POTS stands for "plain old telephone service," the copper lines the phone company has run to buildings for decades. Carriers across the country, including AT&T, which provides much of East Tennessee's traditional phone service, are retiring copper networks and raising prices on the lines that remain. Repairs take longer, and many businesses are paying a lot each month for lines that nobody can fully identify.
POTS line replacement doesn't have to be a leap into the unknown. Our job is to translate between the old setup and the new one so nothing important gets left behind.
How we migrate you off copper
- Inventory every line. We start with your phone bill and the wiring in your building and match each number to what it actually does: main line, fax, alarm, elevator, credit card terminal, door buzzer, or nothing at all.
- Decide what each line becomes. Main lines move to a VoIP phone system. Fax and other analog devices get adapters configured for them. Alarm and elevator lines get a reliable option agreed with the company that monitors them. Lines no one uses get cancelled.
- Check the internet connection. Your phones will now depend on it, so we test it on site and, if needed, help you choose a better provider or add a backup connection.
- Port the numbers. We handle the porting paperwork with the old carrier and schedule the switch at a time that suits your business.
- Cut over and test. On switch day we test every number and every device, then train your staff on the new phones.
- Cancel the old lines safely. Only after everything is confirmed working do we help you cancel the remaining copper service, so you're not paying for both longer than necessary.
Common surprises we catch
Most businesses have at least one line no one remembers ordering. Sometimes it's an old fax that can be cancelled. Sometimes it's the line the fire alarm panel uses to call the monitoring company. Finding those before the old service is shut off is the most important part of a migration, and it's why we do the inventory in person.
Signs it's time to move
- Your phone bill keeps going up for the same number of lines.
- Repairs on crackling or dead lines take days.
- You've received a notice from your carrier about copper retirement or service changes.
- You want features like voicemail to email, cell phone apps, or after-hours routing that your old lines can't offer.
Common questions
What happens to our phone numbers when we leave copper?
They move with you. We port your numbers to the new service, including fax numbers, and schedule the switch so callers don't notice.
Is VoIP as reliable as our old copper lines?
With a properly tested network and a backup plan for internet outages, yes. We also set up automatic forwarding to cell phones if the connection goes down.
Do we have to replace everything at once?
No. We can migrate in stages, moving main lines first and specialty lines like alarms and elevators once their replacements are confirmed.
How long does a migration take?
Porting numbers typically takes one to a few weeks depending on the carrier. We'll give you a timeline after the site walkthrough.