| g telephone calls over the Internet is an exciting and | | | | Call Waiting, and Three-way Calling are often bundled |
| cost saving technology that is taking a position to | | | | in with the standard services and standard monthly |
| completely change voice communications forever. | | | | charge. And don't worry about calling people outside |
| VOIP, or voice over Internet protocol, is not a brand | | | | of the service. Most providers have the capabilities to |
| new technology, having been around the business | | | | let you do that. And, calling people within your service |
| world for several years. But in the last few years, it | | | | is often free of charge. There really seems like there |
| has begun to catch on with consumers as a way to | | | | is no reason not to switch to VOIP phone services, |
| combine all forms of their communications in their | | | | right? |
| homes (voice, email, etc.) and beat the high fees that | | | | There are some issues to think about before making |
| long distance companies on their customers. There | | | | the switch to VOIP phone service. You need to |
| are many VOIP phone services around now that | | | | consider the provider you choose. Some services |
| offer the moon and more in order to get business. It | | | | offer "free" VOIP service. This is often a gimmick, |
| is important to carefully weigh the options so that | | | | and what you are not paying for in phone service is |
| you don't go to the trouble of switching from | | | | apparent in the poor quality reception and limited |
| traditional landline phone service to VOIP only to get | | | | calling capabilities that you will have to deal with. |
| stuck without phone service when the provider goes | | | | Some newer providers are often not established |
| under, or to get poor quality service and features | | | | enough to handle high volumes of traffic, and often |
| just to save money or get "free" VOIP service. | | | | go under, leaving customers in the dark without any |
| As a subscriber to VOIP phone services, there are a | | | | phone service at all. It is smart to choose a |
| multitude of options available to you. You can opt to | | | | well-established provider with a good reputation for |
| simply talk through a specially equipped microphone at | | | | quality and customer service, in addition to |
| your home computer, kind of like a speakerphone. | | | | competitive rates and features. Also, it might be a |
| You can use your traditional home telephone with the | | | | good idea to consider switching only one phone in |
| service, as long as you purchase a telephony adapter | | | | your home to VOIP. That way, if your provider does |
| that will convert the analog audio into digital data | | | | go out of business, you have a backup phone line to |
| packets. You can also choose to buy an IP phone | | | | communicate with. |
| that is ready to plug into your computer and use | | | | Don't be too concerned about losing your phone |
| right away. You can even go wireless. Don't be | | | | service or getting swindled by a fly-by-night VOIP |
| intimidated if you think that there is a lot of strange | | | | phone service provider. There are several reputable |
| equipment to set up or that you will be | | | | providers on the market, and a testament to that is |
| uncomfortable talking on some "new" kind of phone. | | | | the continuing growth of the technology. In addition |
| VOIP phone service is really no different than the | | | | to the money you will save by subscribing to VOIP |
| phone service that you are used to, it's just the | | | | service, you will have the freedom of being able to |
| wiring is different. | | | | travel with your phone and phone number and make |
| The low subscription price is first and foremost what | | | | calls anywhere you go. If you have access to a |
| is drawing consumers to VOIP phone services. | | | | broadband Internet connection, you can make and |
| Depending on the provider you choose, monthly | | | | receive calls by simply plugging in. This is ideal if you |
| charges range from $19.95 - $34.99 per month. This | | | | travel a lot for business. Besides the obvious money |
| usually includes free domestic calls (including Canada) | | | | savings involved with VOIP phone service, it is a |
| and very low International rates (often .03 - .04 per | | | | convenient technology that gives you a lot of options |
| minute). And features that you might be accustomed | | | | and freedom that traditional telephone services just |
| to paying extra monthly fees for, such as Caller ID, | | | | can't provide. |