Any nationwide pager service will probably work for your business. But if you want to get the best service possible, you should try working with paging service providers that can give you the options to best help your employees stay in touch with one another. Pager service providers offer different services, depending on where you are located and the availability of specific beeper models.

Because there are so many paging services out there, check out a few before committing to a plan. For making the most of paging service providers, you should ask yourself a few questions before you begin:

1. What type of pager services will the company need?

2. Will your company need additional paging options, such as Internet paging?

3. Can the pager provider offer industry-specific options?

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Determine the features you need from pager service providers in US

The first thing you need to do when choosing a pager service provider is determine your needs. Once you know whether you need features like wireless paging, 2-way paging or a nationwide plan, it will be easier for you to find the service provider that meets your specifications at a reasonable price.

I recommend: My Secretary USA is one of many 2-way pager service providers that will be able handle all your 2-way paging needs. Custom AMD Computers provides a checklist on how to choose the pager service provider that will best fit your needs.

Consider working with paging service providers that offer additional options

Even though cell phones, PDAs and other hand-held devices can take the place of pagers in many instances, those who still use pagers can find service providers that offer many additional paging options. Some of these include paging through the Internet (either with email or webpage forms), paging via cell phone, or any other system where a pager is not actually needed to send the message.

I recommend: Internet Software Solutions provides wireless paging options that use the Internet for faster and more convenient service. The Wireless Messaging Newsletter can keep you up to date on the latest news and trends in wireless paging options.

Work with pager providers that service specific industries

The best way to get a customized service plan from a pager provider is to use a service that provides paging options for your industry. There are many beeper service providers that specialize in servicing the medical and restaurant industries.

I recommend: Commtech Wireless provides pager activation and services for many industries, including health care, hospitality and public safety. Long Range Systems is a paging service that offers a wide range of options for many industries that need specific paging services.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Pagers service providers can also get you good deals on different models of pagers. This may be another factor to consider when choosing the right service provider.

With the advent of the cell phone, one might expect pager activation to become a thing of the past, but that hasn't happened. The fact is that pagers can actually help save you money on cell phone charges, when used in conjunction with your cellular phone. Modern pager service providers also offer many features that traditional pagers didn't have.

Whether you are a medical professional, a first responder, an on-call IT technician or a business owner who uses pager service to handle the affairs of your company, you might want to research a few paging service providers to see if you're getting the best deal you can for your dollar. The following are some types of pagers that are available today:

1. Numeric pagers (transmit numbers only)

2. Alpha-numeric pagers (transmit numbers and letters)

3. Two-way alpha-numeric pagers (capable of two-way communication)

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Learn the basics of beeper activation so you can determine which service you need

Your particular business needs will dictate the extent to which you will need the various available features of the modern-day pager. Gathering a little background information online can help you decide whether you'll need the added features that increase the cost of activating a beeper.

I recommend: Leapforum.com offers a thorough explanation of how one-way and two-way pager activation work.

Visit the websites of various pager providers and see what they have to offer

Each company will differ slightly in its offerings, as well as its pricing. Carefully compare the features offered by all pager service providers that you investigate. This will give you a better idea of which one's services are in your price range and which offers the features you need or desire.

I recommend: Metrotel Communications and Unity offer numerous beeper activation features that can help make your daily business more convenient.

Consider paging service providers who offer extra high-tech services

Many pager providers offer special services that can really help make life simpler for you. Some send your e-mail to your pager or cell phone instantly. Others offer voice mail, virtual fax machine service or telepaging (paging without a pager, via your cell or other phone, e-mail or the Internet).

I recommend: CellPlusPlus and Interpage are two beeper service providers that offer more than simple pager activation.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Activating a pager today is a simple matter, and pagers integrate so well with cell phone and Internet services that it's almost a shame not to take advantage of all that the modern pager has to offer. If your company's budget can handle it, consider signing up for the high-tech options when you activate your next pager. It might just work wonders for your business

Pager service providers offer businesses the opportunity to stay in touch with each other regarding important company transactions, information and concerns. Two-way pager service providers can offer businesses peace of mind and convenience in communication, but it is also important that these two-way pager service providers remain within the budget of companies who are looking to beeper service providers for assistance without breaking their bottom line.

Research should be performed prior to committing to any local or nationwide pager service company. It is important for the services offered to meet the needs of the company, but the cost also has to be within the means of the business investing in the pager service. When considering paging service providers' costs, you should:

1. Compare paging service providers pricing and costs. This can be done through the assistance of review and ratings websites.

