POTS Replacement: 5 Reasons Moving to a Cloud Phone System Cannot Wait

September 12th, 2025

Copper Lines Are Quickly Vanishing

Remember when a single scratchy landline was all you needed to run your business? Those days are officially over.

Carriers are pushing harder to retire decades-old copper networks and the associated high costs of maintaining Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS). In fact, on March 20, 2025, the Chairman of the FCC, Brendan Carr, announced they will be cutting red tape to advance the transition away from copper lines.

“Outdated FCC rules have left Americans sitting in the slow lane for far too long,” FCC Chairman Brendan Carr stated. “Those FCC rules have forced providers to pour resources into maintaining aging and expensive copper line networks instead of investing in the modern, high-speed infrastructure that Americans want and deserve. We are doing something about that today. We are streamlining the process for retiring decades-old copper networks so that providers can transition consumers and their resources to new, high-speed networks on a faster timeline. We do so by clearing some of the regulatory underbrush that needlessly delays the retirement of those copper networks.“

For small to midsize businesses (SMBs), a sudden outage on a crucial fax, fire alarm, or elevator line is a liability no business can afford. That’s why finding a POTS replacement isn’t a project that can wait until next quarter; it’s an urgent line item on today’s to-do list.

This post breaks down five practical reasons to make the move now, plus how our team at Statewide Communications makes the switch painless for resource-strapped IT managers.

A frustrated and confused businesswoman trying to decide if she should cancel her traditional landlines for more cost savings.

Reason #1: Hidden, Additional Costs of Keeping POTS Alive

Skyrocketing Line Charges

With the desire to move faster and allow carriers to take the necessary steps to ultimately end reliance on POTS phone lines, the order authorizes network changes to be made. This action could result in price increases without advance notice.

“There is much more work ahead for the FCC, and our goal through additional actions is to ultimately free up billions of dollars for new networks that otherwise would have been diverted into costly and outdated copper lines. This initial set of actions gets things moving in the right direction and creates the right incentives for providers to invest and build new networks in communities across the country. As we take these actions, we are also ensuring that consumers remain protected during the transition.”

Effectively, the FCC rule changes that took effect in March 2025 loosened price-cap protections on analog lines.

Maintenance You Pay for but Never Control

The Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) and the infrastructure that supports it are literally crumbling. You can kiss positive customer interactions goodbye when storms knock down lines or rodents chew through insulation because you’ll be lucky to afford the “time-and-materials” fees carriers charge, fees that will dwarf any monthly savings you thought you had.

Compliance Fines

Life-safety systems that still run on unreliable lines put you on the hook for costly insurance claims. Can you imagine a fire suppression system or emergency lighting not being functional when you need it the most? A modern cloud phone system delivers options for redundant connectivity, and the best part is there’s no more finger-crossing during fire-alarm tests.

A carpenter standing in front of wood in workshop for manufacturing using internet protocol on a mobile device.

Reason #2: A Future-Proof Feature Set in Your Pocket

Embracing modern technology is meant to release some of the operational stresses associated with running a business. Ditching an on-site Private Branch Exchange (PBX) certainly isn’t just about acquiring the new, shiny toy, but about improving your business as a whole. With that in mind, a cloud platform unlocks tools that analog lines can never touch:

  • Mobile and softphone apps offer advanced call management features, enabling employees to stay reachable from anywhere, whether at home, in the warehouse, or on a job site.
  • Call recording and business analytics fuel a better customer experience across communication channels.
  • Auto attendants and smart ring groups manage call queues and route enquiries 24/7, eliminating the need for after-hours or emergency receptionists.

Statewide’s Unified Communications platform bundles these “big-company” capabilities in one intuitive portal, giving even two-person shops a big-league polish they can fully take advantage of to help their business succeed.

Reason #3: Automatic Business Continuity with a Cloud-Based Phone System

Copper wires fail. Fiber cuts happen. The reality is that communication and infrastructure issues can occur, but cloud phones utilize multiple internet paths and LTE failover, ensuring calls continue to flow even when your street loses power.

Do you need more proof? Massachusetts-based Bianco & Sons Sausage ditched a failing on-prem system for Statewide’s cloud service. Dropped calls vanished, ring groups finally sent customers to the right department, and voicemail-to-email freed staff from desk phones.

“Now we focus on making great sausage, not troubleshooting phones,” CFO Joseph Bianco said after the migration.

A businessman in his office using his phone systemnand enjoying wonderful voice quality.

Reason #4: Simpler Security and Compliance

Did you know that carriers providing analog lines are not required to encrypt voice traffic? Modern cloud phones come equipped with built-in TLS/SRTP encryption, multi-factor authentication for admin logins, 24-hour battery backup for life-safety endpoints, CAL FIRE and FDNY Certified, MFVN & NFPA 72 compliant, UL864 fire safety mark, and automatic software updates.

For industries handling sensitive data, healthcare, legal, and finance, Statewide layers HIPAA and PCI options on top of its core platform. That means fewer audit headaches and zero late-night patch marathons for your IT team.

