www.simplexity.com
What it's good for: General information about the kinds of services available in a region. None of the CEOs found the selection to be comprehensive enough, but they all thought the site had educational value.
Don't waste your time if: You don't have a lot of patience. The site challenged all the panelists with what they described as a cryptic registration process and unreliable technology.
What our CEOs had to say: They wouldn't go back. The site didn't offer enough options to allow them to make an educated choice, and its design was cumbersome. "Using this site feels like you are signing up for a 10-year hitch with the Marine Corps," said one CEO.
What you should know: Simplexity is a request-for-proposal site that lets you submit anonymous requests for customized bids to a variety of carriers. At the time of the evaluations, the site bundled only long-distance service with calling-card and toll-free services, although it has since introduced wireless, Internet, and data services.
www.telezoo.com
What it's good for: Companies buying large amounts of services. The reviewers agreed that the site doesn't cater to the small-business owner.
Don't waste your time if: You are buying on a small scale, want prices instantly, or want to remain anonymous. Before the site will provide pricing options, it requires shoppers to submit requests for proposals and divulge personal information about themselves.
What our CEOs had to say: Most liked it. Some were intrigued enough to consider investigating the site further. "Even though I didn't actually provide a request for proposal, there are services my company will need in the future, and I will use this site to comparison shop for them," one of the evaluators said.
What you should know: It requires some technical sophistication to negotiate the site, but it can work smoothly for those in the know.
www.demandline.com
What it's good for: An easy way to shop for telecom services, according to most of our CEOs. However, they also felt the selection wasn't as comprehensive as it could have been.
Don't waste your time if: You don't have the patience to submit requests and wait for responses, or you are buying services on a small scale.
What our CEOs had to say: Opinions were mixed. One of the panelists was intrigued and said that he "will definitely go back and shop for additional services." But another saw no value to the site's offerings and said she was "more comfortable with the traditional way of buying things." Even those who were impressed with the site thought it could improve. "They need to add more services and a wider array of current vendors," said one CEO. "If it stays the same, I don't think it can compete against the more comprehensive sites like Telezoo."
What you should know: This is the only site among those reviewed that offered a host of business-support tools. Demandline markets end-user and network software support, payroll and credit-card processing, equipment leasing, temp staffing, and retirement services -- along with telecom services.
www.telecomsmart.com
What it's good for: Comparison shopping. Despite the logistical hurdles they encountered, all the CEOs thought the site offered a useful gateway to a variety of packages and carriers being offered in their area.
Don't waste your time if: You're short on patience. Before you can gain access to any packages of information at TelecomSmart.com, you have to go through a rigorous registration process. The technology and length of the questionnaire irked one CEO, who said if he hadn't been doing a site review, he would have quickly moved on.
What our CEOs had to say: Some thought shopping at this site was a better way to buy telecom services than calling the phone company, but one evaluator thought the site's design made it more trouble than it was worth.
What you should know: You can fax a copy of your phone bill to the company, and it promises to E-mail you within 48 hours a list of carriers and packages in your area -- -with pricing suited to your needs.
www.essential.com
What it's good for: Buying small telecom packages for home use. Most of our CEOs agreed that this site catered primarily to residential and home-office buyers, and they found little value in it for their own companies.
The consensus was that Essential.com was of limited value. When asked what he would skip at the site, one CEO quipped, "Everything." Yet it received a B- grade overall.
Don't waste your time if: You're buying services for a large business. Although some of the CEOs thought the site was a good way to do quick research, others dismissed it as lacking in options.
