XO Communications telephony is a service offered by one of the leading providers of telecommunications and related services in the United States. Through efficient transfer of voice data, an XO telephony network can improve the quality and cost savings over your current phone system. An interchangeable term that some often use in place of telephony is Voice over IP (VoIP). Whichever term you use, this technology uses the Internet to communicate on the phone rather than traditional phone lines.

Some of the primary benefits of using a XO telephony system are that it doesn't require leased lines for your business; it merges voice and data transfer into one system, thereby eliminating the need to maintain two networks; and XO Communications PC telephony eliminates long distance charges. With all these benefits, it would seem an easy decision to switch to the service, however, before making that decision, there are a few items to consider. For example, you should:

1. Understand the basics of XO Comunications pc telephony.

2. Review the services offered by the Xo Communications IP telephony.

3. Contact a XO Communications telephony network salesperson.

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

Employ tutorials to become familiar with the XO telephony technology

Before you talk to XO telephony salesperson, it's prudent for you to understand the basic product. That way, you won't get lost in the typical technical jargon that most technology salespeople use. This basic knowledge will also give you an understanding of how the technology can benefit your company and let you know exactly what you're getting when you receive a quote for this service.

I recommend: Use the telephony tutorial from Cisco Systems to get a better idea of how this technology operates. You can also go over the diagrams provided that shows you how to make a call over the Internet and save the most money while doing so. Examine the telephony glossary from VoIP News, so you become familiar with common industry terms to further understand exactly what you're getting with this service. You can also use its vendor directory to find a provider of VoIP services.

Appraise the various XO telephony services in detail

XO PC telephony will allow your company greater data flexibility because you can eliminate the need for a traditional phone line and the cost that comes with it. However, be sure that the XO Comunications IP telephony service meets your communications needs prior to committing to the service.

I recommend: Evaluate the XO IP Telephony service overview to see all the related products they offer. It's also a good idea to subscribe to XO's publication IP Telephony Today to get a better idea of the benefits of the technology.

Talk to an XO Communications IP telephony salesperson

Before you contact an XO Communications telephony rep, make a list of any questions you have regarding the product. First, you need to know what questions to ask. If you don't know what to ask, there are resources available to get you started. If after reviewing the questions on telephony, you feel comfortable with the product, it's time to speak to a salesperson.

I recommend: Use the question and answer session from Telephony World as a basis for the questions you should ask the sales representative. Use its handy questionnaire to formulate questions specific to your actual needs. Then, contact the XO Communications telephony salesperson for pricing information and technological details.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Prior to committing to any contract regarding XO Comunications telephony, be sure to read all the usage limits therein. Sometimes communication companies will charge for data overages, should your company exceed the bandwidth limit.
• •  If you're the primary decision maker in your company, but don't have a strong grasp of technology, it's a good idea to have your local technology person on the phone during the call to the XO telephony representative.