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:: HOME :: CREDIT CARDS :: LONG DISTANCE · Main Page · Residential Plans · Business Phone Plans · VoIP Phone Service · Local & Long Distance · Tips & Advice - New! · Long Distance FAQ · Long Distance Glossary · Calling Card Deals · Long Distance Carriers · Info & Resources :: INTERNET SERVICE :: LOANS :: CELL PHONES :: INSURANCE :: ONLINE BANKING :: KNOWLEDGE :: MORE |
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Long Distance Phone Tips and Advice Center Topic: VoIP Explained See the subtopics menu for tips and advice about voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) service. For additional information about long distance phone service, see the topic list directly below.
 How VoIP WorksHow Does VoIP Work? VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) can be a fantastic way to get the most out of your high speed Internet connection and make free local and long distance phone calls. VoIP phone systems basically take standard analog voice audio signals and digitize them into data signals, like those you receive when uploading or downloading files through the Internet. As long as your Internet connection remains alive, you have low cost VoIP telephone service. There are many telecommunications experts who predict that, like the expanded use of cell phones, residential VoIP and business VoIP may eliminate the need for any landline phone service in the future. There are three primary methods of using Voice over IP phone service today:
As you can see, VoIP service is quite simple, low cost, and provides you with some options as to how you want to use it. The choice is yours. ^ Back to top How to Evaluate VoIP ServiceHow Do I Evaluate VoIP Service? The primary factors you should examine when considering using VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) for your home or business phone service:
A final component you should consider are insider and customer reviews. While using them as your evaluation "bible" is a bit risky, you might learn one or more things of interest that can help your decision be the right one. ^ Back to top Mobility Options for VoIP Phone ServiceCan VoIP Phone Service Help Me When I'm Away From Home? If you love your VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) phone service so much you can't stand to leave it at home when you travel, you can opt to take it with you. Many VoIP providers offer a mobile version as an add-on. Calling this feature a "soft phone" or another catchy name, VoIP service providers use software downloaded to your laptop computer or dedicated Voice over IP phone handset to allow you to use your VoIP system from other locations, like resorts, hotel rooms, airport terminals, etc. As long as you can connect to a WiFi (Wireless Fidelity) gateway, you can use your low cost Voice over IP service when away from your home or business. If you choose to use your laptop PC as your communications device, make sure to have the internal or external microphone and speakers with you and connected. Your convenience and dollar savings could be even more significant if you have a business VoIP service. Instead of using expensive hotel phone systems or exploiting your cell phone minutes, you can save money using your flat fee business VoIP to have long conversations or conduct remote business meetings through your laptop or Voice over IP phone instrument. If you travel often but still need to stay in contact with your office for long periods of time, VoIP systems with mobile capability could save you hundreds of dollars every month. Setting up your VoIP service with mobile capability normally costs only a small additional monthly fee, as low as $9.95, to keep you in touch and saving money at the same time. The only usual extra charge will arise when you're in the continental U.S. and making calls to international destinations. Even these calls will be charged at a very reasonable rate compared to standard international calling rates. ^ Back to top Save Money Using VoIPCan I Really Save Money Using VoIP? VoIP service can save you money, and sometimes can save you a great deal of money, each month when compared to standard landline service from your phone company. While Voice over IP service was originally rather marginal with questionable reliability, VoIP solutions now provide excellent quality, reliability, and serious cost savings. An indicator of its growing popularity and quality is that even traditional landline phone companies, like AT&T have developed VoIP to, in a sense, compete with themselves. For example, standard residential landline phone service, with unlimited long distance, voice mail, caller ID, etc., can currently cost $65 to $85 per month. You can find VoIP providers who offer, not only identical services, but expanded software-driven options, for just $20 to $30 per month. Having a reliable, up-to-date computer and a good high speed Internet provider is the main caution that you should consider. Another obvious issue to understand is that your phone service will be down if your computer or Internet provider is off line for weather or technical reasons. If you live in an area that is subject to frequent, severe storms or spotty IP service, you might consider installing a battery backup system for your computer. This is not normally a serious issue in most parts of the U.S., however. Even international phone calls using broadband VoIP service are extremely low cost, often much less than standard overseas rates. And if you decide to use your VoIP service as a pure computer-to-computer connection, your cost could even be lower since almost all calls placed to another with a similar PC connection may be completely free. As the quality and reliability of VoIP continues to increase as the cost remains so low, VoIP becomes