VoIP fact sheet

Posted in: Long Distance
By Staff Writers
May 4, 2009

VoIP fact sheet Voice over Internet Protocol, or VoIP, is quickly gaining ground over traditional landline service in the phone market. While the debate is still in progress, VoIP does offer quite a few plusses over conventional landlines. Read on for some important facts about Voice over Internet Protocol service that can help you to decide whether VoIP service is right for you.

Quick VoIP facts

It is an inexpensive way to make both local calls and long distance phone calls.
It can be less expensive than many landline services and plans.
VoIP requires a phone adapter, high speed Internet, and a service provider.
Customers can use both their old phone and their old phone number with VoIP.
Many features that may cost extra with a landline plan are standard features with a VoIP plan. This can include call waiting, voicemail, and caller ID.
VoIP offers the capability of making phone calls from your computer to another computer.
VoIP cannot be accessed through dial up Internet. A broadband Internet service must be used (i.e. DSL or cable).
Attempting to use Voice over Internet Protocol with dial up Internet produces dropped calls, call lagging, or overall poor call quality.
More than one VoIP number can be assigned to a single high speed Internet connection.
Once set up, using Voice over Internet Protocol is just as simple as using a landline.
Using VoIP, customers can call any type of number including cell numbers, fax numbers, local numbers, long-distance numbers, and international numbers.
VoIP customers can often select from among a number of area codes.
VoIP can be used outside of the customer's home as long as the phone adapter is with them. This means that customers can have the ability to have VoIP on the go.
Some VoIP service providers offer incentives when customers sign up such as a free account activation or free VoIP phone adapter.
Most VoIP plans allow for the use of 911.
VoIP calls cannot be made during electrical power outages in most circumstances.
A variety of plans with a variety of special features are offered by Voice over Internet Protocol providers.
Special features are available on most VoIP service plans, although some of these do carry an additional fee.
These special features include online account management, caller ID, voicemail, email voicemail alerts, free in-network calling, caller IP block, call waiting, online call logs, call forwarding, call return capability, audio conferencing, managing address books, checking online availability of other customers, and 3-way calling.

As you can see from the above list, there are many positive aspects surrounding the use of Voice over Internet Protocol services. As with any choice, it is important to know all of the facts before ultimately making a decision. Now that you know some of both the benefits and pitfalls of using VoIP service, your decision should be that much easier.