Shot of coworkers discussing their phone system at a medium sized business and it's key benefits.

Reason #5: A Hands-On Partner Who Knows Your Name

Plenty of vendors sell software; few stick around after the install. Statewide’s difference is baked into its culture:

  • Hands-On Process: Discovery, tailored quoting, onsite training, and lifetime support are part of every deal.
  • Local-Neighborhood Feel: We live in the community we serve, and respect all the businesses around us. We provide the highest level of service in every client interaction.
  • Top-Notch Support with Zero Drama: Real humans answer the phone, resolve issues, and follow up.

Our team’s mission is to support you every step of the way, utilizing our expertise to provide scalable solutions that grow with your business needs.

Cloud Phone Systems Advanced Feature Checklist

Must-Have Why It Matters Available with Statewide?
E-911 with dynamic address Keeps you compliant as employees move desks or cities ✅
Voicemail-to-Email and SMS Faster response times, reduces phone tag ✅
Auto Attendant and Ring Groups Directs callers instantly, boosts CX ✅
Analytics Dashboard Data to staff up busy hours ✅
LTE Failover Calls keep working during internet outages ✅
Third-Party CRM/Teams Integration Click-to-dial boosts productivity ✅

Still on the Fence? Common Objections Answered

“Switching systems sounds risky.”

Statewide ports all your phone numbers for you, stages hardware in advance, and trains staff so that Monday morning feels normal.

“My team isn’t tech-savvy.”

If you can use a smartphone, you can use cloud phones. Statewide’s trainers stay until every employee makes a live call with confidence.

“Isn’t VoIP call quality poor?”

It was in 2005. Today’s codecs and prioritized bandwidth deliver crystal-clear HD voice, which is often better than analog.

Cost-Effective Action Plan: How to Replace POTS in 30 Days

  1. Assessment: Statewide audits every POTS line (alarm, elevator, fax) and estimates savings.
  2. Design and Quote: You receive a line-item proposal with hardware, licensing, and timeline so you have no surprises.
  3. Number Porting and Install: Desk phones arrive pre-provisioned; mobile apps go live instantly.
  4. Go Live and Train: Hands-on sessions teach users call-handling best practices.
  5. Ongoing Optimization: Quarterly check-ins to adjust features as your business grows.

A woman with headset laughing while on the phone with a customer.

Don’t Wait for the Copper Sunset That Will Leave You in the Dark

At this point, clinging to POTS is like paying extra for dial-up in a fiber world. For example, on AT&T’s Q1 earnings call in April 2025, CEO John Stankey said:

“New regulations are enabling ‘clean sailing’ for retiring copper lines in about 25 per cent of its central offices and AT&T has additional applications pending with the FCC.“

For AT&T, the goal is to eliminate POTS lines completely by 2030, and the other major carriers are following suit. The writing on the wall is clear: make POTS replacement your next quick win before a provider decides for you. Click to learn how a cloud phone system delivers lower costs, richer features, and peace of mind before the next copper outage hits or goes away completely.

Are you ready to talk about next steps? Reach out for a no-pressure demo to explore why a Cloud PBX might be right for your business, or compare options in our Cloud-Based Phone Systems guide.

Communications should help your business grow, not hold it hostage. Let Statewide show you the difference.

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Business Phone System for Manufacturing Companies: The Fastest Way to Improve CX 

September 9th, 2025

When your plant is humming, you feel it. This positive operational flow means your orders ship on time, production lines keep moving, and customers get what they need. But suddenly those good times can come crashing down the moment your phone system jams, then emails start piling up, or worse, a critical update gets lost in someone’s voicemail; the whole day will grind to a halt.

Successfully manufacturing goods can be difficult, but then to have your communication technology go down and hold you back is like pouring salt in the wound. That’s why a state-of-the-art, cloud-based phone system for manufacturing companies gives you the exact tools you need to answer faster, route smarter, and keep every promise you make to customers.

There’s no time like the present to evaluate whether your phone system is meeting your needs. Keep reading to learn more about what your business phone system could be missing.

Senior engineer and new trainee using a mobile phone to manage a conference call.

Why Manufacturers Can’t Afford to Overlook Customer Satisfaction

Your customers want quick answers on their order status, inventory levels, and timelines, but often the customer service team doesn’t have what they need to fully help. If calls sit in a general mailbox or bounce between locations, your risk of losing repeat business increases greatly. From a recent Inc. interview, the business mogul himself, Warren Buffett of Berkshire Hathaway, said, “It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it.”

There’s no magic bullet that’ll fix every possible weak point in your organization, but a cloud-based phone system is a practical way to help shore up your reputation. This platform can centralize call handling, provide mobile flexibility across plants and job sites, and integrate with the tools your teams already use.

Factory workers crossing hall on a mobile phone thats connected to the business phone system.