more and more attractive. Use the Internet to read reviews of different VoIP providers from both customers and computer experts to gain confidence and select the best VoIP service provider for your needs. ^ Back to top Using VoIP for BusinessCan I Use VoIP for My Business, Too? Residential VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) phone service usually saves you money and business VoIP might save you considerably more. Because of the flexibility of Voice over IP technology and its low cost, you can select a business program from some VoIP service providers that gives you the expanded minutes you need, a fax line, and even a low priced 800 number for incoming calls from prospects and customers. If you operate a very small home based business, you could probably use residential VoIP, possibly adding a fax line for around $10 per month and maybe a "piggy back" line that uses your primary connection but rings differently to give the impression of multiple phone lines to your callers. Depending on your in/out fax and call volume, you still may be better served with a business VoIP that includes a fax line and allows unlimited minutes of use without extra charges. To control and lower your business telephone costs, you could take advantage of a "soft phone" option from some VoIP providers that allow you to take your VoIP service with you when you are away from the office. Using your laptop computer or VoIP phone handset, you can place and receive calls from hotel rooms and airports to stay connected to your staff and customer base for a low monthly fee. With no roaming or surcharges incurred for using another carrier's cell towers, this option may be almost as convenient and possibly less expensive than using your cell phone all of the time for this purpose. The added flexibility and power of VoIP solutions might allow you to monitor, evaluate, track, and respond to your business incoming calls faster and more effectively. Many software options, most of which are included in your monthly flat fee, for call forwarding, voice mail flexibility, and other features for VoIP telephone management could both save you money and improve the quality of your business operations. ^ Back to top What You Need to Make VoIP Work for YouWhat Do I Need to Make VoIP Work for Me? Outside of making the decision, with confidence, that it will work well and save you money every month, the only things you absolutely need to make VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) phone service become perfect for you – are things you probably already have. To make Voice over IP work properly, you need an up to date computer, desktop or laptop, and a reliable high speed Internet connection, be it Cable, DSL, satellite, or Fiber Optic. That's it! If you choose to use computer-to-computer communications only, you'll also need a microphone, speakers, and a sound card in or attached to your computer. Should you want to use your current landline phone handset for VoIP service, you'll need an inexpensive (often given to you free) mini-router, which acts like a dial up modem, converting analog audio signals to digital signals your computer understands. Want to be overly cool? Purchase one or more VoIP phone handsets, which include the software and router functions built into the phone to make your VoIP service active. The only other item you might want to consider is a battery back-up unit for your computer, particularly if you live in an area that is subject to severe weather that tends to take down your Internet connection or electricity more often than you would like. This protection may keep your Voice over IP service active in the event of an emergency during a stormy period. Your PC and Internet connection can function wonderfully as your home or business phone system with VoIP service if you enjoy its strengths, which are many, and understand its limitations, which are few. ^ Back to top Which VoIP Service Is Best for YouHow Can I Learn Which VoIP Service Is Best for Me? Much like long distance plan evaluations, VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) plans should be rated based on your calling patterns and needs. VoIP service that includes unlimited local and U.S. long distance calls for a low flat fee might be all that you need. If you want residential VoIP and have others in your home, you can often add a "piggy back" number (with a different ring) to your primary line or possibly just add a second line for around $10 per month. Running a small business from a home office? You might opt for residential Voice over IP service with the addition of a fax line (for approximately $5 to $15 per month) and/or an 800 number (for approximately $5 to $15 per month) to enhance convenience for your customers around the U.S. If your business is growing, a business VoIP plan might be better for you. While still low cost (you can start around $50 per month), many include a fax line in their flat fee, often with unlimited local and continental U.S. long distance included. You can often add a "piggy back" number and/or 800 incoming service at very low cost. If you're often away from your home or office and wish to have your VoIP solutions available to you, look at VoIP providers that offer software-driven options that allow you to place and receive VoIP calls from your laptop computer or VoIP phone handset, which contains all call/receive functions that are available at your home or office. The bottom line is to learn your calling patterns and communications needs. Then evaluate the many VoIP service providers that offer the options you want. When you find the ones that provide what you need, read some VoIP reviews from customers and experts to find the VoIP service that appears to be best for you. ^ Back to top
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