Cytracom
Is This Your Business?Author: Kaitlyn Short
This Texas-based VoIP provider, Cytracom, offers locally managed business VoIP services for small and mid-size businesses (SMBs). Rates start at $27.95 per user per month, including standard desk phone rentals. The company offers a variety of enterprise-level features, though some come at an added fee.
Starting at $27.95 per user, per month is a competitive price compared to other VoIP solutions. Keep in mind that if you have 30 or more users, volume discounts may be available, so pricing may differ.
Keep reading for pros and cons, plus Cytracom reviews from real customers.
Top Ranked Companies
The Good
- Managed Service
- Free Phones
- No Contracts
- Outage Management
Managed Service
Cytracom partners with IT service providers to offer fully managed VoIP solutions and local tech support. Your managed service provider can help with onsite installation and activation.
Additionally, when you need customer support, you can contact your service partner, or Cytracom directly (available 24/7).
Free Phones
With Cytracom, phone rentals are free and come with a full warranty and upgrades every three years. Desk phones are included in the standard plan. Grandstream phones have a handset, headset, speaker, and bluetooth options, with programmable keys and color LCD screens. Customers can also pick an executive, receptionist, cordless, or conference phone, for an additional fee, between $20 and $360 per phone.
No Contracts
Cytracom only offers month-to-month pricing. As long as you notify the company 30 days prior to your next billing, you won’t be charged a cancellation fee.
Outage Management
Cytracom offers the Voice Continuity Suite powered by the Ivie platform. This allows users to make custom policies in case of a power outage or disruption.
The Bad
- Add-On Fee Structure
- Startup Process
- Softphones
- Restricted Use
- Billing
Add-On Fee Structure
While there are many enterprise calling features included in the monthly price, business owners may need to consider some of the add-on features to ensure they are providing their customers with the best support.
Here is an example of some of Cytracom’s add-on fees:
- Voicemail to text: $2.95
- cFax (Cytracom fax): $9 for 250 pages per month
- Call recording storage: $0.005-$0.0025 per minute
- Call center agent and advanced reporting: $4.95
- Conference bridge: $0.039 per minute, per caller
Startup Process
It can take one to two business days to hear back from your local managed partner. There are other VoIP systems that can purely be set up online and deployed quickly. While Cytracom’s emphasis on local IT partners may be great in the long-run, at least in your initial stages, you may have to wait several days for a response before taking the next step.
Softphones
Cytracom doesn’t offer a proprietary softphone app. Despite this, the Cytracom System is compatible with a variety of free apps, including Jitsi, Zoiper, and CSipSimple.
Restricted Use
While you can access your Cytracom service on a computer or mobile app, international calls are not supported. If you use the service outside of the United States or Canada, the company may shut off your service.
Billing
Per the company’s Terms of Service, “Cytracom reserves the right to charge your account more frequently than once per month in the event your charges exceed $1,000.” This is definitely something that clients, especially small businesses, will want to be aware of when signing up with Cytracom.
The Bottom Line
Cytracom has a unique way of delivering its business phone service and making sure that users get the clarification, support, and service needed through its locally managed service partner network. Customers get the benefit of in-depth, hands-on support and setup assistance, while local partners don’t have to deal with R&D and technology advancements any further than implementation.
Although some potential customers may be put off by the need to contact a third party vendor when wanting to complete a purchase. Where the company shines most is with its specialized business model, straightforward price, and perks, like no annual contracts and free phone rentals.
