CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for computer systems design services firms in Rhode Island
146 computer systems design services firms operated in Rhode Island in 2023. Where they are, how big their teams are, and what phone service costs them.
- Establishments
- 146CBP 2023
- Employees
- 4,022mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 13.1U.S. 17.1
- State rank
- 45th of 51by count
Computer systems design services firms in Rhode Island by the numbers
County Business Patterns counts 146 establishments in Rhode Island classified as Computer Systems Design Services (NAICS 541512) for 2023. They employed 4,022 people in mid-March and reported $524.2 million in annual payroll. That is the 45th highest count among the 51 states and DC with published figures. Computer systems design services firms make up 0.49% of the 29,510 business establishments in the state.
Per 100,000 residents (2024 estimate) Rhode Island has 13.1 computer systems design services firms, 23.2% below the national rate of 17.1. The average establishment has 27.5 employees against 13.2 nationally. Payroll per employee is $130,327, 6.7% above the U.S. figure of $122,171.
| Measure | Rhode Island | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 146 | 58,113 |
| Mid-March employees | 4,022 | 766,160 |
| Annual payroll | $524,177,000 (moderate noise) | $93,602,442,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 27.5 | 13.2 |
| Payroll per employee | $130,327 | $122,171 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 13.1 | 17.1 |
Census County Business Patterns 2023 (mid-March employment; annual payroll). Employees and payroll flagged high-noise are shown but not used in the text. Residents: Census Vintage 2024 estimates.
Where computer systems design services firms in Rhode Island are concentrated
Census published IT services firm counts for 1 metro or micropolitan area that include part of Rhode Island. The largest is Providence, RI-MA, with 181 establishments (a multi-state area; its count covers every state it spans).
| Area | Establishments | Employees | Per 100k residents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Providence, RI-MA | 181 | 4,383 | 10.6 |
Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023; population from Census Vintage 2024 estimates.
Team sizes at computer systems design services firms in Rhode Island
62.3% of Rhode Island's computer systems design services firms with employees had fewer than five people in March 2023, compared with 74.5% nationally. 71.9% had fewer than ten. At that size the phone is shared, so routing (who rings, when, and what happens after hours) matters more than the number of desk phones.
| Employment size | Establishments | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–4 employees | 91 | 62.3% | 74.5% |
| 5–9 employees | 14 | 9.6% | 9.7% |
| 10–19 employees | 10 | 6.8% | 6.5% |
| 20–49 employees | 15 | 10.3% | 5.0% |
| 50 or more employees | 16 | 11.0% | 4.4% |
Employment-size classes count establishments by mid-March 2023 employment. Establishments with no March employees are excluded from the size classes, so shares are of establishments with employees. Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023.
Calls an IT services firm in Rhode Island has to catch
Managed IT and systems integration firms field support calls that range from a forgotten password to a server outage. Clients judge them by how quickly someone answers when something breaks.
A few of the calls that come in to computer systems design services firms in Rhode Island:
- A user calls to reset a password.
- The firm calls a client to schedule maintenance.
- A vendor calls about a hardware order.
What computer systems design services firms text about
IT firms text maintenance windows and ticket updates.
Texting from a local number in Rhode Island requires carrier registration (10DLC), a one-time $49 fee on Callata.
Phone system pricing for a 28-person IT services firm
Computer systems design services firms in Rhode Island average 27.5 employees, so the comparison uses a 28-person team. Priced per seat, 28 users would run $840.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $698.60 on Ooma Office Pro (month-to-month list prices, checked September 28, 2026). Callata comes to $559.00 a month for 28 users ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user), below both.
Over a year, that is $3,372 less than RingCentral for an IT services firm in Rhode Island of that size. Annual contracts lower some competitors' prices, so compare the plan you would actually sign.
| Provider (plan) | Pricing basis | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Callata (Callata Office) | $99 incl. 5 users, $20 per extra user | $559.00 | $6,708.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $532.00 | $6,384.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $644.00 | $7,728.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $698.60 | $8,383.20 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $756.00 | $9,072.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $840.00 | $10,080.00 |
Competitor prices are each vendor's published month-to-month list price per user for its lowest plan that includes business calling and texting, checked September 28, 2026: Quo Starter $19, Nextiva Core $23, Ooma Office Pro $24.95 (Essentials excludes texting; one-time $29.95 activation not included), Dialpad Standard $27, RingCentral RingEX Core $30 ($20 billed annually). Prices exclude taxes and fees and may change; annual contracts lower some competitors' prices.
Area codes in Rhode Island
Rhode Island has 1 geographic area code in service according to NANPA. Callata includes up to 3 local numbers, so an IT services firm can hold a number in more than one of them.
| Area code | Exchanges | Time zone | In service since | Overlay with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 401 | 581 | Eastern | 1947 | none |
Exchanges are NANPA-assigned central office codes (NPA-NXX) in the rate centers matched to the area's named places. Source: NANPA utilized code and NPA reports.
How Callata works for computer systems design services firms in Rhode Island
Callata is a business phone system priced at $99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user. Callata Office includes up to 3 local business numbers, unlimited inbound calling, 1,500 pooled outbound US and Canada minutes per user each month, a browser softphone that can also ring your cell, voicemail with transcription, call recording with AI summaries, business-hours routing and E911 on every number.
Porting a number you already use in Rhode Island is free, and business texting is available once the carrier registration (10DLC) is approved; the registration carries a one-time $49 fee. Which specific numbers are open in a given area code depends on carrier inventory at the time you sign up.
AI agents are optional: an AI receptionist or scheduler can pick up when the team is busy or closed, take a message, send a text or email, or transfer the call. They draw on prepaid AI minutes ($0.25/minute), disclose that they are AI, and outbound AI calls require prior consent and are limited to 8am–9pm.
Frequently asked questions
How many computer systems design services firms are in Rhode Island?
146 in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns. They employed 4,022 people in mid-March.
Which Rhode Island metro area has the most computer systems design services firms?
Providence, RI-MA, with 181 establishments in 2023.
What does a phone system cost a 28-person IT services firm?
$840.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core or $698.60 on Ooma Office Pro at month-to-month list prices (checked September 28, 2026); $559.00 on Callata ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user).
Do I need to register to text customers from a Rhode Island number?
Yes. US carriers require business texting from local numbers to be registered (10DLC). On Callata the registration is a one-time $49 fee, and texting turns on once it is approved.