10 QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF

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1. Do you already use an existing Hosted solution?

• If yes –what features do you currently use the most, what additional features do you need, and what additional requirements such as additional phones, controls or flexibility are you looking for?
• If no – what is your current set up? Do you have multiple lines coming into the building (ISDN)? Do you have a PBX solution (similar to Hosted in functionality but it’s based on the property, not in the cloud)?

2. Do you understand the benefits of plan.com Hosted?

• You will benefit from having all of the connectivity at your fingertips with my.plan, which gives you instant online access to manage your business communications online or via a mobile app.
• Manage your business’s connectivity and stay flexible with Hosted Voice and mobile, all managed through my.plan.
• For a full features list that outlines all of the Hosted functionality that our platform can deliver, please visit: https://www.plan.com/features

3. How many calls do you handle every day?

• This is an important question because it helps to determine which tariffs you need.
• Another important question to help you choose the best tariff for each user is whether most of the calls are incoming or outgoing.
• If you have a high number of outgoing calls, you will need a Hosted 2000 or Hosted Unlimited tariffs.
• High incoming call numbers means you may need call flow features such as Ring Groups, Call Queues or IVRs.

4. How many connections do you need?

• How many phones do you need and what type of phone best suits your business needs?
• Desk phones are the physical phones that sit on your desk. plan.com offers a selection of phones, which are pre-provisioned (easy to set up) and business-grade.
  

5. Do any of your staff work remotely?

• Flexibility is a key feature of the plan.com Hosted platform. It helps determine your controls, analytics and hardware requirements.

6. Do you want to keep your existing telephone numbers, and do you need new ones?

• If you have existing numbers that you want to transfer, we can do this via a process called porting.
• If you do want new numbers, we can provide these too.
• One note of caution: if you want to port a number that currently carries your broadband or fibre, but you want to use for it on the Hosted platform, we’ll have to arrange the installation of a new line and move the broadband or fibre onto it before we port the number across. Otherwise, your broadband will be disconnected.
• Similar to mobiles, your existing phone numbers can be transferred to the Hosted platform via a process called number porting.
• Porting is done after the contract has been signed but it is important to check how many numbers need to be ported before signing a contract as there are costs related to the porting process.
• More information about number porting can be found here

7. Do you already have network switches and cabling in place?

• Desk phones need to access the internet either by being plugged into the data network or via a stable, reliable WiFi connection.
• Therefore, it’s important to understand if there enough network points on the wall, on your switch or on your router to accommodate the desk phones.
• All of our desk phones come with an integrated network switch, meaning you can plug the phone into the network and then your computer into the phone, which will help reduce the number of points needed.

8. What is the layout of your office?

• For smaller businesses who have not got a flexible networking solution, understanding your office layout will help to identify any issues and opportunities later down the road.
• For example, do you have one room or multiple rooms? If you do have an open office, how big is it? Do you have multiple floors? Do you have multiple buildings? Is the building listed?
• For businesses who do not have a good existing network infrastructure, these questions help to identify if a site survey is needed, and if a professional cabling provider is needed to help install the phones.

9. How good is your internet and do you need a separate internet connection for Hosted?

• In most cases, yes.
• You can run two or three phones on an existing broadband line but quality should be monitored to ensure there is enough available bandwidth.
• We would always recommend a dedicated internet connection. And, of course, we are more than happy to provide one!
• If your internet is provided by a supplier that you are happy with and don’t want to install an additional line to support the Hosted calls, we would still recommend an additional dedicated broadband line.
• Please see the section “How good does my internet need to be?” for more details.

10. What do you need to enjoy Hosted?

• You need a Hosted platform, desk phones for each extension, and a suitable internet connection on which the phones will run.
• You’ll also need suitable cabling and/or WiFi connectivity to support the phones.

^*Coming soon