Analyze calling patterns and rates that you’ve been charged for entire billing cycle. Identify and total any additional charges for extra calls or minutes. Once you’ve analyzed and totaled these charges, it will be relatively easy to determine which type of service plan fits your business calling patterns.

Here’s an example of a business and appropriate service plan for its usage:

A plumbing parts manufacturer receives hundreds of inbound calls daily. These are calls from vendors, suppliers, contractors, etc. Most of these calls come in from company’s toll-free number. Out bound local calls are relatively few but when they are made, they can be long. These outbound calls average 30 minutes or more.

The best local service choice for this company is Message-Rate Service. Why? Because outbound local calling is relatively low, but calls are long. The company could choose Flat-Rate Service, but cost of each line would be higher than Message-Rate. Measured-Rate Service is inappropriate because outbound calls are long, and there is a per-minute charge for calls with this service type. Message-Rate Service allows company to pay a lower line charge, and then pay once for each outbound call made. Understanding calling patterns for your business and learning local service options available in your area are important first steps in reducing your telecom expenses. Analyze your local bills now. You’ll find savings you never knew existed!

Once you've determined which jobs would be more effectively performed using wireless services, then you’ll know which employees need to be provided wireless services. Then it’s time to implement a wireless "policy" to help keep costs as low as possible and to curtail possible abuse.

STEP # 2: Develop a Written Wireless Policy For Your Employees

1) Make a list of all employees that use wireless services, equipment used, plans, etc. 2) Establish amount of personal use (if any) that is acceptable and let employees know that usage will be monitored regularly.

3) Determine features and plans required for each employee based on job functions. Change and update plans where necessary.

4) Identify who will monitor and review all bills on a regular basis.

5) Establish a procedure for returning equipment and settling final bills when employees leave company. Developing a company wireless policy could save hundreds or thousands of dollars per year in unnecessary costs. If you don't already have a policy, establish one now and you'll quickly being seeing wireless cost savings.