Pay attention to reliability of service. In these days of buying and selling of phone lines to other companies, reliability can be an issue. Even when your phone company does a good job generally, check into its provisions for emergency service, and decide how important it is for your company to be well-covered in such cases. Many big companies, such as banks, choose to buy emergency access service for backup in case their regular lines go down. Look into specialized service if you have special needs.
Many companies offer excellent rates on calls to limited markets.
At Hawkes organization, for example, many members are signed up with a company called Working Assetts, which specifically provides low long distance rates to Washington, D.C., a popular calling destination for those members. Hawkes frequently gets some unusual questions about the phone companies, an indication of the individualized criteria that go into picking a service. Hawkes, who has been doing this job for more than five years, reminds complainers how much clout they have when they band together into one voice. Evidence of this appeared when the movie industry joined forces to pressure the powers that be to maintain the 818 area code. And when people personally experience frustrations with a company or situation, Hawkes urges them to call elected officials and the California Public Utilities Commission.