good as the internet connection and office network underneath it. A provider can run excellent data centers and your calls will still break up if voice shares a congested connection with backups and video uploads. Before choosing, find out how much bandwidth you really have, whether your switches can prioritize voice traffic, and what calls should do if the internet goes down, such as forwarding to cell phones or failing over to a backup connection.
That is the question most comparisons skip, and it is where TechCore starts. Our business IP phone service and VoIP systems start with a network check, then build the call flow, move your numbers and train your team.
Where TechCore fits in the decision
Whichever platform ends up on your shortlist, it helps to have one local team that understands both the phones and the network they run on. TechCore works from offices in Smyrna and Chattanooga, and when a call quality problem shows up, the same IT help desk that supports your computers looks at the switch, the firewall and the internet connection, so there is no back and forth between a phone vendor and an IT vendor. And if you choose TechCore IP phone service, the phones themselves are included at no charge.
For Nashville area companies, our VoIP business phone service in Smyrna, TN page explains how local setup and support work.
Frequently asked questions
Is Intermedia a good fit for a small business?
It can be. The better test is how its terms and features line up with the seven questions above for your office size, your locations and the way your team actually takes calls.
Will we lose our numbers if we change providers?
Usually not. Business numbers can generally be ported from one provider to another. Confirm the port-out process before you sign so you are not locked in later.
What should we have ready before getting quotes?
A count of users and locations, a list of every number customers call, your current contract end date and your internet speeds at each site. With those, quotes from different providers become much easier to compare.
Compare providers with the network in view
Before you sign with any hosted phone provider, make sure your office can carry the calls. Call TechCore at (615) 237-5700 for a free IT assessment, and we will check your internet and network, review your current phone setup and help you weigh your options on facts instead of sales pitches.