2. Review the costs of pager activation fees. Some businesses may not remember to consider the activation fees of pager service providers and this could affect their budget. Activation fees are an important one time cost.

3. Carefully consider the regions of paging service providers. In many instances, pager provider businesses will offer local and nationwide pager service at different costs.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Review pager service providers to compare costs

There are many review and ratings websites which will offer businesses the information necessary to help them make decisions about beeper activation costs. These sites not only discuss the pager activation costs, but also the overall paging service providers pricing and costs to allow businesses access to important and comparable information about pagers service providers.

I recommend: RateItAll.com offers a list of many of the nation's pager service providers. In addition to offering a basic rating of the provider, this site provides reviews that discuss the costs relative to the services offered. Businesses can also benefit from comparing the deals on services offered from TopSavings.net. Some of the deals here include text messaging pagers from Motorola as well as free numerical pagers from Motorola with a contract through the paging service provider. As a general guideline when comparing pager service providers, there are simple plans available for under $100 annually.

Understand the cost of activating a pager from various pager service providers

Costs can vary from company to company when an individual or business is activating a beeper. As a result, it is important to understand that despite the fact that this is a one time cost, the fee is an important aspect of the charges demanded by pager providers. By being aware of these discrepancies and comparing them, it is possible for businesses to make the most educated decision regarding pager activation and their pager service.

I recommend: Normally, the fees of activating a pager can run and individual between $20 and $40. However, as CoStar.net points out, there are ways to waive this activation fee so that the cost of activation is nothing. Beepers.com also discusses their ability to sometimes waive the pager activation fee. This is a cost-effective way for companies to save a little bit of money on their initial bill.

Determine which region(s) would be beneficial to your company when examining pager service providers

Pager service providers can offer local and nationwide pager services. In many instances, these plans will vary in cost. Businesses need to be aware of these differences in plan costs in order to ensure that they stay within budget when considering such plans. There are many factors to take into consideration, including where the business has offices and how often employees are required to travel for business purposes.

I recommend: Graylink.com has a chart explaining their paging services, including their complexity, and whether or not the plans are available locally and/or nationwide. In addition to this information, the site also discusses the costs of such plans. For example, for a simple two way messaging plan, the cost could be around $10 each month regionally and around $30 nationally. MessageComUSA also discusses their plans, which range from about $15 each month for local air time to up to about $30 for nationwide service.

Paging is a way to stay in touch even when you're mobile. It's different from a cell phone because pagers don't provide voice service, but you can communicate via numeric or alphanumeric messages across the United States when you have a pager. Paging service providers offer numerous types of pagers and paging services that can fit any budget. Consider these paging service providers key terms to help you find the services and devices that you need.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

One way pager, beeper

A one way pager, also known as a beeper, keeps you in communication with people by allowing you to receive messages. It's called a one-way pager because you can't send messages, you can only receive them. Your paging service provider can provide you with a great rate if you want service for a one way pager.

I recommend: Read about one way pagers on the wiseGEEK website.

Two way pagers

Two way pagers allow you to communicate with other people no matter where you are. A two way pager allows you to receive messages, but it also has a built in keyboard so you can send messages as well. Two way pagers are one of the most popular options available through your paging service provider.

I recommend: Read about two way pagers at PagersOnline.com.

Numeric paging

Numeric paging allows you to receive messages consisting of numbers on your beeper. This is most used when someone wants you to return a phone call and the phone number is sent to the numeric pager. Paging service providers still provide this service, although most people prefer alphanumeric paging.

I recommend: Read about numeric paging on the Mid-Atlantic ProTel website.

Alphanumeric pager

An alphanumeric pager allows you to send both numeric messages and text messages to another beeper. You can also receive both text and numeric messages on your pager when you have an alphanumeric pager. Ask your paging service provider about service plan options for alphanumeric pagers.

I recommend: Long Range Systems details information about alphanumeric pagers.

Desktop paging software

Pagers now are equipped to receive a lot of information, even from a computer. Install desktop paging software on your computer and you can send alphanumeric messages to pagers. Desktop paging software is available through your paging service provider.

I recommend: Read about desktop paging software on the Internet Software Solutions website.

Local Number Portability (LNP)

The Federal Communications Commission requires wireless companies to allow people to transfer their existing phone numbers to other carriers. That mandate is called Local Number Portability (LNP).

I recommend: The American Messaging Services website explains Local Number Portability (LNP) and why paging service providers don't have to comply.