| VOIP is a type of phone service that uses | | | | distance plans that can be purchased for specific |
| broadband Internet. It is an alternative to the | | | | areas of the world. It is important that you ask |
| conventional phone services, and is becoming | | | | your carrier if the region you want to call is |
| increasingly popular. It offers a solution to paying | | | | included in your plan, or can be included at a higher |
| exorbitant phone bills every month by charging | | | | cost. |
| one flat rate. The only thing that you need to | | | | When you purchase unlimited calling from your |
| purchase is highspeed Internet service. | | | | phone provider, it is not totally unlimited. Most |
| Using a VOIP phone is no different than with a | | | | phone providers flag clients when they use more |
| regular phone and it does not use too much of | | | | than three or four thousand minutes per month. |
| the speed from your internet service when you | | | | It is possible that you will receive a phone call |
| make a call, and when you hang up, your | | | | from them questioning why you used so many |
| highspeed goes back to normal. | | | | minutes and they will ask if you are using your |
| Within the past five years, there have been | | | | phone as a business phone. The rates for a |
| several different VOIP phone service providers | | | | business phone are significantly higher than |
| that have begun operations that offer services | | | | residential. |
| that are significantly cheaper than the traditional | | | | The disadvantages to VOIP phone service are |
| method. More people have ordered the VOIP | | | | very few. Overall, it is becoming the most chosen |
| phone service than the traditional lines. However, | | | | form of phone service because it is very |
| as with anything, there are advantages and | | | | affordable. However, there are certain conditions |
| disadvantages to VOIP phone service. | | | | that are not compatible with VOIP. |
| One of the biggest advantages is that a VOIP | | | | Broadband is required to optimize VOIP phones. |
| phone will save you a lot of money on monthly | | | | DSL is great for Internet however because of it |
| phone charges. | | | | design and range, it may not be conducive to |
| A conventional phone company offers its | | | | receiving a good enough signal for VOIP. For the |
| customers local and long distance packages. This | | | | same reason, satellites also have a few bugs to |
| means that you can purchase long distance phone | | | | work out before it will work properly with VOIP |
| service either by the month or as an unlimited | | | | phone service. |
| package. Although most of the time the service is | | | | Another disadvantage to VOIP phone service is |
| adequate, the rate that you pay for unlimited long | | | | that if you lose your internet connection, you will |
| distance is outrageous. With VOIP, long distance is | | | | also lose your telephone service. If you need a |
| figured into your bill each month and it is still | | | | reliable phone service, you may want to consider |
| significantly cheaper than a basic plan using the | | | | your choices carefully. |
| traditional method. | | | | If you run a business out of your home as many |
| When you are considering VOIP, it is necessary to | | | | people do, it is important that you understand |
| do some research. There are many different | | | | that VOIP phones cannot support a fax line. If |
| companies who offer this service and all have | | | | you choose VOIP, you will need to have an |
| different rates. If you choose to use your cable | | | | additional phone line installed in your home |
| company to provide VOIP, check the rates very | | | | dedicated solely to the fax machine. If this is not |
| carefully as cable companies tend to have the | | | | possible, you may want to research online fax |
| highest rates for VOIP phones. | | | | companies. |
| Vonage is a provider of VOIP phone service that | | | | Although broadband phone services can save you |
| has become increasingly popular and is chosen | | | | a lot of money on your calls, it is important that |
| most often as a provider. It can be purchased in | | | | you research and understand all of your options |
| many different retail outlets however there is also | | | | and the terms of service before you make a |
| a markup on your purchase using this method, | | | | decision. Research different companies and their |
| and Vonage is probably not your most cost | | | | rates to ensure that you are choosing the |
| effective option. | | | | company that fits your needs the best. |
| If you make overseas calls, there are long | | | | |