Answer the Call Two companies ring in much-needed new phone systems.

Switching to a new form of technology can be exciting for agrowing business, but the road is rarely smooth. We caught up withtwo very different businesses as they shed their old telephonesystems and got onboard with some of the latest technology.

In 2001, Mary Heather Hanley, 28, founded PR and advertisingfirm 525Communications in Atlanta. At first, her landline was her mainphone. Now, with eight employees working remotely and a lot ofbusiness travel happening, everyone uses cell phones, mostlyBlackberry-enabled models.

Giving up the landline has required some adjustments. At onetime or another, everyone has accidentally racked up big monthlyoverage charges. Hanley covers her employees the first time ithappens, but they're responsible after that. Unlimited-minuteplans help keep costs in check. Hanley also keeps a backup batterywith her and has a half-dozen chargers. For this'round-the-clock business, the switch to cell phones madesense. "No one has to wait for me to get back to them unlessI'm on an airplane," she says.