I’ve been researching different options for my business phone since starting StGermaine.ca. I use VOIP for my other companies and I’ve been very happy with the service. That being said, I’ve always wanted to try Skype for business. Their technology is fantastic and the price is right – unlimited calls and my own phone number for $75 a year!
Unfortunately, Skype (affiliate link) doesn’t offer Canadian phone numbers so I’ve never been able to use them for anything other than Skype-to-Skype calls. That is until I decided I needed a toll free number – this led me to the solution I was looking for!
My new 1-877 number forwards to my Skype number and allows people to call me toll free. I live in British Columbia, but my Skype number is for Seattle. You see, Skype offers unlimited calling to North America for about $30 a year, so the area code of my local number is irrelevant. By getting a toll free number and having it forward to my Skype phone, I only have to pay $2 a month for the toll free number and minimal long distance charges (anywhere from 4-7 cents a minute when people call in).
By having a Skype number combined with a toll free number, I can always be reached no matter where I am geographically. If I want to head out of town for a month and still do business, having a Skype number comes in handy.
With their North America calling plan, you also get call forwarding and voice mail included.
If you’d like to use Skype the way I have, you can set up a Skype plan with an online number – they’ll give you 50% off for the phone number when you get their North America calling plan. I paid annually for both the number and calling plan for a total price of just over $75.
After you’ve set up your Skype number, go to a toll free provider like Callture, set up a toll free number and point that toll free number to your new Skype phone number. Once you have that completed, you’re ready to go.
