Telecom Checklist for Moving a Business

In the midst of signing leases, arranging movers and buying furniture, it's easy to forget about your company's "front door," the lifeline of the business -phone lines and Internet connectivity ("telecom"). If you are planning to move this year, here are some guidelines to avoid downtime and to ensure your customers can find you:

1) Plan for Installation time! 

• If you require more than 3 lines and a DSL the most cost-effective and best option (an integrated T1) requires an installation timeframe of 30-45 days. Because of lease requirements, sometimes you will only have 30 days from signing the lease to plan. If this is the case, sign for your telecom services immediately after signing the lease.

• If you require only a few lines and a basic Internet connection and don't mind using the incumbent local phone service provider (i.e., AT&T), then order your service at least 7-10 days in advance.

• If you require only a few lines and a basic Internet connection and do NOT want to use the incumbent local phone service provider (i.e., AT&T), then order your service at least 10-14 days in advance.

• If you cannot avoid a tight timeframe, request an "expedite" but expect to pay an expedite fee of $500 - $1,000.

2) Enlist the help of a telecom expert. Don't try to go it alone, as a move is very stressful outside of voice and Internet connectivity! Often telecom experts will not charge you for their knowledge if you allow them to provision your services. The most objective telecom expert is one that offers the services of multiple carriers and systems.

3) Determine if you can keep your local phone number.

• If you are moving within miles of your existing location (within the same phone service office), then you will be able to keep your phone number. If so, your carrier may be able to provide you Duplicate Service (calls ring at both old and new locations). Duplicate Service is billable.

• If you are moving across town, you will probably NOT be able to keep your local phone number but you do have options:

• -->Order Remote Call Forward (RCF) service. RCF should be a transition plan only because every call forwarded is charged by the minute or by the call per talk path (order at least 2 talk paths). Some carriers offer a flat monthly charge for RCF, but it's still a billable service.
• -->Inquire about making your old phone number a "virtual" number at your new location. Some carriers offer this option.
• -->Port your old phone number to a Voice Over IP service that would deliver the number over your Internet/data connection. Beware: porting takes at least 30-45 days! iv. Request a "re-direct greeting" be put on your old number (i.e., "The number you're calling has been changed. The new number is..."
• -->Use your toll-free number during the move because toll-free numbers can be re-pointed to anywhere within 24 hours.
• -->When you have to change your phone number, request a "good" number instead of settling for the number offered by the company. But your expectation should NOT be to get a number ending in -X000 or even -XX00, as these numbers are often taken and difficult to come by.

4)  Decide if you want to change your phone system or just move it. If you own your phone system, you can take it with you. A move may or may not be an opportune time to review your phone system's operation and evaluate other options. If you do need to look at phone system options, enlist the help of a telecom expert.