The Role of the Phone System for Manufacturing Companies

A great phone system for manufacturing companies is more than a handset and dial tone. It’s the backbone for customer updates, RMA coordination, distributor support, and emergency alerts. Here’s what that looks like in practice:

  • Mobility on every shift: Web/softphones and iOS/Android apps on mobile devices keep supervisors, sales, and service staff reachable across facilities and in the field.
  • Smart call management: Auto attendants, ring groups, unlimited calling, and call queues move callers to the right team the first time, with dashboards and call analytics to guide staffing decisions.
  • Built-in continuity: VoIP phone service with multi-path internet and LTE failover keeps calls flowing even during an internet outage.
  • Easy integrations: Click-to-dial from your CRM, Teams integration, screen pops, and call logging keep all your customer experience tools in one place.
  • Supervisor coaching: With inbound calls, they can listen/whisper/barge to help new reps nail answers without putting customers on hold.

These business phone features, along with many more, fit perfectly into the world of manufacturing, and they’re how you give clients exceptional customer service without adding headcount.

Three workers are talking through an order, but whether a small business phone system or an enterprise, they needed a cloud based phone system.

Key Commercial Business Communications Features That Improve Retention

The right commercial phone systems for most organizations are built natively in the cloud, which helps teams respond faster and follow through every time. Here are the features manufacturers lean on most:

  • Accurate routing and faster first responses: Auto attendants and custom ring groups move calls to the right department or location with little to no unnecessary back-and-forth. A Statewide Success Story with Bianco & Sons outlines how one company saw immediate gains once ring groups were properly programmed.
  • Mobility your team actually uses: Softphones and mobile apps let engineers, and quality and customer service representatives pick up calls from the floor, the warehouse, or offsite without sharing personal numbers.
  • Visibility to critical analytics for better staffing: Reporting and analytics show peak hours, handle time, and abandoned calls so you can add coverage when production ramps up.
  • Continuity that protects customer trust: LTE failover and multi-path internet reduce downtime during fiber cuts or storms, so customer updates don’t stop when your ISP blinks.
  • Safety and compliance built in: E-911 with dynamic location stays current as people move desks or sites; TLS/SRTP encryption and MFA safeguard admin access.
  • Coaching in the moment: Listen/whisper/barge lets supervisors guide newer staff in real time to improve first-call resolution.
  • Tools your teams already know: Microsoft Teams and CRM integrations keep call notes, recordings, and tasks in the same system your team uses every day.
  • Real support, not ticket ping-pong: With Statewide’s managed services and help desk, a single point of contact, and quick moves/adds/changes, your already-busy IT team isn’t stuck waiting on multiple vendors to act.

 

Team of warehouse employees are backed by VoIP services that can use their existing business phone number.

Statewide’s Cloud Solutions: Built for Manufacturing Support

You don’t need a patchwork of carriers and tools. With Statewide, you get one team and a lifecycle plan:

  • UCaaS + cloud phones with web/softphones, mobile apps, auto attendants, call queues, and analytics.
  • Integrations with Office 365, Microsoft Teams, and your CRM for click-to-dial and logging.
  • Connectivity (broadband, fiber) to ensure steady performance.
  • Managed services that include a help desk, single-point-of-contact, and moves/adds/changes so small IT teams can breathe.
  • POTS replacement for analog lines tied to elevators, alarms, or fax, which is critical as carriers retire their copper infrastructure.

Planning growth or adding a new site? Discover ideas tailored to your world on our Manufacturing Solutions page.

How We Make Upgrading Your Office Phones a Low-Stress Event

Change is easier with a steady partner. Here’s a glimpse into our process:

  1. Discovery and Quote. We map your lines, queues, locations, and goals, then deliver a tailored quote.
  2. Training and Implementation. Hardware arrives pre-provisioned, numbers port after hours, and we stay until every user is confident.
  3. Support and Success. Proactive updates, new features, and ongoing check-ins to make sure your investment grows with you.

Worried about downtime, tech comfort, or call quality? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered with after-hours cutovers, hands-on training, and modern voice codecs that deliver HD clarity.

Back view of a team working in factory warehouse backed by a business phone system with voicemail transcription helping them ensure customer expectations are met..

Strong Results Manufacturers Care About

  • Cleaner call flows: We fix misprogrammed ring groups and queues so callers reach the right team fast.
  • Fewer missed calls: Work schedules route to available staff automatically; group mailboxes capture department voicemails.
  • Lower overhead: Our telecom expense audits often cut waste; one manufacturer saw 80 percent monthly savings and now has one team to call.

Are You Ready to Turn Every Call into a Better Customer Experience?

Upgrading your phone system for manufacturing companies is one of the fastest ways to boost response times, keep promises, and earn more repeat orders. Chances are, you never thought that phones would have this much impact on your business, but now it definitely can. With Statewide Communications, you get a provider who looks out for you from design to installation, lifetime support all included.

Explore our cloud-based solutions and see how they fit your operation, or dive into manufacturing solutions for ideas tailored to your plants and partners.

P.S. Still on copper? With carriers retiring POTS, now’s the time to modernize without the drama.

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